HARARE – Viability challenges and Zimbabweans’ inability to repay loans has resulted in 1 521 moneylending companies closing down in the past 14 years, amid fears the biting liquidity crisis will result in more microfinance companies twisting in the wind. Observers, however, believe microfinance institutions play a critical role in providing finance to smaller businesses…
HARARE – Zimbabwe’s fuel is the most expensive in southern Africa despite government introducing its controversial mandatory blending policy which forces fuel companies to mix unleaded petrol with ethanol as part of reducing the import bill. In a paper on the prices of fuel, the Zimbabwe Energy Council (Zec) noted that the country’s commodity was…
BULAWAYO – Our reporter Jeffrey Muvundusi had a wide ranging interview with Bulawayo-based respected lawyer and former Education minister, David Coltart. Below are the excerpts of the interview. Q: To begin with, what’s your analysis of Zimbabwe’s current economic situation? A: At the core of our current situation is a collapse of business confidence in…
HARARE – Former Cabinet minister David Coltart, in remarks set to increase temperatures in warring Zanu PF, has claimed that Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s long-standing relationship with President Robert Mugabe — and knowledge of his secrets which includes his health status — make him a favourite to succeed the long-serving 93-year-old. The former Education minister…
HARARE – The International Monetary Fund has repeated its calls for President Robert Mugabe’s broke government to retrench its workers further in line with reforms aimed at reducing its huge wage bill. This comes after the executive board of the IMF concluded the Article IV consultation with Zimbabwe this week. The IMF said Zimbabwe must…
HARARE – Government has increased petrol blending from 10 to 20 percent due to increasing supplies of ethanol. In March, government reduced to five percent from 15 percent the mandatory amount of local ethanol to be blended with petrol as heavy rains affected sugarcane fields. “It is hereby notified that, in terms of section 4…
HARARE – Zimbabwe risks suffering another eruption of violence even before its next presidential election in 2018 over the intensifying succession wars, a United States-based think-tank has warned. The United States’ Centre for Preventive Action (CPA), which seeks to help prevent, defuse, or resolve deadly conflicts around the world and to expand the body of…
HARARE – A crack police team from the Criminal Investigations Department has launched a manhunt for daring robbers who pounced on a church in one of Harare’s low density suburbs, raped a woman, and got away with cash, in yet another chilling case of crime, which is spiralling out of control. Police detectives have so…
BULAWAYO – Councillors here have resolved that the municipality stops attaching property from residents defaulting on payments but find other avenues to make them settle their bills. The resolution was made on Wednesday in council chambers after a motion by Silas Chigora, who is the councillors’ caucus chair. The local authority is owed a total…
HARARE – Tourism and Hospitality Industry minister Walter Mzembi and the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) chief executive, Karikoga Kaseke, have differed sharply over plans to launch the Command Tourism programme. The two have had well-publicised differences in the past. In the latest clash, Mzembi is against the use of the word “Command” which he argues…
