Zimbabwe runs out of wood and buyers rush to South Africa for timber supplies. Local mills work at half speed because they cannot find enough trees to cut down. Construction companies pay more money for building materials and projects take longer to finish. The timber shortage hits contractors hard as they search for expensive alternatives that might not work as well.
Commercial timber farms face serious problems that started twenty years ago. Illegal settlers took over land where companies used to grow trees for lumber. Massive fires burned down forests and people cut too many trees without replanting them. Seeds for new trees became scarce after research stations stopped producing them locally.
Mill owners import most of their...
Zimbabwe bleeds cash every year as millions of businesses dodge taxes completely. The African Development Bank says the country loses between 7.5 billion and 8 billion dollars annually from companies that never register with the government. These hidden businesses make up a massive chunk of the economy but pay nothing to state coffers. Officials want to either force these companies to register properly or find new ways to collect money from them. The bank warns that fixing this problem could make Zimbabwe much richer.
Small businesses dominate the country and account for about 90 percent of all companies operating there. These tiny firms employ more than half of all workers and pump out roughly 30 percent of everything the country...
Zimbabwean construction companies will head to Zambia from July 22 through 24 to hunt for new business deals. ZimTrade helps these local firms connect with potential partners across the border. The trade mission brings together businesses that supply building materials and technical services like engineering and architecture. Allan Majuru leads ZimTrade and says Zambia wants more infrastructure projects. He believes Zimbabwean companies can deliver exactly what Zambian clients need.
The mission targets construction services because demand keeps growing throughout the region. Majuru explains that local firms have strong technical skills and solid experience for these projects. Companies will learn about Zambian market conditions and...
Star Africa Corporation feels good about Zimbabwe's money situation getting better. The sugar and food company says the country's economy looks stronger after a rough patch earlier. Farm production went up this year and that should help feed more people across the nation. The company thinks tobacco sales will bring in more foreign cash and gold prices keep climbing higher. All these changes make the local currency more stable for everyone.
The business made more money this year despite tough competition from other countries. Sales jumped up 22 percent to reach ZiG1.7 million compared to last year's numbers. The company cut prices to fight against cheap imports flooding the market. Their main sugar factory sold 59,613 tonnes of white...
Lloyd Mutasa keeps telling everyone his MWOS team just wants to avoid getting kicked out of the Premier League. His squad sits at the top of the table with 37 points after 18 matches. The new team has only lost one game all season. They beat the defending champions Simba Bhora and stay ahead of third-place Scottland. Mutasa acts like his players are fighting to stay up instead of going for the championship.
The coach has been working in football for over twenty years but never won the big prize. His friends from the same generation have all grabbed Premier League titles at least once. Norman Mapeza, Kalisto Pasuwa, and Tonderai Ndiraya have championship trophies on their shelves. Mutasa coached teams like Dynamos and FC Platinum but...
Hundreds of soccer fans packed West Park Cemetery to say goodbye to Brian Banda. The 29-year-old midfielder died last Sunday after a terrible car crash. Supporters from different teams came together to honor the fallen star. Even rival club members stood side by side during the sad ceremony. The funeral service took place at the Amphitheatre before the burial.
ZIFA president Nqobile Magwizi spoke about Banda's impact on Zimbabwe football. He called the player a symbol of pride and passion for the country. FC Platinum coach Norman Mapeza could barely speak through his tears. The coach said Banda was the team's heartbeat and rhythm. Other officials praised the midfielder's character and leadership skills.
Banda captained FC Platinum and...
Dynamos coach Saul Chaminuka thinks his struggling team can save their season if the club spends money on new players. The Glamour Boys sit second from bottom after winning just two games from seventeen matches. Chaminuka took over two months ago and found the squad trapped in the relegation zone. The mid-season transfer window opened Tuesday and gives him fresh hope. He plans to bring in five new faces and release five current players.
The club nearly faced a FIFA ban over unpaid debts to former players. Dynamos owed Ghanaian players Emmanuel Paga and Frederick Ansa-Botchway around eighteen thousand dollars. Namibian Sadyney Urikhob also claimed money from the Harare giants. The team cleared these debts just before the transfer window...
Wiaan Mulder takes over as South Africa's captain for Sunday's second Test against Zimbabwe. The all-rounder steps up after Keshav Maharaj picked up a groin injury that rules him out. Mulder just scored a century and brings leadership experience from his youth cricket days. Coach Shukri Conrad believes the player has all the right qualities for captaincy. This marks a significant step forward for Mulder as he assumes additional team responsibilities.
Senuran Muthusamy joins the squad as the replacement left-arm spinner for Maharaj. Off-spinner Prenelan Subrayen might make his Test debut if the coaches pick him for the match. The team has released fast bowler Lungi Ngidi from the squad. Conrad wants to stick with the seamers who...
Energy ministers from across southern Africa visited Zimbabwe's groundbreaking waste facility yesterday. The officials toured the Geo Pomona site near Harare and came away amazed at what they saw. Zimbabwe has been turning its back on dirty fossil fuels and moving toward clean energy sources. The ministers said other countries should copy this smart approach. Energy Minister July Moyo led the tour alongside SADC Executive Secretary Elias Magosi.
The waste site used to be a major problem for the city. Workers have transformed the smelly dump into a modern energy plant. The facility will generate electricity from garbage and feed power into the national grid. Magosi praised the project for creating jobs and cleaning up the environment...
