Chinese firms now own six out of eight cement players in Zimbabwe, completely flipping the local industry’s landscape.
Chinese dominance across sectors
Six Chinese companies are operating in Zimbabwe’s cement industry.
Only two domestic producers, PPC and Khayah, remain.
China also runs the lithium sector through Sinomine, Huayou, and TA&A.
Low-cost Chinese electrical goods are flooding the plastics and consumer markets.
PPC is struggling to find local talent
Ndima Rawana said the market is filled with Chinese workers at competitors.
They can’t easily hire skilled cement people from outside.
The company now focuses on developing their own talent internally.
He said South Africa is in a better spot for finding industry skills...
Zimbabwe’s fertilizer makers are bleeding cash right when global supply chains are getting wrecked by that Middle East conflict.
Working capital is a nightmare
Clemence Chiduwa said all fertilizer companies are facing serious capital issues.
Electricity costs are up to 16 US cents per kilowatt hour.
Regional competitors pay around 6 cents for the same power.
Labor costs are also too high relative to current efficiency levels.
The government wants to stop importing so much
The sector cost Zimbabwe over US$331 million in imports last season.
A new Industrial Development Fund has ZiG101 million available for firms.
Companies can also tap into the central bank’s target finance facility.
Chiduwa stressed prioritizing local procurement...
Cassava Technologies is dropping an Nvidia-powered AI factory in South Africa to finally give the continent some serious computing muscle.
The AI factory rollout
Cassava is deploying the AI factory using Nvidia’s AI platform.
South Africa gets it first with Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt, and Morocco next.
The move gives African devs access to GPU and AI services locally.
Ahmed El Beheiry said they want Africa writing its own tech future.
Zimbabwe’s AI strategy just dropped
President Mnangagwa launched a national AI strategy last week.
The plan runs from 2026 to 2030.
It focuses on local systems reflecting Zimbabwean values and languages.
The goal is tackling national challenges with homegrown AI.
Sovereign AI and local languages
The...
TSL’s revenue just jumped 45% thanks to a strong start for the year and some good rain from La Niña.
Farming inputs and chemicals are moving
Herbicide volumes shot up 361% with all the extra weeds.
Insecticide demand rose 9% for fighting fall armyworm.
Fungicide sales dropped 19% because rain messed up spraying schedules.
Doses volumes tanked 76% from supply chain issues that are now fixed.
Tobacco season is kicking in
The company expects a bigger national tobacco crop of 400 kilograms.
Hessian hire volumes fell 13% due to timing differences with growers.
Tobacco paper volumes slipped 1% but are starting to rebound.
Automation is rolling out across all auction floors to boost efficiency.
Logistics and warehousing are humming...
Zimbabwe just slashed a ton of farming fees and dropped VAT on fish to make life cheaper for growers.
Fees got chopped across the board
Contractor registration with the Agricultural Marketing Authority dropped to US$250.
Trader registration fees went from US$1,000 down to just US$100.
Effluent discharge fees were cut in half to US$13,500.
Anxious Masuka said the goal is lowering the cost of doing business.
Fisheries and wildlife fees got hit too
The government scrapped the 15.5% VAT on fish and fish products.
Lake lease charges under ZimParks fell from US$30,000 to US$15,000.
Fish harvest fees were eliminated entirely.
Masuka argued the changes will boost returns for producers.
New rules for equipment and dams
Farmers can now...
FNB Namibia just bagged “best bank” for the second year straight, according to a major global finance award.
FNB takes the top spot again
Global Finance gave FNB Namibia the best bank award for 2026.
It marks the second consecutive year they’ve snagged the accolade.
The recognition covers top-performing banks across 36 African territories.
Conrad Dempsey said the win reflects years of service and innovation.
What the judges were looking at
Joseph Giarraputo said winners adapted to regulatory and fintech pressures.
He highlighted strong asset management and digital innovation.
The bank’s #HelpChangesEverything philosophy got a shout-out.
Dempsey tied the success back to their people and purpose.
Eyes on the future
The bank is...
A ransomware crew just admitted to swiping half a terabyte of sensitive data from Namibia’s airport company.
INC Ransom hits the NAC
INC Ransom claimed they grabbed 500GB from the Namibia Airports Company.
The stolen haul includes financial records and HR data.
Cran confirmed the group is behind last week’s cybersecurity breach.
None of the exfiltrated information has been released yet.
A repeat offender in Namibia
The same crew hit the Otjiwarongo municipality last year.
They use double extortion by stealing data and encrypting systems.
Cran’s Mufaro Nesongano said a timer is ticking before a possible dump.
The group is known for sophisticated attacks worldwide.
The official response so far
NAM-CSIRT pointed everyone to their...
Public servants are gearing up to protest on Friday over being forced to use public hospitals and a bullshit medical aid hike.
Friday’s planned demonstration
Mahongora Kavihuha said the new medical aid directive had zero consultation.
Employees now have to pay the full 100% contribution themselves.
The protest will go down at the Angolan Embassy in Ausspanplatz.
Kavihuha called the public hospital order a violation of employment conditions.
Teachers told to stay at their posts
Education executive director Erastus Haintegela ordered principals to track attendance.
He said Friday is a normal school day with no suspension of classes.
The directive requires all staff to be at their duty stations.
He emphasized that parents should face...
A youth-focused pre-independence festival is hitting Windhoek’s business district this Friday with a massive parade and a N$15,000 prize pool for talent.
NamFest@36 in the city center
The Khomas governor’s office is throwing NamFest@36 on Friday.
It goes down at Palm Tree Park and Zoo Park in the city center.
Over 1,000 people will march in the Uhuru parade.
The event is a pre-party before Saturday’s official Independence Day.
Talent show with real cash prizes
Over 50 acts in music, poetry, and dance are competing.
Winners will split a combined N$15,000 in prize money.
Deputy Minister Dino Ballotti said it empowers youth through creativity.
He framed the march as a chance to contribute to nation-building.
A lineup of local heavy...
