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Meikles's debt to suppliers raises fresh concerns
Meikles Limited's trade payables more than doubled to ZiG925,78 million in its financial year ended February 28, 2025, sparking fears of deepening debt pressures within Zimbabwe's formal retail sector...Published: 21 Jul 2025 at 12:34hrs | 459 | by Staff reporter
Vendors bemoan exorbitant licensing fees at new Mbare Musika market
The Vendors Initiative for Social and Economic Transformation (Viset) has urged authorities to slash vending licensing fees at the newly-constructed Mbare Musika Market, warning that current costs are...Published: 18 Jul 2025 at 08:34hrs | 590 | by Staff reporter
Chitungwiza continues to battle with sewer challenges
Perennial sewer problems remain one of the most pressing challenges facing Chitungwiza Municipality, although the local authority has recorded some improvements in certain areas, ...Published: 14 Jul 2025 at 07:45hrs | 83 | by Staff reporter
EcoCash launches 'EcoCash Plus' wallet
EcoCash, Zimbabwe's leading mobile money platform, has unveiled EcoCash Plus - a specialised digital wallet designed to meet the unique needs of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), vendors, and servi...Published: 09 Jul 2025 at 18:06hrs | 840 | by Staff reporter
Zimbabwe women's bank opens 11 000 accounts in 2024
The Zimbabwe Women Microfinance Bank (ZWMB) opened 11,120 new savings accounts in 2024 as part of the Government's ongoing push to promote financial inclusion and empower marginalized groups - particu...Published: 08 Jul 2025 at 09:52hrs | 83 | by Staff reporter
Councillor fumes over toilets
Ward 25 Councillor Mpumelelo Moyo has taken a swipe at the Bulawayo City Council's Department of Works for stalling the construction of public toilets at Tashas Business Centre in Emganwini, despite f...Published: 06 Jul 2025 at 10:05hrs | 61 | by Staff reporter
Presidential scheme disburses US$200 000 for vendors
Thousands of informal traders across Zimbabwe have received a major financial boost following the launch of the Presidential Vendors Empowerment Scheme, which has availed US$200,000 in seed capital to...Published: 27 Jun 2025 at 18:29hrs | 114 | by Staff reporter
Revolving fund for Gutu Central vendors launched
A new revolving fund aimed at empowering informal traders and transforming livelihoods was officially launched on Monday in Gutu Central Constituency, offering hope to many small business owners strug...Published: 26 Jun 2025 at 09:06hrs | 30 | by Staff reporter
Consumer watchdog wants tough stance against substandard products
The Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ) has urged the government to strengthen enforcement of the Consignment-Based Conformity Assessment (CBCA) programme to shield consumers from substandard, co...Published: 24 Jun 2025 at 09:26hrs | 33 | by Staff reporter
Harare faces alarming surge in STI cases
Harare, June 24, 2025 - Harare is facing a troubling rise in sexually transmitted infections (STIs), with over 25,000 new cases recorded in 2024, according to recent figures released by the National A...Published: 23 Jun 2025 at 11:43hrs | 555 | by Staff reporter
Woes mount for Zimbabwe formal businesses\
Informal traders who largely evade taxes and levies are placing formal retail and wholesale businesses in Zimbabwe at a significant competitive disadvantage, burdened by a heavy and complex taxation r...Published: 23 Jun 2025 at 10:58hrs | 245 | by Staff reporter
Manicaland ready for Hlanganani
Manicaland Province has declared its full readiness to host the prestigious Sanganai/Hlanganani World Tourism Expo for the first time outside Bulawayo, with extensive upgrades to key infrastructure, t...Published: 21 Jun 2025 at 09:35hrs | 53 | by Staff reporter
If civil servants must declare assets, then let's start with the president and his ministers
As the old saying goes, what's good for the goose must be good for the gander - yet in Zimbabwe, accountability seems reserved only for the powerless.The government's recent announcement of a ...Published: 20 Jun 2025 at 22:36hrs | 580 | by Tendai Ruben Mbofana
Zvishavane emerges as Midlands HIV hotspot
Zvishavane district has emerged as the new epicentre of HIV in the Midlands Province, recording the highest number of new infections and the highest HIV prevalence rate, according to recent stat...Published: 20 Jun 2025 at 06:16hrs | 247 | by Staff reporter
CZI sounds alarm over substandard goods in Zimbabwe
The Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) has raised concern over the continued flood of substandard and mispriced goods entering the country, despite the existence of the Consignment-Based Confo...Published: 20 Jun 2025 at 06:05hrs | 127 | by Christopher Mutambirwa
Mutare City to rid CBD of street food vendors
The City of Mutare has announced plans to launch a wide-scale operation to remove illegal street food vendors from the Central Business District (CBD) in a bid to restore order and address rising publ...Published: 19 Jun 2025 at 11:32hrs | 314 | by Staff reporter
Bulawayo City Council launches crackdown to clean CBD
Bulawayo City Council (BCC) has embarked on a city-wide crackdown targeting illegal street vending, with intensified day and night raids now actively underway in the Central Business District (CBD). T...Published: 18 Jun 2025 at 18:09hrs | 234 | by Staff reporter
Bulawayo councillors raise alarm over tough business registration rules
Bulawayo city councillors have voiced serious concern over the stringent registration requirements imposed by the local authority on small business operators, warning that the rigid system is fuelling...Published: 10 Jun 2025 at 08:44hrs | 158 | by Staff reporter
Bulawayo cracks down on informal trading
The City of Bulawayo (BCC) has announced a swift and decisive crackdown on micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and other traders operating in undesignated areas within the city centre....Published: 05 Jun 2025 at 10:13hrs | 1946 | by Staff reporter
OK Zimbabwe shuts down Food Lover's Market outlets
Retail giant OK Zimbabwe has announced the closure of its premium Food Lover's Market outlets in Borrowdale and Avondale, a move that underscores the mounting pressure on Zimbabwe's formal retail sect...Published: 04 Jun 2025 at 09:46hrs | 3996 | by Staff reporter
New high-quality ZiG banknotes on the way
The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) is set to introduce a new series of improved Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) banknotes in denominations of ZiG10, ZiG20, ZiG50, ZiG100, and ZiG200, Governor John Mushayavanhu ha...Published: 03 Jun 2025 at 11:53hrs | 855 | by Staff reporter
How can MPs protect Zimbabweans from exploitation when they themselves are shielded?
It's a tragedy when those meant to represent you no longer do. The recent enactment of a law compelling Zimbabwean motorists to first purchase a ZBC car radio licence before they are allowed t...Published: 29 May 2025 at 20:29hrs | 320 | by Tendai Ruben Mbofana
Bulawayo open to PPPs in upgrading sporting facilities
The City of Bulawayo has expressed its willingness to embrace Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) in a bid to upgrade its sporting infrastructure, with officials saying such collaborations could enhanc...Published: 21 May 2025 at 08:53hrs | 85 | by Staff reporter
Scottland roped in for Egodini Mall project
Terracotta Trading Private Limited, the contractor behind the long-delayed Egodini Mall redevelopment project, has brought on board Better Brands Construction in a bid to accelerate progress amid moun...Published: 20 May 2025 at 10:09hrs | 919 | by Staff reporter
Smuggling takes toll on Zimbabwe economy
A sharp increase in smuggling and unregulated imports is intensifying illicit financial flows (IFFs) in Zimbabwe, severely undermining the country's formal retail sector. Authorities have recently pro...Published: 16 May 2025 at 10:41hrs | 399 | by `
Mbare Musika model to go national
The government has announced plans to replicate the modern Mbare Musika Traders Market model across Zimbabwe's 10 provinces as part of a nationwide initiative to provide safer and more dignified vendi...Published: 14 May 2025 at 08:49hrs | 574 | by Staff reporter
Switzerland pledges $200,000 to renovate Bulawayo's Bhaktas market
Switzerland has pledged a US$200,000 donation towards the development of Bhakta's Market in Bulawayo, offering a significant boost to the city's drive to formalise and modernise trading spaces for inf...Published: 10 May 2025 at 14:19hrs | 157 | by Staff reporter
Zimbabwe retail sector to grow by 5,10% in 2025
The Zimbabwean retail sector is projected to grow by 5.10% in 2025, with its future expansion dependent on how well it navigates the challenges of the operating environment, including the increasing d...Published: 08 May 2025 at 16:08hrs | 193 | by Staff reporter
Zimbabwe govt's anti-smuggling dragnet nets 472
The Government of Zimbabwe has ramped up its efforts in the ongoing anti-smuggling blitz, resulting in over 200 prosecutions and 269 compliance notices issued as part of a sustained crackdown against ...Published: 06 May 2025 at 08:51hrs | 209 | by Staff reporter
Foreigners turn Bulawayo sanitary lanes into 'toilets'
The Bulawayo City Council has appealed to residents to refrain from using sanitary lanes and shop alleyways in the central business district as makeshift toilets, warning that such behaviour could tri...Published: 02 May 2025 at 20:16hrs | 1276 | by Staff reporter
Second-hand clothes behind Harare bed bug terror
A growing bed bug infestation in Harare has triggered widespread concern among residents, with second-hand clothing identified as a possible cause of the outbreak. Health experts and civic leaders are...Published: 25 Apr 2025 at 07:21hrs | 243 | by Staff reporter
Business as usual as Geza's stay away is ignored
Residents of Harare defied a stay-away call by war veteran Blesses Geza on Tuesday, with normal business operations reported across the capital and surrounding suburbs.From as early as 5am, co...Published: 22 Apr 2025 at 20:41hrs | 784 | by Staff reporter
Modi acquires Choppies Zimbabwe for US$260,000 after selling it for US$22 million
Deputy Industry Minister and prominent businessman Raj Modi has acquired Choppies Zimbabwe for just US$260,000, marking a dramatic turn in the retail chain's fortunes more than a decade after the Bots...Published: 17 Apr 2025 at 20:46hrs | 2729 | by Staff reporter
EU withdraws funding after Zimbabwe signs PVO Bill into law
President Emmerson Mnangagwa's decision to sign the controversial Private Voluntary Organisations (PVO) Amendment Bill into law has sparked widespread condemnation, most notably from the European Unio...Published: 13 Apr 2025 at 09:48hrs | 1774 | by Staff reporter
New Smart Market brings convenience to Mbare Musika traders
Harare's iconic Mbare Musika has undergone a major transformation with the opening of a state-of-the-art Smart Market, a modern trading facility designed to improve hygiene, security, and convenience ...Published: 09 Apr 2025 at 12:17hrs | 750 | by Ndou Paul
MPs push for legislation to protect vendors
Members of Parliament have launched a renewed call for legislative measures to protect the livelihoods of vendors, following concerns over the frequent confiscation of their goods by law enforcement a...Published: 03 Apr 2025 at 08:23hrs | 302 | by Staff reporter
Protests shut down Zimbabwe
THE March 31 demonstrations called by war veteran and former Zanu-PF central committee member Blessed Geza yesterday morphed into a nationwide shutdown, with businesses closed, streets emptied, and le...Published: 01 Apr 2025 at 08:42hrs | 475 | by Staff reporter
ED hailed for stopping the raids of vendors
PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa has been applauded for calling for the government to stop the raids on informal traders and confiscation of their wares by Zimbabwe Revenue Authority and local authorities...Published: 27 Mar 2025 at 12:07hrs | 1722 | by Stephen Jakes
Informal traders urged to keep import documents
Informal traders affected by the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA)'s anti-smuggling blitz have been advised to maintain proper documentation of imported goods to facilitate easier verification and sm...Published: 21 Mar 2025 at 09:17hrs | 404 | by Staff reporter
Bulawayo vendors ignore BCC ultimatum
Informal traders in Bulawayo's central business district (CBD) have continued their operations despite a relocation deadline set by the Bulawayo City Council (BCC) today. Vendors remain unfazed by the...Published: 19 Mar 2025 at 11:34hrs | 1081 | by Staff reporter
Bulawayo relocates 5th Avenue informal traders
The City of Bulawayo has announced the relocation of informal traders from 5th Avenue to the Bhaktas 2 Site, situated along Lobengula Street and 2nd Avenue, as part of efforts to decongest the Central...Published: 18 Mar 2025 at 15:17hrs | 5823 | by Staff reporter
Zimbabwe to slash taxes and fees
The Zimbabwean government has announced plans to implement significant reductions in taxes and regulatory fees over the next six months as part of efforts to enhance the ease of doing business and att...Published: 16 Mar 2025 at 09:20hrs | 368 | by Staff reporter
Govt orders clearance of 'illegal' vending sites within 48 hours
The Government has directed all local authorities to clear illegal vending sites within 48 hours as part of a nationwide crackdown on unregulated trading activities, citing serious public health, secu...Published: 13 Mar 2025 at 06:56hrs | 253 | by Staff reporter
Mnangagwa's govt orders immediate removal of vendors from CBDs
The Zimbabwean government has issued a directive ordering municipalities across the country to remove all vendors operating within central business districts (CBDs) and other undesignated selling poin...Published: 12 Mar 2025 at 18:23hrs | 1616 | by Staff reporter
Zimbabwe govt rolls out POS machines to formalise informal businesses
The Zimbabwean government has commenced a nationwide programme to integrate unregistered businesses into the formal economy by distributing point-of-sale (POS) machines, which are now a prerequisite f...Published: 09 Mar 2025 at 13:08hrs | 226 | by Staff reporter
Harare deploys special police unit against vendors
The City of Harare has announced the creation of a new municipal police unit tasked with raiding illegal traders and arresting litterbugs in the central business district (CBD). This move is part of t...Published: 01 Mar 2025 at 09:21hrs | 1026 | by Staff reporter
'Half of stock sold in Zimbabwean tuck shops are fake goods'
Nearly 50 percent of groceries seized from tuck shops and vending stalls during Zimbabwe's ongoing crackdown on counterfeit and smuggled goods have been tested and found to be fake and potentially haz...Published: 26 Feb 2025 at 08:07hrs | 736 | by Staff reporter
Zimbabwe vendors required to use POS machines
The Government has introduced a directive requiring all vendors to use Point of Sale (POS) machines and open bank accounts as part of their registration process. This initiative, implemented in collab...Published: 13 Feb 2025 at 06:30hrs | 753 | by Staff reporter
Mnangagwa's Cabinet resolves to corner vendors
As Zimbabwe's economy continues to spiral downward, the government has introduced a series of controversial measures aimed at taxing the struggling informal sector and vendors to boost state revenue. ...Published: 12 Feb 2025 at 11:21hrs | 1253 | by Staff reporter
BCC resolves to permanently close 5th Ave market
Bulawayo City Council has resolved to permanently close the 5th Avenue vegetable trading market, citing the need to enhance urban planning, improve safety, and support sustainable business growth. The...Published: 09 Feb 2025 at 11:24hrs | 2388 | by Staff reporter
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