HARARE – The auditor-general (AG) has called for an investigation into the multi-million dollar Harare International Airport (HIA) rehabilitation tender awarded to a Chinese contractor, saying its cost was grossly inflated. The cost of the project — overseen by the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (Caaz) — was initially $22 million in 2009, but by…
HARARE – War veterans are set to meet today in Harare to discuss Zimbabwe’s deepening political and economic crisis amid a tense atmosphere, as defiant opposition parties yesterday staged a demonstration, despite a warning by the police. The ex-freedom fighters’ indaba, initially scheduled for last Friday, was postponed after law enforcement agents refused to sanction…
HARARE – Harare magistrate Barbra Chimboza yesterday freed 74 protesters accused of burning State-owned vehicles during an anti-President Robert Mugabe demonstration dubbed #MyZimbabwe last year. The 74 — together with freelance journalist James Jemwa — were acquitted following a successful application by their attorneys Harrison Nkomo and Trust Maanda for discharge at the close of…
HARARE – Zimbabwe’s banking public welcomed central bank governor John Mangudya’s recent capping of lending rates at 12 percent given that Zimbabwe’s lending interest rates are still considered the region’s highest after peaking at an alarming 35 percent. In his 2017 Monetary Policy Statement, the central bank governor put a cap on lending rates, bringing…
HARARE – The National Building Society (NBS) is targeting an expansion of its distribution network by opening four new branches and 19 agencies this year, managing director Ken Chitando has said. This also comes as the National Social Security Authority (Nssa)-owned mortgage lender has managed to grow its assets from $5 million in 2015 to…
HARARE – Zimbabwe-focused resources firm, Caledonia Mining Corporation (Caledonia) said it plans to invest $54 million over a three-year-period on its Blanket Mine (Blanket) as part of strategies to produce 80 000 ounces of gold. The group’s chief executive, Steve Curtis, on Tuesday said the London Stock Exchange-listed firm has already invested $36 million in…
LONDON – Five people have died and at least 40 were injured after an attacker drove a car along a pavement in Westminster, stabbed a policeman and was shot dead by police in the grounds of Parliament. The dead officer has been named as PC Keith Palmer, 48, a husband and father. PM Theresa May…
HARARE – Panicking authorities went back on their word yesterday, effectively banning the opposition’s planned mega demonstration in Harare today, which was set to be led by MDC president Morgan Tsvangirai. After security chiefs — who met the organisers of the protest march on Monday — had appeared to okay the demo, police made a…
HARARE – The strained relationship between the country’s distrustful opposition and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) sank to an all-time low yesterday when the parties called for the immediate resignation of its chairperson, Rita Makarau, as well as the disbandment of the elections management body itself. The call came after Makarau stormed out of a…
HARARE – Zimbabwe’s Anti-Corruption Commission must investigate allegations that Macro-Economic Planning minister Obert Mpofu (pictured) allegedly siphoned diamonds money to amass his vast wealth, the Tendai Biti-led People’s Democratic Party (PDP) said. This comes amid a case in which the former Mines minister — believed to be super rich — could lose his plush Glen…
