Job Sikhala’s arrest in Pretoria over alleged explosives has sparked controversy, with his lawyers claiming a political setup ( image source ) The arrest of former MP Job Sikhala in Pretoria has raised fresh questions after South African police claimed explosives were found in the vehicle he was travelling in — an allegation his legal team strongly disputes. Images of Sikhala in handcuffs circulating widely on social media have fuelled outrage and speculation in both Zimbabwe

A runaway goods train carrying 450,000 litres of diesel crashed at Mpopoma Station after brake failure, rupturing tankers, spilling fuel and triggering a major emergency response ( image source ) A freight train transporting about 450,000 litres of diesel from Mozambique crashed at Mpopoma Station in Bulawayo after reportedly losing braking power, resulting in damage to several tank wagons and raising fears of a potential fuel fire. According to city officials, the train had

Zimbabwe forward Knowledge Musona has been ruled out of the November international friendlies against Qatar and Algeria after suffering a hamstring injury ( image source ) Veteran forward Knowledge Musona has been ruled out of Zimbabwe’s November international fixtures after sustaining a hamstring injury while playing for Scottland FC, the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) announced on 9 November 2025. The association confirmed the injury occurred during a league match and

A detailed look at ZICCO’s licensing reforms, royalty distribution changes and efforts to rebuild trust with creators as it prepares for its 2025 elective AGM in Bulawayo The Zimbabwe Council of Copyrights (ZICCO) has, over the past 18 months, positioned itself as a pivotal institution in the country’s creative economy. As the body responsible for collecting and distributing royalties while licensing businesses that use copyrighted works, ZICCO’s influence has grown in both o

UDCORP returns to profitability and accelerates housing delivery with 3,000 serviced stands at Knockmallock, while stakeholders call for transparency and stronger infrastructure support ( image source ) UDCORP, the state-owned Urban Development Corporation, has completed a sweeping transformation strategy that has restored the parastatal to profitability and strengthened its role in national housing delivery. Officials confirmed the milestone during a stakeholder tour of the

A tribute to Cde Bernadette Betty Bonde, a Liberation Heroine whose life of loyalty, service, and dedication to ZANU PF, community empowerment, and national development President and First Secretary of ZANU PF, His Excellency Cde Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa’s conferment of Liberation Heroine Status on the late Cde Bernadette Betty Bonde reminded the nation that Zimbabwe’s peace, freedom and progress rest on the sacrifices of dedicated cadres. From her humble beginnings as

AU observers say Tanzania’s election fell short of democratic standards, citing ballot-stuffing, internet shutdowns, detentions and transparency failures ( image source ) DAR ES SALAAM — The African Union’s election observation mission has concluded that Tanzania’s recent general election did not meet the bloc’s democratic principles and fell short of international standards. In a preliminary report released Wednesday, the mission said widespread irregularities undermined the

Ghanaian community advocate Gladys Otae Addo Osei wins the Global Excellence Award in Namibia for her leadership in youth empowerment, governance advocacy and community development ( image source ) WINDHOEK — Ghanaian community development advocate and governance activist Gladys Otae Addo Osei has received the Global Excellence Award for Change Maker in Leadership and People’s Development at the 2025 Leaders Without Borders International Forum in Windhoek, Namibia. Osei, foun

A Cuban migrant deported to Eswatini has launched a hunger strike over prolonged detention ( image source ) MBABANE — A Cuban national deported from the United States to Eswatini in July has begun an indefinite hunger strike to protest his prolonged detention, his U.S.-based lawyer said. The man, identified as Roberto Mosquera del Peral, has reportedly been held for months without formal charges, access to independent legal counsel or clear information about his legal status.

Two brothers accused of murdering South African rapper AKA and businessman Tibz are set to be extradited from Eswatini after withdrawing their legal challenge ( image source ) MBABANE — Two brothers accused in the high-profile murders of South African rapper Kiernan “AKA” Forbes and businessman Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane are set to be extradited from Eswatini to South Africa after abandoning their legal challenge to the transfer, authorities confirmed. Malusi and Siyabonga Ndima

EU envoy Johan Borgström has urged armed groups in eastern DRC to allow humanitarian corridors amid intensifying conflict ( image source ) KINSHASA — The European Union’s special representative to the Great Lakes region has called on all armed actors in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to allow the immediate opening of humanitarian corridors to reach civilians trapped by escalating fighting, warning that continued obstruction of aid operations risks a deepening huma

Nigeria rejects US claims of Christian persecution after remarks by Ted Cruz and Donald Trump spark diplomatic tension ( image source ) Tensions between Nigeria and the United States have flared after senior American politicians, including Senator Ted Cruz and former US President Donald Trump, made sharp accusations of religious persecution against Christians in Nigeria — claims that Abuja has strongly rejected as politically charged and misleading. Senator Cruz commended rec

Tsholotsho RDC faces turmoil over alleged misuse of Campfire funds as an audit sparks political tension and councillor suspensions ( image source ) The Tsholotsho Rural District Council (RDC) has been thrown into turmoil following allegations of misappropriated Campfire funds, a development that has sparked political tension, accusations of bias, and calls for independent investigation. District Development Coordinator (DDC) Aaron Gono has reportedly recommended the suspensio

The Republic of Congo is negotiating a debt-for-nature swap with European partners to fund conservation of the Congo Basin, the world’s second-largest rainforest ( image source ) The Republic of Congo is pursuing a debt-for-nature swap with European partners as part of efforts to make its public debt more sustainable while preserving the Congo Basin — the world’s second-largest tropical rainforest and a critical global carbon sink. Finance Minister Christian Yoka, speaking at

Zimbabwe plans to liberalise gold ownership, allowing citizens to buy and hold gold legally ( image source ) Finance Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube has endorsed a proposal to liberalise gold ownership for Zimbabwean citizens, calling it a logical reform to align the country’s monetary system with international norms and to offer households a reliable store of value. Speaking at the 2026 pre-budget seminar in Bulawayo, Prof Ncube said the government is reviewing frameworks fr

Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube has proposed reducing Zimbabwe’s IMTT while slightly raising VAT to maintain revenue stability ( image source ) BULAWAYO — Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube signalled a potential fiscal trade-off at a pre-budget seminar this week, proposing a calibrated reduction in the Intermediated Money Transfer Tax (IMTT) offset by a marginal increase in Value Added Tax (VAT) as the government weighs reform

Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Education opens the 2026 eMAP portal for Form 1 boarding applications ( image source ) HARARE — The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has officially opened the electronic Ministry Application Platform (eMAP) for Form 1 boarding-place applications for 2026, prompting parents and guardians nationwide to begin submitting choices ahead of the December 31 closing date and to familiarise themselves with the system’s rules and timelines. The online

Public outrage follows a High Court ruling granting US$100 bail to an alleged armed robber, sparking debate over judicial discretion, bail standards and public safety ( image source ) HARARE — The High Court’s decision to grant US$100 bail to a man described in court papers as a “notorious” armed robber has provoked public outcry and raised questions about bail standards and judicial discretion in high-profile violent crime cases. Justice Rogers Manyangadze approved the relea

Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube’s claim that most Zimbabweans now spend over US$9 a day sparks debate ( image source ) BULAWAYO — Finance Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube told delegates at a 2026 pre-budget seminar that the majority of Zimbabweans are now spending in excess of US$9 per day on average, a figure he linked to the nation’s progress toward middle-income thresholds and the broader goals of the National Development Strategy and Vision 2030. His remarks sparked immediat

Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga orders a January ban on raw lithium exports, directing miners to establish local processing plants ( image source ) HARARE — Vice-President Dr Constantino Chiwenga has issued a firm directive to Zimbabwe’s lithium sector, ordering that the export of raw lithium ore and spodumene must end by January, as the government pushes to enforce beneficiation and expand downstream industrial activity. The directive follows a tour of Kamativi Mine in M