President Emmerson Mnangagwa has directed government ministries and agencies to urgently eliminate trade restrictions as Zimbabwe intensifies efforts to boost cross-border commerce and deepen regional economic integration. The directive will initially focus on countries within the Southern African Development Community, where persistent tariff and non-tariff barriers continue to slow the movement of goods, services, and people.

HARARE — Botswana’s President Duma Boko is set to arrive in Zimbabwe this Tuesday, April 21, for a high-stakes three-day State visit that is expected to recalibrate bilateral ties and accelerate shared economic agendas. The visit, undertaken at the invitation of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, will culminate in the 66th edition of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF).

VICTORIA FALLS — The historic Victoria Falls Bridge, a 120-year-old engineering marvel that has long served as a vital artery for regional trade, is set to undergo a major transition. President Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia has announced that both Zambia and Zimbabwe will formally restrict heavy trucks and trains from using the bridge to protect its structural integrity.

HARARE — Zimbabwe’s newly introduced import restrictions under Statutory Instrument (SI) 59 of 2026 are expected to strengthen local manufacturing and protect domestic industries, according to fresh analysis by Lucent Consultancy. The regulations, issued under the Control of Goods Act, mark a significant shift in the country’s trade policy, with authorities aiming to curb foreign currency outflows, enhance product standards, and stimulate domestic production.

HARARE — The Zimbabwean government has adopted a sustainable financing model to fast-track the rehabilitation of the 356-kilometre Harare–Chirundu Highway, a key regional trade corridor linking Zimbabwe to Zambia, Malawi and the Democratic Republic of Congo.