The Zimbabwe government has confirmed a civil servant's salary increase effective 1 April 2026, following a job evaluation exercise aimed at aligning pay with roles and responsibilities across the public sector. The announcement was made by Edgar Moyo during a media briefing in Bulawayo on Friday, signalling what authorities describe as a step toward improving worker welfare.

The Zimbabwe government has formally banned the importation of second-hand clothing, commonly known as mabhero, under new regulations now carrying full legal force. The measures are contained in Statutory Instrument 59 of 2026, issued under the Control of Goods (Import and Export) (Commerce) (Amendment) Regulations, marking a shift from previous informal or verbal restrictions to enforceable law.

The Zimbabwe economy has been officially rebased to an estimated US$52.4 billion for 2025, positioning it as the second-largest economy in Southern Africa after South Africa. The revised figures were released by the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStat) following a comprehensive economic census conducted in 2023, which captured previously underreported sectors, particularly the informal economy.

The Namibia government has slashed fuel levies by 50 percent for three months in a bid to shield consumers from rising global oil prices, even as pump prices are set to increase from 1 April 2026. The temporary Namibia fuel tax reduction 2026 measure, announced on 27 March, will run until the end of June, with authorities drawing from the National Energy Fund to cushion motorists and businesses.

The National Joint Negotiating Council (NJNC) has announced a new civil servants salary structure in Zimbabwe for 2026, set to take effect on 1 April, in a move aimed at cushioning public sector workers against inflation and currency volatility. The NJNC, a collective bargaining platform between the Government of Zimbabwe and public sector unions, confirmed the development following a high-level meeting held on 26 March at Kaguvi Building in Harare.

HARARE – The Zimbabwean government says it is finalising plans to implement a long-awaited salary increase for civil servants starting in April, with negotiations expected to conclude within days.

HARARE – The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) has suspended its controversial 10% local currency retention requirement for small-scale gold miners, reverting to 100% US dollar payments following strong resistance from the sector. The policy reversal comes less than a month after the central bank introduced a 90:10 payment framework on February 27, requiring artisanal miners to receive a portion of their gold proceeds in Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG).

HARARE – Zimbabwe and India are stepping up efforts to transform long-standing diplomatic relations into tangible economic benefits, with officials and business leaders calling for increased trade, investment, and industrial cooperation.

HARARE, ZIMBABWE – Zimbabwe is accelerating development of the Muzarabani oil and gas project as part of efforts to reduce reliance on imported fuel, stabilise local supply, and shield the economy from volatile global energy prices driven by Middle East tensions. The project, located in the Cabora Bassa Basin, is now the country’s most advanced hydrocarbon exploration initiative, according to government officials.

HARARE, ZIMBABWE – The price of a standard loaf of bread in Zimbabwe has risen sharply, with a snap survey across major urban centres showing retail prices now ranging between US$1 and US$1.17, as rising fuel costs continue to push up production and distribution expenses.

Mthuli Ncube says the government will begin paying both current and new local suppliers exclusively in the domestic currency, ZiG, under a new procurement framework aimed at strengthening the use of the local unit. The measure forms part of a newly introduced National Standard Price List (NSPL) designed to guide procurement by government ministries, departments, and agencies. Announcing the policy, Ncube said the price list would establish reference prices for commonly procur

Zimbabwe’s retail property sector is experiencing rising interest from international brands seeking to enter or expand within the market, according to the fund manager of Tigere Real Estate Investment Trust. Speaking after the release of the company’s latest financial results, Tigere Property Fund director Brett Abrahamse said the firm is receiving frequent enquiries from global retailers looking for space in the country.

HARARE – Zimbabwe has spent more than US$140 million importing beauty, cosmetic and personal care products over the past five years, raising concerns within government about the growing pressure on the country’s foreign currency reserves.

Zimbabwe’s rapidly expanding mining sector is driving a surge in demand for explosives and industrial chemicals, highlighting both new economic opportunities and significant gaps in the country’s domestic manufacturing capacity.

Commuters across Zimbabwe are facing higher transport costs after the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) announced a significant increase in fuel prices on Wednesday.

Harare — The Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) says tobacco prices in Zimbabwe are beginning to stabilise after an early-season shock that saw some bales selling for as little as US$0.35 per kilogram, despite the first bale fetching US$4.60 per kilogram at the start of the 2026 marketing season.

Bona Mugabe, the daughter of the late former Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe, has been appointed deputy chairperson of the board of EmpowerBank following the constitution of a new seven-member board. The appointment was made by Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training Minister Tino Machakaire as part of a restructuring of the state-backed financial institution aimed at strengthening youth empowerment initiatives.

HARARE – Zimbabwe risks being judged harshly by future generations if it fails to industrialise its rural communities and retain value from its mineral wealth, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has warned.

HARARE – A senior official at the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) has urged citizens to change their perceptions of the country’s local currency, the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG), saying public confidence is critical for the nation’s long-term goal of achieving a mono-currency economy.

Tobacco farmers in Zimbabwe have threatened to withdraw their crops from auction floors after prices reportedly plunged on the opening day of the 2026 marketing season. The 2026 tobacco marketing season officially began on Wednesday, 4 March, with the first bale selling for US$4.60 per kilogramme, slightly lower than the US$4.65 recorded at the start of last year’s auction.