BY WANDILE TSHUMA

A tragic weekend on Zimbabwe’s roads has left seven people dead and 36 others injured in two separate accidents in Masvingo and Hwange.

The first accident occurred on Monday, at around 2:00 a.m. along the Mutare-Masvingo Road when a Toyota Quantum vehicle carrying 22 Zion Christian Church congregants veered off the road and overturned, killing six people and injuring 16 others.

In a separate incident, one person was killed, and 20 others were injured in Hwange when a Nissan NP300 vehicle overturned after its left rim broke on Sunday, at around 5:00 a.m.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police has urged motorists to exercise caution on the roads, avoiding speeding and observing all road rules and regulations to prevent such tragic accidents.

The police are currently working to identify the victims, and the names will be released once the next of kin have been notified.

BY WANDILE TSHUMA

A 52-year-old Chinese national has appeared in court on charges of illicit financial dealings involving US$880 000.

According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Sun Limin, a Chinese businesswoman, was arrested on July 31, at her premises in Graniteside, Harare.

“The accused, a Chinese national, is facing charges of contravening the Exchange Control Act [Chapter 22:05] and the Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Act [Chapter 9:24:1],” said the NPA in a statement.

“Sun Limin allegedly transferred US$880 000 to China without the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe’s approval between January and July 2025.

Investigations have confirmed bills of entry for the goods, which were imported from China via Forbes Border Post. Witness testimonies from clearing agents and documents proving transactions were also obtained.”

The NPA added that Sun Limin concealed the true nature and source of the funds, which authorities believe are proceeds of crime.

Sun Limin was granted US$500 bail, with conditions that include surrendering her passport, reporting to the police every Friday, and refraining from interfering with witnesses.

“The case highlights growing scrutiny on financial crimes in Zimbabwe, especially involving cross-border transactions. Authorities are tightening controls to curb illicit capital flight and money laundering,” said the NPA.

BY REUTERS

Zimbabwe is on track to achieve a forecasted 6% economic growth in 2025 helped by good agricultural output and strong commodity prices, Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube said on Thursday.

The Southern African country’s economy has shown signs of recovery in the first half of the year following a severe drought and currency turbulence in 2024 that pushed GDP growth down to 2%.

“Given the positive economic developments during the period January to June, we are confident that the projected economic growth of 6% alluded to in the 2025 National Budget is achievable,” Ncube told parliament in a mid-year budget review.

“All sectors of the economy are expected to record positive growth in 2025, mainly on account of a favourable agriculture season, improved electricity generation, stable exchange rate and inflation rate,” he said.

He did not give an update on the budget deficit, which was seen at 0.4% of gross domestic product in 2025 during the budget forecast last November.

Zimbabwe’s fiscal position remains under strain from grain imports, drought relief spending and the public sector wage bill. While the government has collected more revenue than in the same period last year, analysts say containing the deficit may prove difficult without new fiscal measures.

The local currency, the ZiG, launched in April 2024 to replace the Zimbabwe dollar, has largely remained stable against the U.S. dollar but is still overshadowed by widespread use of the dollar in everyday transactions.

Ncube reiterated the government’s commitment to the gold-backed unit and said the currency had benefited from tight monetary and fiscal policies.