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HARARE – I spent my morning at a packed press conference in the heart of the capital today, where the air was thick with both anticipation and the weight of Zimbabwe’s current constitutional crossroads. The gathering, convened by the Sungano yeVanhu (Ubumbano loMphakathi) coalition, felt less like a standard media briefing and more like a significant moment in the nation’s unfolding political narrative.

As I sat among fellow journalists and civic leaders, the presence of heavyweights like constitutional lawyer Professor Lovemore Madhuku, former Finance Minister Tendai Biti, and activists Jacob Ngarivhume and Senator Jameson Timba signaled that this was no ordinary announcement. The focus? The growing calls for a nationwide “stayaway” on July 31 in protest against the recently enacted Constitutional Amendment Act No. 3.

Reverend Dr. Kupa Mtata, the coalition’s convener, took to the podium with a clear and measured message. While he expressed the coalition’s support for what he termed a “citizen-led” call for a peaceful stayaway, he was meticulous in drawing a line between solidarity and organization.

“For the avoidance of doubt,” Dr. Mtata emphasized, looking directly at the bank of cameras, “Sungano yeVanhu/Ubumbano loMphakathi, its leaders and constituent members, did not organise, convene or call for any activity scheduled for 31 July.”

The room was silent as he described the new amendment as a “constitutional coup.” It’s a strong phrase, but one that resonated with the legal challenges already set in motion. Dr. Mtata confirmed that the coalition has officially filed applications at the Constitutional Court, challenging the law on the grounds that it was enacted through an unconstitutional process.

“The cases are filed. The judges will hear us,” he said, his voice steady. “We trust the law and we trust the judges will do the right thing.”

One of the most poignant moments of the morning was the call for peace. Amidst the rising political temperature, Dr. Mtata announced a nationwide intercessory prayer program beginning this Saturday. He urged churches across Zimbabwe to pray for peace, justice, and national unity—a move clearly intended to lower the stakes as the July 31 date approaches.

The coalition’s stance is a delicate one: they reject violence and have urged both citizens and security services to uphold the Constitution. This comes in the wake of stern warnings from government officials, including Home Affairs Minister Kazembe Kazembe, who has stated that the amendment is now law and that any “illegal” protests will be met with the full force of the law.

As I left the venue today, the takeaway was clear. Zimbabwe is entering a week of high-stakes legal and civic maneuvering. The coalition has placed its faith in the courts, while the streets are being urged toward a peaceful “stayaway.” Whether this leads to a resolution or further friction remains the question on everyone’s mind in Harare tonight.

Professor Pardon Kuipa, Vice-Chancellor of Lupane State University, has issued a clarification regarding a widely circulated photograph featuring President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda, university academics, and prominent civic leaders. Professor Kuipa asserted that the photo is entirely unrelated to the ongoing constitutional amendment process, Zanu PF succession politics, or any political agenda, emphasizing that it pertained solely to an academic event.

The photograph, taken at State House in Harare on January 17, 2026, captured Professor Kuipa, Speaker Mudenda, and other notable civic figures in discussions with President Mnangagwa. The meeting centered on the forthcoming launch of the John Landa Nkomo Annual Memorial Lecture, an event to be hosted by Lupane State University in Matabeleland North province, the late Nkomo’s home region.

Attendees in the photograph, from left to right, include Dr. Mbulisi Ndlovu, Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences at Lupane State University; Dr. Gorden Moyo, PhD Programme Coordinator at Lupane State University; Professor Kuipa, Vice-Chancellor of Lupane State University; Jabulani Nkomo, Chairperson of the John Landa Nkomo Memorial Trust; President Mnangagwa, who also serves as the Chancellor of Lupane State University; Advocate Jacob Mudenda, Speaker of the National Assembly; Dr. Samuel Sipepa Nkomo, a board member of the John Landa Nkomo Trust; and Nyararai Sibanda, also a board member of the John Landa Nkomo Trust.

President Mnangagwa hosted the event in his dual capacity as Head of State and University Chancellor. Professor Kuipa, Dr. Ndlovu, and Dr. Moyo represented the university. Speaker Mudenda’s presence was due to John Nkomo being one of his predecessors and the lecture being held in his home region. Jabulani and Samuel Nkomo represented the Nkomo family and the Trust, with Jabulani being John Nkomo’s son and Samuel his brother. Sibanda is a friend of Jabulani.

Addressing the public discourse, Professor Kuipa stated, “I have observed recent comments on that photo across social media platforms. Let me clarify this, hopefully for the final time. I assure you, there is no underlying story here. Yes, the photo is authentic. It was taken at State House on January 17, 2026, when the university, alongside the family of the late John Landa Nkomo, sought the President’s assistance for the John Landa Nkomo Trust’s initiative to establish a memorial lecture for the late Vice-President.”

He added, “The brother (Samuel) and son (Jabulani) of the late J.L. Nkomo are identifiable in the photo. They were present as representatives of the family and the Trust to advance this initiative. The occasion, and consequently the photograph, occurred back in January; it bore no relation to the recent Constitution Amendment Bill No. 3 (CAB3), but was entirely focused on honoring the late J.L. Nkomo, who had previously served as Speaker of Parliament. This is why the current Speaker was in attendance to support the Annual Memorial Lecture. In essence, it had nothing to do with CAB3, succession, or politics whatsoever.”

Prior to Professor Kuipa’s statement, Dr. Moyo, a former opposition MDC-T State Enterprises minister during the Government of National Unity (2009-2013), had also affirmed that the photo was completely unconnected to constitutional amendments, Zanu PF succession politics, or any covert political realignments, contrary to implications and suggestions by some social media activists.

An academic from Lupane State University further commented, “Social media can, at times, be a conduit for misinformation, misleading the public. It is disheartening that we have dedicated so much time and effort, weeks on end to be precise, attempting to clarify a memorial lecture initiative and a photograph due to baseless and utterly unfounded social media conspiracy theories.”

“I have encountered lengthy, convoluted articles—indeed, conspiracy theories in written form—on such a straightforward matter concerning an event that transpired six months ago and is entirely unrelated to the issues and processes referenced in those posts. Completely unrelated,” the lecturer emphasized.

The lecturer further elaborated on the nature of conspiracies: “Conspiracies often arise from epistemic, or knowledge and information, gaps, individual personality traits, and how people perceive and process events. They can manifest as a psychological or epistemic phenomenon at the extreme end of the political spectrum, offering seemingly structured narratives that align with the worldview of their proponents.”

“Many Zimbabweans, particularly in politics, favor ‘Manichean’ narratives, prevalent in religious and populist political rhetoric—an ‘us versus them’ mentality. They tend to interpret situations in a binary fashion, viewing issues as a struggle between good and evil, with no middle ground, no complexity, and no shades of gray. Thus, in politics, one is either Zanu PF or the opposition, nothing more, nothing less. However, one cannot interpret politics or society, or address complex issues, in such a simplistic manner.”

“Manichean narratives frequently attribute the origin of inexplicable or extraordinary events to unknown, yet intentional forces, and often exhibit melodramatic characteristics, as we are witnessing with the stories surrounding this photograph. Frankly, the entire narrative surrounding this photo is implausible, outlandish, or simply false, yet it reveals and confirms what some individuals desire to hear or believe, irrespective of the actual facts and truth.”

The Zimbabwean football fraternity has been plunged into mourning following unconfirmed reports that three senior members of the Highlanders Football Club (Bosso) executive committee perished in a horrific road accident. The incident reportedly occurred along the Gweru–Bulawayo road, a major artery that has seen numerous tragic accidents in recent years.

According to preliminary reports from sources at the scene, the victims include the club’s Chairman, Kenneth Mhlophe, Vice Chairman Fiso Siziba, and Treasurer Nkani Khoza. The trio was allegedly traveling together when the accident occurred. Witnesses at the site shortly after the crash reported that all three men died instantly.

“The scene was devastating. It appears the vehicle was involved in a high-impact collision, and the Chairman, Vice Chairman, and Treasurer did not survive the impact,” stated a source who arrived at the scene shortly after the incident.

A female passenger traveling with the executive members was also reportedly involved in the crash. She is said to be in critical condition and has been rushed to a nearby medical facility for emergency treatment. Her identity has not yet been disclosed to the public.

The exact circumstances surrounding the accident—including the cause of the crash and the involvement of other vehicles—remain unclear. Law enforcement and emergency services are reportedly on the scene, but official statements from the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) and the Highlanders FC board are still pending.

Highlanders FC, one of Zimbabwe’s oldest and most supported football institutions, is currently in its centenary year (1926–2026). The loss of such key leadership figures during this milestone year represents a catastrophic blow to the club and its massive fan base across the country.

This is a developing story. We will provide further details, including official confirmations and funeral arrangements, as they become available.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has declared an end to Zimbabwe’s dependence on imported manufactured goods, calling for accelerated industrialisation, value addition and regional trade as the country positions itself to become a competitive manufacturing hub under Vision 2030.

Officially opening the inaugural *Zimbabwe Industrialisation Conference and Expo 2026* in Harare on Thursday, President Mnangagwa challenged industry, investors and development partners to transform Zimbabwe’s abundant natural resources into finished products, saying the country could no longer afford to import goods that can be manufactured locally.

The President said industrialisation remains the cornerstone of Zimbabwe’s economic transformation and urged stakeholders to strengthen regional value chains, innovation and trade to unlock sustainable growth.

Backing his call with figures from the *State of Industry and 2027 Prospects Study*, President Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe’s industrial sector has demonstrated remarkable resilience over the past seven years.

Industrial capacity utilisation has increased to *61.2 percent* in the first quarter of 2026, compared to *35 percent in 2019, while manufactured exports have risen from **US$360 million to US$584 million. Manufacturing now contributes **17 percent* of Zimbabwe’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Despite the gains, the President said Zimbabwe continues to import approximately *US$2.5 billion* worth of manufactured products every year that could be produced locally.

Addressing Minister of Industry and Commerce Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndlovu during his speech, President Mnangagwa questioned why a country endowed with skilled professionals, innovation hubs and industrial parks continued to rely heavily on imports.

⁠”We have educated people, innovation hubs, industrial parks at our universities and abundant skills in this country. Yet we continue buying everything. No! This must change.”

The remarks drew applause from delegates attending the conference and underscored the administration’s renewed push for domestic production.

“The need to scale up beneficiation, value addition, manufacturing and export of processed materials is now urgent,” the President said.

He identified sectors including *iron and steel, lithium, cement, pharmaceuticals, tobacco, leather, cotton, fertilisers, dairy processing, oilseeds, sugar, grains, logistics and packaging* as key industries requiring accelerated investment and expansion.

President Mnangagwa stressed that Zimbabwe’s industrialisation agenda should extend beyond import substitution to embrace high-value exports, regional integration and expanded trade under the *Southern African Development Community (SADC), the **Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA)* and the *African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)*.

He said his administration would continue implementing institutional reforms, improving the investment climate and mobilising both domestic and international capital to support productive sectors of the economy.

The President also highlighted ongoing investments in modern infrastructure, stable energy supply, transport networks, logistics, digital connectivity and water security as critical enablers of industrial competitiveness.

President Mnangagwa challenged manufacturers to embrace innovation and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, while reiterating that Zimbabwe’s mineral wealth must be processed locally.

“Our policy stance is unequivocal. National resources must be processed and beneficiated for the realisation of maximum economic returns that benefit all our people,” he said.

He also described *Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)* as essential pillars of Zimbabwe’s industrial transformation, calling for greater access to finance, technology and markets to integrate the sector into formal value chains and create more opportunities for youth and women entrepreneurs.

President Mnangagwa reaffirmed policy certainty and an enabling business environment, urging industry, financial institutions, academia and development partners to adopt what he termed a *”Whole of Industry and Society Approach”* to accelerate Zimbabwe’s industrial transformation.

Meanwhile, during the conference’s plenary session, *Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube* announced that Zimbabwe has officially joined the *New Development Bank (NDB), commonly known as the **BRICS Bank*.

The development gives Zimbabwe access to development finance, strengthens economic cooperation with BRICS member states and provides the country with a stronger voice in global development financing and economic decision-making.

Also addressing delegates, *Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Professor Amon Murwira* said Zimbabwe had made significant progress towards establishing fully digitalised, non-stop border posts aimed at facilitating regional trade.

Professor Murwira said consultations with *Zambia, Botswana and Mozambique* had been completed, while engagements with *South Africa* are scheduled for next month.

He said the initiative would reduce border delays, improve the ease of doing business and reinforce Zimbabwe’s investment appeal under the national mantra, *”Zimbabwe is Open for Business.”*

The conference brings together policymakers, business leaders, investors and regional institutions to explore strategies for accelerating industrialisation through regional value chains, innovation and trade, with the aim of positioning Zimbabwe as a competitive manufacturing and investment destination in Africa.

The Zimbabwe Agricultural Society (ZAS) is gearing up for what promises to be one of the most monumental exhibitions in its 131-year history. As the nation prepares for the 116th Zimbabwe Agricultural Show, scheduled to run from August 24 to 29, 2026, organizers are projecting unprecedented participation. Under the guiding theme, “Powering Growth: Where Agriculture, Technology and Commerce Converge,” the event is expected to host 630 exhibitors across an expansive 89,000 square meters of exhibition space.

In a press briefing held in Harare on Thursday, ZAS Chief Executive Officer Rufaro Gunundu outlined the robust preparations underway for the country’s premier agricultural exhibition. Already, the response has been overwhelmingly positive, with 350 exhibitors confirmed and having secured 66,000 square meters of space. These participants include a diverse mix of local and international enterprises.

“This is the country’s premier platform for showcasing agricultural innovation, agribusiness opportunities and commercial excellence,” Gunundu stated, welcoming the media to the official launch.

He emphasized that the sheer scale of this year’s iteration is a testament to the growing confidence in Zimbabwe’s agricultural sector. The convergence of farming, technology, and commerce is seen as a critical driver for economic expansion, employment generation, and foreign investment.

A particularly striking metric for this year’s show is the surge in tobacco entries, which have skyrocketed to 120—a staggering 135 percent increase from the previous year. This growth is largely attributed to heightened participation from the Manicaland and Matabeleland South provinces, spanning both Flue Cured Virginia (FCV) and Naturally Cured Virginia (NCV) categories.

Beyond tobacco, the exhibition highlights the resilience and modernization of other key sectors. The cotton segment maintains a solid presence with 40 entries, emphasizing advancements in crop varieties, mechanization, and value addition. Similarly, the agri-produce section has seen a notable influx of processors, reflecting a renewed industry focus on food safety, sophisticated packaging, and broader market access.

Innovation and inclusivity are also at the forefront of the upcoming event. The Micro Enterprise and Home Industries section continues to grow, spotlighting creative strides in food processing, leather goods, crafts, and cosmetics, with a pronounced emphasis on empowering women and youth entrepreneurs. The livestock segment remains robust, drawing sustained interest across beef and dairy cattle, goats, sheep, pigs, rabbits, and poultry, a clear indicator of the sector’s vitality.

To complement the exhibition, Gunundu unveiled an extensive schedule of strategic engagements designed to foster dialogue among government officials, industry leaders, researchers, and investors. The agenda kicks off with the Livestock Conference on August 5, dedicated to building resilient farming systems, followed by the ZAS Charity Golf Tournament on August 7. The latter will raise crucial funds for the ZAS Royal Agriculture Diploma Scholarship Programme, supporting disadvantaged students.

During the main exhibition week, the schedule is packed with high-level conferences. Delegates will engage in the Green Indaba on August 24, the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) Conference on August 25, and the Annual National Agribusiness Conference (ANAC). A highlight on August 26 will be the AI in Agriculture Conference and Dinner, co-organized with the Ministry of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services. Additional marquee events include the Exhibitors’ Cocktail, the Research for Agriculture Conference, the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Conference, and the Excellence Technology Indaba, focusing on enterprise development and technological innovation.

The grand finale, the official opening ceremony, is slated for Friday, August 28, 2026, with comprehensive logistical preparations underway to ensure the event’s prestigious reputation is upheld.

Recognizing the importance of public engagement, the show will feature a vibrant entertainment lineup at the Glamis Arena. Families can expect live performances from renowned local artists, complemented by spectacular fireworks displays on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday evenings.

To ensure a seamless and secure experience for attendees, ZAS has implemented significant operational upgrades. These include a transition to online registration and ticket sales, the addition of new entry gates, and expanded secure parking. Furthermore, security infrastructure at the Business Hub has been fortified with upgraded closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems, and a proven child-tagging program will be reinstated to ensure the safety and quick reunification of lost children.

Concluding the briefing, Gunundu extended an open invitation to exhibitors, stakeholders, and the general public to take part in what he described as the nation’s flagship agricultural event. “The exhibition remains a vital platform for promoting agricultural innovation, strengthening value chains and accelerating national economic development,” he affirmed, underscoring the profound impact of the gathering on Zimbabwe’s future.