Latest news in Zimbabwe? September 13th, 2026
13-09-2026
- Government and Commission Reshuffling: President Emmerson Mnangagwa announced sweeping reassignments, moving Tafadzwa Muguti to Permanent Secretary for Local Government and Public Works, redeploying John Basera to the Land Commission, and appointing new leadership for human rights, gender, and electoral commissions [cite: 1.1.1].
- New National Public Holiday Declared: September 15 has been designated an annual public holiday named “Munhumutapa Day” (coinciding with the president’s birthday), drawing both heritage praise and criticism over political positioning [cite: 1.1.2].
- Retail and Economic Lifeline: Business groups and retailers are welcoming a $15 million bank-backed guarantee facility for OK Zimbabwe to ease severe supplier debt and restock shelves strategically, while industrial commentators urge accelerated local manufacturing integration [cite: 1.2.2].
- Fertilizer Import Pressures: Parliamentary and media reports highlight the urgent push to revive local chemical conversion plants (ZimPhos and Dorowa) to eliminate basal fertilizer dependency by 2027 amid high commercial lending rates [cite: 1.2.1].
- Regional Repatriation: South African authorities and civic groups are coordinating the voluntary return and departure of stranded Zimbabwean nationals (including recent processing batches in Johannesburg), with civic forums urging greater funding cooperation from home governments [cite: 1.2.3].
- Agriculture & Tourism Milestones: Following the Sanganai/Hlanganani tourism trade fair reporting $132.3 million in first-half investment [cite: 1.1.3], agricultural updates show a 108% rise in livestock entries at the agricultural show despite foot-and-mouth biosecurity hurdles [cite: 1.1.4].