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Govt to cut fuel taxes
CABINET has approved plans to cut selected, time‑bound fuel taxes to ease inflationary pressures and protect consumers amid fuel supply disruptions linked to the war in the Middle East.
It is also weighing raising ethanol blending in petrol from E5 to E20.
This comes as President Mnangagwa on Monday assured the nation that his administration was implementing measures to shield Zimbabwe from global economic shocks caused by the war in the Middle East, which has disrupted global supply chains.
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Addressing a post-Cabinet media briefing in Harare yesterday, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Zhemu Soda said time-bound fuel taxes will be eased.
“Cabinet considered and approved the report on the impact of the Middle East crisis on pricing of basic commodities as presented by the Minister of Industry and Commerce,” said Dr Soda.
“While price hikes have been witnessed in the transport sector, in particular by passenger vehicle operators, Cabinet considered and approved a review of selected and time-bound fuel taxes in order to contain inflationary pressures and safeguard consumer welfare.”
Government, he said, also considered increasing ethanol blending of petrol from the current E5 to E20 level, with a view to reducing the pump price of petrol on the local market.
“Appropriate refinements of the options are underway, and the necessary fuel price adjustments will be communicated in due course,” Dr Soda said.
Local ethanol producers have previously indicated that if the market switched from E5 to E20, motorists would save roughly US18c per litre at the pump — a significant relief.
Dr Soda noted that Cabinet had considered price movements and availability of basic commodities on the domestic market during the period January to March 2026, taking into account the impact of ongoing geopolitical developments in the Middle East.
Despite disruptions in the global oil market and the knock-on effect on international fuel prices, local commodity prices had largely remained stable.
“Most businesses have not increased prices of basic goods such as mealie-meal, laundry soap, cooking oil, sugar, flour, rice, bath soap, washing powder, powdered or fresh milk, eggs, beef, chicken and salt. However, a few bread makers increased prices by an average of 10 percent,” said Dr Soda.
Speaking at the same occasion, the Minister of Industry and Commerce, Mangaliso Ndlovu, said the country has adequate fuel stocks to insulate against supply shocks and maintain price stability.
“We have adequate stocks both inland and in Beira that will see us not experiencing any supply shocks. We have adequate stocks for our industry,” said Minister Ndlovu.
Since the disruptions spawned by the Middle East conflict, Government is working with oil traders in opening up supply routes not affected by the current Middle East conflict.
To enhance supply flexibility, the importation of diesel by road has been approved with immediate effect, in addition to existing pipeline and rail systems.
Authorities have assured the nation that there are enough stocks of petroleum products in the supply chain, with more than three months cover available from Beira and inland storage facilities .
Without Government intervention, diesel would have been priced at US$2,20 per litre instead of the current US$2,05, while petrol would have been higher than the current US$2,17 per litre.
The diesel price has been deliberately set to mitigate the impact on key sectors, including mining, agriculture, haulage services and passenger transport.—Herald
Business
Farmers protest low tobacco auction prices
The low prices being provided at auction floors have angered TOBACCO producers, who are begging with the government to step in and defend their rights.
The concerns followed the formal start of the 2026 tobacco marketing season on Wednesday at the Tobacco Sales Floor (TSF), where the first bale of the season sold for US$4.60 per kilogramme, which was marginally less than the starting price of US$4.65 last year.
Farmers claim that the prices they were getting for their tobacco, which ranged from $0.80 to $2.10 per kilogram, were inadequate.
Mvurwi-based tobacco farmer Justin Chiwara stated that the rates being offered were depressing and would force many producers out of the business in an interview with the 07NewsDaily on Friday.
“We worked very hard the whole season and spent a lot of money on inputs, but the prices we are seeing at the auction floors are very low. It is painful because we expected better returns. Some of our tobacco is being bought for less than US$0.80 per kilogramme. When you look at the cost of fertiliser, chemicals and labour, you realise that we are actually making losses,” said Chiwara.
Another farmer from Chegutu, Godfrey Pasipamire, warned that many growers could fail to repay loans obtained from financial institutions if prices remain depressed.
“We borrowed money to grow this crop and we were hoping to pay back after selling our tobacco. With these prices, it will be very difficult for many farmers to clear their debts. We are asking the government to intervene and make sure buyers offer fair prices. Farmers should not suffer after working so hard throughout the season,” he said.
A senior official from the ministry of Agriculture who visited the Premier Tobacco Auction Floors failed to address farmers after uproar erupted over the low prices being offered.
Premier Tobacco Auction Floors operations manager Samuel Garaba said increased buyer participation could help improve prices.
“We feel that the participation of more buyers can even help raise prices so that more farmers get paid for their tobacco,” said Garaba.
The developments come despite earlier assurances from the government that the sector would remain stable.
In February, authorities said the tobacco industry would remain resilient despite a downturn in global prices, citing Zimbabwe’s reputation for producing premium-quality leaf that is highly sought after on the international market.
The Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board has since indicated that an oversupply of tobacco on the global market has contributed to falling prices.
Recently, the deputy Minister of Agriculture, Vangelis Haritatos, urged farmers to remain calm, saying Zimbabwean tobacco continues to command demand due to its high quality.
“Tobacco is an international commodity. Global prices are global prices, but the issue with our tobacco is that it’s top quality, high quality. So, the demand for high quality tobacco, in my opinion, has not been affected. The affected pricing is the lower quality tobacco, which fortunately our farmers don’t grow in Zimbabwe. So, I believe that prices will be firm at a sustainable and a viable level for our farmers. I’m not worried at all. I don’t believe that is a risk. But I do believe that through our transformation plan that we need to look at other uses of tobacco so that the traditional uses are not the exhausted uses,” Haritatos said.
Last year, Zimbabwe harvested a record 355 million kilogrammes of leaf tobacco, surpassing the government’s initial target of 300 million kilogrammes and eclipsing the previous 2023 record of 296 million kilogrammes.
The crop generated more than US$1.2 billion in foreign exchange earnings. Over 80 percent of the crop was produced by small-scale farmers, largely supported by contract farming arrangements which provided necessary inputs and technical support.
The government this year set an initial projection of 360 million kg for the 2026 harvest. Confidence in the sector is high, with a reported 42 percent increase in planted hectarage, rising to 162 625 hectares, compared to the previous season
Entertainment
SA police service hunts Malloti
The South African Police Service (SAPS) has confirmed to IOL that Zimbabwean musician and social media personality Malloti is wanted in South Africa on a charge of robbery with a firearm, with authorities now moving to have her extradited from Zimbabwe.
Speaking to IOL, Western Cape SAPS spokesperson Captain F.C. Van Wyk confirmed that a warrant of arrest was issued in the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court for an accused identified as Namatai Bhobho.
“The accused is wanted on a case of robbery with firearm after a Warrant of Arrest was issued for her in Wynberg court. The case was removed from the court roll until she is traced and arrested,” Van Wyk said.
He further confirmed to IOL that the docket is currently with the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) after authorities received information that the accused is believed to be living in Zimbabwe.
“The DPP’s office will make arrangements for the accused to be traced and then to be extradited back to South Africa,” he said.
Documents seen by IOL show that the matter is linked to Rondebosch case number CAS 78/11/2017, indicating that the alleged offence dates back to 2017.
A SAPS wanted notice identifies the accused as Namatai Bhobho in connection with an armed robbery investigation in the Western Cape.
According to police, the case was removed from the court roll pending the arrest of the accused — a procedural step commonly taken when a suspect cannot be located.
Authorities have not disclosed further details regarding the circumstances of the alleged robbery incident.
Zimbabwean state media, including state-owned The Herald, has previously identified the musician’s real name as Millicent Tsitsi Chimonyo in separate court proceedings in Harare.
However, the South African warrant of arrest identifies the accused as Namatai Bhobho.
SAPS confirmed to IOL that Namatai Bhobho is the name appearing on the warrant issued in the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court. Authorities have not publicly clarified whether the two names refer to the same individual.
Malloti, a Zimbabwean national who previously lived in South Africa before returning to Zimbabwe, continues to maintain an active public profile as a dancehall performer and social media personality.
Malloti has also appeared in Zimbabwean courts in separate matters.
In a report published by The Herald, the musician — identified in court proceedings as Millicent Chimonyo — appeared before a Harare magistrate in an unrelated case and was granted bail. The report confirmed her legal identity and status as a performer.
She was also involved in a widely publicised dispute with Zimbabwean cleric and socialite Passion Java, which resulted in legal proceedings and intense public exchanges. Media reports at the time detailed accusations and counter-accusations between the two, drawing significant attention.
Separately, H-Metro in Zimbabwe recently ran a front-page story linking Malloti to controversy surrounding the alleged consumption of BronCleer, a banned cough mixture often abused recreationally. The tabloid reported that she spoke openly about using the substance, triggering backlash and public debate.
While SAPS has confirmed that the current extradition process relates specifically to the Western Cape armed robbery case, Malloti’s repeated appearances in court and public legal disputes have positioned her as a controversial figure whose celebrity status has frequently intersected with the justice system.
IOL spoke to Zimbabwean international investigative journalist Maynard Manyowa, who publishes DugUp online, and he said Malloti has been hiding in plain sight.
“We couldn’t believe it when we first found out. We couldn’t believe it at all. Fugitives tend to hide. This one was in plain sight. Living as a celebrity. It’s why we then asked various authoritative figures. And while each of them said they were working on it, it went nowhere,” Manyowa spoke to IOL.
“It’s phenomenal that someone can be wanted for a serious offence that carries as many as 20 years in jail but live out in the open.”
With the docket now before the DPP, the matter has entered the international cooperation phase.
South Africa and Zimbabwe have extradition arrangements that allow individuals facing criminal charges to be returned to the requesting country, subject to legal procedures in both jurisdictions.
If the extradition request proceeds, Zimbabwean courts would ultimately determine whether she is returned to South Africa to face the armed robbery charge.—IOL.
Sport
Senegal to appeal decision to award AFCON title to Morocco
Senegal have condemned the decision to strip them of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title, labelling it “unfair, unprecedented, and unacceptable”, and saying it casts a shadow over African football.
“The Senegalese Football Federation denounces this unfair, unprecedented, and unacceptable decision, which casts a shadow over African football,” it said in a statement on Wednesday.
“To defend its rights and the interests of Senegalese football, the federation will initiate an appeal as soon as possible before the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne,” it said.
Morocco were declared African champions on Tuesday after the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF’s) Appeals Board upheld their protest and found Senegal’s walk-off protest during the final on January 18 were grounds for them to be disqualified and the match result declared 3-0 in favour of the hosts.
Senegal won the final 1-0 in Rabat with an extra-time goal, but not before staging a 14-minute walk-off after a penalty was awarded against them in stoppage time at the end of the regulation 90 minutes.
The protest was instigated by coach Papa Bouna Thiaw, subsequently handed a lengthy ban, and saw Senegal’s veteran striker Sadio Mane emerge as a hero as he attempted to get his teammates back onto the field.
Once Senegal returned to the pitch, the referee allowed play to continue with Morocco squandering the last-gasp penalty, and the encounter then went to extra time, with midfielder Pape Gueye netting the 94th-minute winner.
However, the Appeals Board said that by walking off, Senegal contravened tournament regulations and forfeited the game.
The Swiss-based Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) had to intervene in 2019 when Moroccan club Wydad Casablanca walked off in the second leg of the African Champions League final, also protesting against VAR.
In that case, they refused to play on, and the referee declared opponents Esperance winners, but CAF’s executive committee then surprisingly ordered a replay. Esperance took the matter to CAS and were declared champions, with CAF embarrassingly rebuked for attempting to override the referee’s decision.
The decision by Congolese referee Jean-Jacques Ndala to continue with the AFCON final in January, rather than stop it and declare Morocco winners after Senegal’s walk-off, will likely feature strongly in any arguments for a reinstatement of Senegal as champions.
The Laws of the Game state the referee’s decision is final.
“No one could have imagined such a statement two months after the final,” said veteran coach Claude Le Roy, who managed Senegal between 1988 and 1992.
“For years, all the refereeing decisions have been flouted by the CAF,” he said on French television.
