JOHANNESBURG: Zimbabwe's rough diamond trade has escaped a six-month suspension by the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) - an international initiative to stem the flow of conflict diamonds - after its own investigating team recommended earlier in 2009 that the country be temporarily barred from importing and exporting the gems. 6 Nov 2009 10:45
Zimbabwe faces having its diamonds suspended from international trading because of alleged human rights abuses by government security forces in the country's diamond fields. 4 Nov 2009 09:00
[Dumisani Ndlela] The country's beverages group, Delta Corporation, has brought back the Chibuku “shake-shake” brand of opaque beer which had been abandoned in 1991 with the introduction of the “scud” brand. 23 Oct 2009 11:58
[Fidelis Zvomuya] Standing under a Musawu tree, in the middle of her homestead, three months pregnant, Muchaneta Kagodo, is terrified, as changes in climate have spelt misery, loss and hunger. Kagodo is from Kairezi village in Muzarabani, Zimbabwe. 22 Oct 2009 12:02
HARARE: The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Standard Chartered Bank of Zimbabwe (Stanchart) have signed an agreement to enable the bank to expand its lending by US$20 million over five years. The program, made possible under USAID's Development Credit Authority, is targeted at the agricultural sector and will allow Stanchart to increase the number of loans it makes directly to farmers and enterprises. 6 Oct 2009 08:34
The Dairy Board of Zimbabwe yesterday, 1 October 2009, informed the Gushungo Dairy Estate and the seven other farms with whom Nestlé Zimbabwe began working on a temporary basis in February 2009, that it is now in a position to resume purchasing their milk. Nestlé Zimbabwe therefore will no longer be receiving milk from these eight farms from Sunday, 4 October 2009. 2 Oct 2009 09:32
[Dumisani Ndlela] Standard Chartered Bank (Zimbabwe), the primary agent for Visa in Zimbabwe, announced the return of Visa this week, noting that it had started issuing bank customers with the cards on request. 23 Sep 2009 08:52
[Dumisani Ndlela] Zimbabwe's retail players are circumventing wholesalers in the country's supply chain as retail competition in the country intensifies. Retailers are seeking direct relationships with manufacturers in order to cut prices and keep customers in a highly competitive market. 17 Sep 2009 13:53
The European Union declared on Sunday, 13 September 2009 that it will maintain targeted economic sanctions over Zimbabwe, while continuing to provide an annual assistance of 90 million euro, about 130 million US dollars, in aid. 15 Sep 2009 09:47
[Dumisani Ndlela] After a lull sparked by commodity shortages and a clampdown on manufacturers and distributors, retailers have resurfaced with a fleet of campaigns. The emergence of TM and OK on the advertising scene signals the beginning of a bloodbath as prices start racing downwards. 17 Aug 2009 10:20
[Dumisani Ndlela] Zimbabwe's retail giants are facing stiff competition from an emergent crop of small retailers who have taken a significant share of the market. But the big players said they will leverage their brand and life-sized operations to outperform the new rivals and regain market share. 7 Aug 2009 11:26
[Alison Walkley] Seventy five Zimbabweans have officially graduated from a small business-training program, each specialising in a skill from which they can reap economic benefits. The program, run by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), the Zimbabwe Women's Bureau, and sponsored by the Spanish government, has already turned out 45 graduates who have launched successful new businesses. 4 Aug 2009 10:50
[Dumisani Ndlela] Zimbabwe's central bank said it had intervened to help bring in Visa International back into the country ahead of a surge in international tourist arrivals during the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. 4 Aug 2009 10:02