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CZR Hits Back at CZI Over Import Licence Push

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The Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers (CZR) has strongly opposed a proposal by the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) to introduce an import and export licensing regime for clothing and textile products, warning it would raise costs, disrupt supply chains and undermine competitiveness in the sector.

CZR president Dr. Denford Mutashu said the industry body was “shocked” that retailers were excluded from consultations that informed CZI’s May 20 position paper to the Ministry of Industry and Commerce. The document called for the imposition of import and export controls, a move CZR says would tilt the playing field unfairly.

“We are concerned that several key suppliers and retailers were not involved in the May 15 discussions which produced that paper. Retailers, who form a critical link in the value chain, were not invited despite the fact that the decision directly affects their viability,” said Mutashu.

While acknowledging challenges facing the sector — such as rampant smuggling, high production costs, limited local capacity and shrinking formal employment — CZR stressed that introducing import permits would worsen rather than solve the problems.

According to the retailers, licensing would lengthen ordering cycles, discourage international brands, and give smugglers and informal traders an advantage, while formal businesses struggle with “another bureaucratic hurdle.”

CZR also questioned the justification of using import licences as a data-collection tool, saying information on fabric imports is already available through the Ministry of Finance and ZIMRA records.

The retailers reaffirmed support for David Whitehead Textiles’ investments in Kadoma and Chegutu but noted that local producers are not yet able to meet the quality and variety demands of fashion retail. “Over 98 percent of fabrics used in fashion production, such as lycra t-shirting, twill with spandex, poplins and denim, are still being imported,” CZR said.

Instead of permits, the organisation recommended: regular multi-stakeholder engagements that include retailers, closer collaboration between textile manufacturers and retailers to align to market needs, and fiscal incentives to strengthen the entire cotton-to-clothing value chain.

CZR added that such measures would help the sector prepare for competition under the African Continental Free Trade Area and align with the government’s Vision 2030 of transforming Zimbabwe into a middle-income economy.

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Former COO Fayaz King Returns to Lead Econet InfraCo

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Econet Wireless Zimbabwe has appointed its former Chief Operating Officer, Fayaz King, as the Chief Executive Officer of its newly established infrastructure subsidiary, Econet InfraCo.

King is making a return to the telecommunications giant after departing in 2019 to serve as Assistant Secretary-General at the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). He is set to assume his new role on 1 March 2026.

Econet InfraCo is expected to list on the Victoria Falls Stock Exchange (VFEX) toward the end of March, subject to shareholder approval of Econet’s proposed delisting from the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange and transition to an over-the-counter trading platform overseen by the VFEX.

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International FinTech Executive Tinashe Muhove Supports SMEs and Youth Talent

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LONDON — International fintech executive Tinashe Muhove is playing an important role in expanding financial access, supporting small businesses, and helping young people enter the global fintech industry.

Muhove has worked in senior positions at well-known fintech companies such as Mukuru, Mama Money, and MoneyGram. In these roles, he focused on growing businesses and expanding into new markets, especially in cross-border payments and money transfer services.

Much of his work has targeted emerging and underbanked communities, helping improve access to financial services in Africa, Europe, and other regions.

Industry experts say his experience dealing with different regulations and business environments has given him a strong understanding of both business growth and financial inclusion.

Muhove is currently the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of UJU, a UK-based technology company that supports small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The platform helps high-street businesses keep customers and improve long-term profits at a time when competition and digital change are increasing.

UJU provides tools that help businesses encourage repeat customers and maintain steady income. This is important as many small businesses face rising costs and changing customer habits. The company’s work supports wider efforts in the UK to strengthen local economies and protect jobs.

Alongside his business work, Muhove is also involved in education and skills development. He founded Fin4NextGen, a four-week global programme that introduces young people to the fintech industry.

The programme teaches basic fintech ideas, career options, and real-life examples. It mainly targets young people who may not normally have access to the fintech sector. This supports industry efforts to improve skills and increase diversity in fintech.

Muhove is also sharing his ideas through writing. He is currently working on a book about the challenges of building fintech startups. The book follows two young entrepreneurs in the same industry but with very different goals, and looks at ambition, ethics, and purpose.

At the centre of the book is a key question he believes founders must ask themselves:

“Why am I building what I am building?”

Analysts say this focus on purpose reflects a wider shift in fintech, as companies are now expected to consider social impact as well as profit.

With experience in global fintech companies, SME technology, youth education, and thought leadership, Muhove is increasingly seen as someone helping shape the future of the UK and global fintech industry.

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Dangote Appoints MTN CEO Ralph Mupita to Fertiliser Board Ahead of IPO

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Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has appointed MTN Group Chief Executive Officer Ralph Mupita to the board of Dangote Fertiliser as the company prepares for a landmark initial public offering (IPO) on the Nigerian Stock Exchange later this year.

 

Dangote Fertiliser Managing Director Vishwajit Sinha confirmed Mupita’s appointment, signalling a strategic move as the fertiliser business positions itself for expansion and entry into public markets.

 

Mupita’s inclusion brings high-level capital markets and corporate governance experience to Dangote’s fast-growing fertiliser unit. He previously led the successful 2019 listing of MTN Nigeria, now one of the country’s most valuable companies. Since its listing, MTN Nigeria’s revenues have more than quadrupled, and the company currently boasts a market capitalisation of about US$8.6 billion, making it the Nigerian Exchange’s second-largest stock after BUA Foods.

 

The appointment comes at a pivotal moment for Dangote Fertiliser, which is seeking to tap public markets to fund ambitious expansion plans. The company currently produces around 3 million tonnes of granulated urea annually from its US$2.5 billion Lagos-based complex and aims to become the world’s largest fertiliser producer by 2028.

 

To support this goal, Dangote Fertiliser plans to expand its existing Nigerian operations and commence construction of a new production facility in Ethiopia later this year. The Ethiopian plant is expected to strengthen the company’s footprint in East Africa while supporting regional food security and agricultural productivity.

 

Africa’s fertiliser market is gaining prominence as the continent experiences the world’s fastest population growth. According to the African Development Bank, rising food demand, rapid urbanisation and expanding intra-African trade could see the continent’s agricultural sector grow to more than US$1 trillion by 2030. However, limited access to fertilisers remains a key challenge for many small-scale farmers, constrained by financing gaps, poor infrastructure and underdeveloped markets.

 

Dangote Fertiliser’s expansion is positioned as a response to these challenges, aiming to reduce Africa’s dependence on imported fertilisers while supporting higher crop yields across the continent.

 

Mupita has led MTN Group, Africa’s largest mobile network operator, for more than five years, having joined the group in 2017 as chief financial officer. Prior to MTN, he held senior roles at South African financial services group Old Mutual and began his career as a trained engineer. His blend of engineering, finance and capital-markets expertise is expected to bolster Dangote Fertiliser’s governance and investor appeal ahead of its IPO.

 

Beyond fertiliser, Dangote Industries is also preparing to list its massive oil refinery business, a move Aliko Dangote has previously described as part of a broader strategy to raise capital, deepen transparency and attract institutional investors.

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