PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa has directed that the findings of the Commission of Inquiry led by Justice Tendai Uchena into the sale of State land in urban areas across all 10 provinces, dating back to 2005, be officially published for public access.

The instruction was communicated through General Notice 608 of 2026, released in the Government Gazette by Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Martin Rushwaya.

“It is hereby notified that His Excellency, the President, in terms of Section 62 of the Constitution, has directed the publication of the report of the Commission of Inquiry into the Matter of Sale of State land in and around Urban Areas since 2005, the notice said.

The investigation examined the disposal of State land in major urban centres and provinces, including Harare and Bulawayo metropolitan areas, as well as Matabeleland North and South, Mashonaland East, West and Central, Midlands, Manicaland and Masvingo.

The commission, established in 2018 and chaired by Justice Uchena, was formed in response to the rapid rise of illegal settlements in urban areas, largely attributed to unlawful land sales by so-called land barons.

It was created through Statutory Instrument 11 of 2018, which amended Statutory Instrument 102 of 2017 that initially set up the inquiry into the sale of State land in and around urban areas since 2005.

Among its responsibilities, the commission was tasked with identifying all State land designated for urban development and allocated to the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing since 2005.

It also investigated the ownership status, occupation, and development of the land, while examining how current occupants and beneficiaries acquired or were allocated the land.

Additionally, the commission sought to identify individuals and entities involved in the allocation, occupation, and use of the land. It was empowered to conduct site visits, summon witnesses, record testimonies, and compile detailed documentation to support its findings.

The commission was further authorised to probe any other relevant issues connected to the inquiry and to present a comprehensive written report with its conclusions and recommendations to the President.

Zimbabwe’s tourism sector demonstrated significant growth in the first quarter of 2026, with receipts increasing by 14 percent to US$251 million, up from US$221 million in the same period last year. International tourist arrivals also rose by 11 percent, indicating a strong recovery for a key foreign currency earner following the global pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic, which emerged in December 2019, severely impacted the tourism industry due to national lockdowns and travel restrictions imposed by the World Health Organization. However, the sector has shown robust signs of recovery.

According to the latest figures from the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA), international tourist arrivals reached 384,561 in the first quarter of 2026, an increase from 347,555 during the corresponding period in the previous year. This growth suggests sustained demand and improved competitiveness for the destination.

Africa remained the primary source market, accounting for 75 percent of total arrivals in the quarter under review, a slight decrease from 76 percent in the same period last year.

Recent strategic initiatives and a heritage-based tourism approach have contributed to Zimbabwe’s positioning as a rapidly growing tourism destination in Africa. The country has received notable international recognition, including Tourism Minister Barbara Rwodzi being named Africa’s Best Minister of Tourism. Zimbabwe was also awarded Best Natural Destination – Wonders by PATWA during ITB Berlin. Additionally, Forbes listed Zimbabwe among the world’s must-visit destinations, enhancing its global tourism appeal.

Minister Rwodzi was also recognized as the top-performing Cabinet minister for 2025.

The tourism sector’s growth agenda received further impetus in February with the appointment of Dr. George Manyaya as the new Chief Executive Officer of the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA). This appointment is viewed as a strategic move to enhance destination marketing, strengthen investor confidence, and preserve Zimbabwe’s tourism heritage. The increase in tourism receipts, from US$221 million to US$251 million, highlights the sector’s strategic importance as a significant foreign currency earner and an economic growth driver for Zimbabwe.

The ZTA attributes this performance to the country’s rising global profile and the resulting increase in confidence in the destination. The authority reported an 11 percent increase in international tourist arrivals and a 14 percent growth in tourism receipts. This performance is supported by international accolades, including recognition by Forbes and the ‘Destination of the Year for Natural Wonders’ award at ITB Berlin 2026, alongside Minister Barbara Rwodzi’s recognition as Tourism Minister of the Year (Africa) for the sector’s recovery and strategic growth.

Improved air connectivity, expanded domestic and regional flight networks, and cluster-based tourism development initiatives have supported the positive trajectory of the sector.

Domestic tourism emerged as a significant growth area, with trips rising to 2.62 million from 1.94 million last year. This increase was largely driven by social travel, religious tourism, and education-related visits.

Internationally, growth in arrivals was recorded across all major source markets. Arrivals from Africa increased by nine percent, while overseas markets experienced a stronger 16 percent growth. The share of overseas markets slightly increased from 24 percent in 2025 to 25 percent in 2026. The growing contribution from overseas tourists, who typically have higher spending patterns, is enhancing the overall value of tourism inflows.

Despite the overall positive trend, the sector has encountered challenges, particularly due to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. These tensions led to route disruptions and rising fuel costs, contributing to a 12 percent decline in inbound tourism in March alone. The conflict affected all source markets, with long-haul overseas arrivals being particularly impacted due to their reliance on international flight connectivity.

National average hotel occupancy levels showed a marginal improvement to 38 percent during the quarter, up from 37 percent in the corresponding period last year. However, performance varied across provinces. Manicaland recorded a notable recovery in hotel occupancies, increasing to 42 percent from 27 percent, and Mashonaland East also saw progress, rising to 19 percent from 11 percent. Conversely, hotel occupancy rates in Mashonaland Central declined by nine percentage points to 17 percent, and Matabeleland South decreased to 10 percent from 16 percent last year. Harare recorded an average hotel room occupancy of 45 percent, down from 48 percent, while Bulawayo saw a slight decrease to 36 percent from 37 percent.

Tourism investment registered a significant increase, largely driven by a recent ZTA registration blitz that formalized previously unregistered tourism facilities. As a result, investments into the sector improved by 438 percent to US$67.8 million in the first quarter of this year.

The ZTA, operating under the mandate of the Tourism Act of 1996 [Chapter 14:20], conducted a nationwide blitz during the first quarter to enforce compliance with registration and licensing requirements across the tourism value chain.

This initiative aims to ensure that all tourism operators, including accommodation providers and tour operators, adhere to legal and prescribed standards.

Itai Mazire

Government has handed over critical post-harvest and mechanisation equipment to smallholder farmers in a major push to slash post-harvest losses and boost national food security, the Ministry of Finance announced yesterday.

The consignment, delivered under the Zimbabwe Agricultural Productivity Programme includes 1 000 metal silos of 0.25 metric tonnes, 1 100 silos of 1.0 metric tonne, 70 multi-crop threshers, and five combine harvesters.

“The support includes 1 000 units of 0.25 MT metal silos, 1 100 units of 1.0 MT metal silos, 70 multi-crop threshers and 5 combine harvesters,” the Ministry said, specifying the equipment is “targeted at smallholder farmers, A1 and communal farming sectors to improve storage, efficiency and value addition.”

The handover marks a strong collaboration between Government, the African Development Bank, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

“This milestone reflects strong collaboration between Government, the African Development Bank and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations whose financial and technical support continues to drive resilience, productivity and climate-smart agriculture,” read the statement.

The initiative is squarely aligned with the Treasury’s broader economic blueprint.

“Aligned with ZimTreasury’s focus on sustainable public finance and economic growth, the initiative supports food security, improved livelihoods and agricultural transformation under Vision 2030,” the Ministry added.

Analysts said the mechanisation drive could significantly cut the estimated 30 percent of grain lost annually due to poor storage and manual handling.