Zimbabwe has taken a major step toward industrialisation and digital transformation with the launch of the locally assembled Avantis Parote 1030i laptop.

The initiative supports the country’s Heritage-Based Education 5.0 programme and Vision 2030 goals aimed at promoting innovation and local production.

The project is a partnership between and , an associate company of . The laptops are being assembled at the Microsoft-certified ZITCO facility located in Msasa, Harare.

Government officials said the move will help reduce dependence on imported computer hardware while creating employment opportunities in the country’s ICT sector.

The locally assembled laptops are expected to benefit students, government departments, and small-to-medium enterprises.

The Avantis product range includes several Intel-powered notebooks under the P-series brand, with prices generally ranging between US$350 and US$550 depending on specifications.

The company also revealed plans to export a large percentage of the locally assembled devices to regional markets, positioning Zimbabwe as a growing technology hub in Southern Africa.

Speaking at the launch, ICT Minister Mavetera said the initiative supports Zimbabwe’s drive toward digital sovereignty and will strengthen digital learning programmes in schools.

“Assembling laptops locally allows the country to develop products suited to local conditions and maintenance needs,” she said.

The launch comes after other local industrial projects, including the manufacturing of medical oxygen and electricity transformers, as Zimbabwe continues efforts to boost domestic production and technological innovation.

Harare, Zimbabwe – Envoys from Italy, Japan, and Egypt have reiterated their commitment to supporting Zimbabwe’s national development agenda, which aims to achieve an upper-middle-income society by 2030.

These affirmations were made during separate courtesy calls paid by the respective Ambassadors to Vice President Dr. Kembo Mohadi at his offices in Harare.

Italian Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mr. Giuseppe Giacalone, underscored his country’s dedication to strengthening bilateral trade relations with Zimbabwe. Following his meeting with Vice President Mohadi, Ambassador Giacalone stated that discussions focused on enhancing cooperation across various sectors, including investment, infrastructure development, trade, and cultural exchanges.

Ambassador Giacalone also provided an update on Zimbabwe’s participation in the ongoing Venice Biennale Arts Festival, where five local artists are showcasing their work. Furthermore, he highlighted discussions regarding Zimbabwe’s preparations to host the 58th CIMAM Annual Conference, scheduled for November at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe.

“The discussion with Vice President Mohadi was indeed engaging and productive,” Ambassador Giacalone remarked. “We reflected on the historical friendship and close ties between Italy and Zimbabwe, acknowledging the strong existing relations and the imperative to further fortify them. Our commercial ties are robust and dynamic, yet there is significant potential for growth. My primary objective will be to enhance the bilateral trade relationship between our two nations.”

He further noted that current Italian investments in dam construction, particularly the Tokwe-Mukosi project under the We Build Group, were also part of the comprehensive discussions.

Egyptian Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Dr. Maha Serag Eldin Kamel, also paid a courtesy call on Vice President Mohadi. Ambassador Kamel emphasized that the forthcoming African Union Mid-Year Summit would present a crucial opportunity for Zimbabwe to expand its investment portfolio, as the event is designed to convene African nations to deliberate on business and economic matters. The summit is slated for next month.

Dr. Kamel conveyed Egypt’s renewed commitment to supporting Zimbabwe in its developmental endeavors. Discussions between the Ambassador and the Vice President encompassed cooperation in the health, construction, political, and economic sectors. She highlighted that the bilateral relations between Zimbabwe and Egypt have deep historical roots, tracing back to Egypt’s support for Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle. The two countries continue to enjoy excellent relations, and the meeting served as a platform to explore additional avenues for cooperation.

Ambassador Kamel announced that Egypt would host the African Union Mid-Year Summit in June, in the coastal city of El Alamein on the Mediterranean Sea. This summit will coincide with the inaugural El Alamein Africa Forum, a business-focused event expected to attract participation from African countries and private sector stakeholders across the continent.

Japanese Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mr. Nobutaka Maekawa, similarly paid a courtesy call on Vice President Mohadi. Ambassador Maekawa reaffirmed Japan’s ongoing cooperation with Zimbabwe in critical sectors such as agriculture, health, tourism, and mining.

He reported that both nations had agreed to further solidify their relations through the promotion of business cooperation in these key areas. “This was a very constructive discussion,” Mr. Maekawa stated, “Our dialogue centered on the extensive and consistent cooperation we have fostered over the years, as well as exploring further possibilities for collaboration in diverse sectors including agriculture, healthcare, tourism, and mining.”

“Crucially, we concurred on the intensified promotion of business-driven cooperation in major sectors,” he added. “Japan is keen to tangibly and cooperatively strengthen this partnership, optimally combining it with the conventional development assistance that the Japanese government has historically provided.”

Itai Mazire

Zimbabwe’s mining sector has achieved an unprecedented surge in the first quarter of 2026, with total mineral sales rocketing to USD 983.85 million, marking a staggering 79 percent increase in value compared to the same period in 2025.

This remarkable performance, driven by a bold government ban on unbeneficiated mineral exports, positions the Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe (MMCZ) firmly on track to exceed its annual revenue projection of USD 3.5 billion.

Dr. Nomusa Jane Moyo, the MMCZ General Manager, provided insights into the corporation’s outstanding performance and the strategic impact of recent policy decisions.

“The first quarter of 2026 marked a defining moment in Zimbabwe’s mineral governance, with total minerals sales reaching 1,288,761 metric tonnes valued at USD 983.85 million, surpassing 2025 volumes by 27 percent and values by 79 percent,” said Dr. Moyo.

She further elaborated on the strategic importance of the new policies.

“Government’s ban on lithium concentrates exports, while producing short-term disruption to global spot supplies, has solidified Zimbabwe’s strategic influence over the global battery supply chain through domestic processing.

“As a supplier of approximately 15 percent of the spodumene imported into China, Zimbabwe is a critical and vertically integrated partner for the world’s leading battery manufacturers.”

Dr. Moyo also detailed the exceptional growth in specific commodities.

“Lithium recorded the strongest performance during the quarter, with Q1 2026 sales reaching 190,612 metric tonnes valued at USD 68.22 million, representing a remarkable 150 increase in volume and a 254 percent increase in value against the same period in 2025, when sales stood at 76,163 metric tonnes valued at USD 19.25 million,” she said.

Addressing the broader economic impact, Dr. Moyo said, “This exceptional growth is directly attributable to increased production of value-added steel products and the shift to processed products is projected to drive lithium export revenues beyond USD1 billion, significantly amplifying the sector’s contribution to national GDP.”

Regarding other key minerals, Dr. Moyo said Platinum Group Metals delivered an exceptional value performance in Q1 2026.

“PGM collectively contributed USD 543.97 million in export revenue across both concentrate and matte categories, with PGM matte sales at 3,080 metric tonnes valued at USD 352.24 million and PGM concentrate sales at 30,178 metric tonnes valued at US$191.73 million.”

Dr. Moyo highlighted the robust performance in the steel sector.

“Steel delivered one of the most outstanding performances of the quarter, with Q1 2026 sales reaching 240,826 metric tonnes valued at USD 178.64 million, a 2% increase in volume and a 106 percent surge in value against the 224,610 metric tonnes valued at USD 84.19 million recorded in Q1 2025, a compelling demonstration of what beneficiation delivers in practice.”