The Consumer Protection Commission (CPC) and the Securities Exchange Commission of Zimbabwe (SecZim) signed an MoU to strengthen consumer protection in the financial sector. The partnership will ensure investors and financial consumers are informed, treated fairly, and safeguarded against malpractice. It also aims to improve regulatory oversight, facilitate complaint resolution, and educate the public on financial rights. Their mandate includes promoting transparency, accountability, and confidence in Zimbabwe’s capital markets.

Zimbabwe’s $1.2 billion tobacco industry faces a major threat as the World Health Organization considers tighter controls or a global production ban over child labour and environmental concerns. Agriculture Minister Anxious Masuka warned the move could devastate farmers and foreign currency earnings. At a regional “T5” meeting, Zimbabwe and its neighbors pledged to defend the sector while pursuing reforms under the Tobacco Value Chain Transformation Plan.

The IMF has praised Zimbabwe’s stronger-than-expected 2025 economic performance, driven by robust agriculture and mining growth, easing inflation, and improved fiscal management. Growth could exceed 6%, with momentum projected to continue into 2026. The Fund urged the government to sustain fiscal discipline, strengthen revenue collection, and manage spending to preserve stability. Economists say the rebound reflects restored investor confidence, bolstered by ongoing reforms and Zimbabwe’s global re-engagement efforts.

Global investors and equipment makers are turning to Zimbabwe as its agriculture sector undergoes a major transformation. Mechanisation drives, digital farming tools, and solar-powered irrigation are boosting output and confidence. Germany’s Deutz AG plans to re-enter the market, supplying new tractors and machinery to help double the national fleet by 2030. With AI crop monitoring and mobile market platforms expanding, Zimbabwe’s climate-smart farming model is emerging as a leading growth engine for the economy.

Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube is resisting calls from businesses and his own ZANU PF party to scrap Zimbabwe’s 2% electronic transactions tax. He insists the levy, which contributes about 8% of national revenue, is vital to funding government operations. Business groups warn the tax is driving informality, hurting banks, and inflating prices. Ncube has hinted at a possible compromise—cutting the levy slightly while raising VAT to offset lost income.

The United Kingdom is set to overtake South Africa as Zimbabwe’s top source of remittances in 2025. A reflection of shifting migration and income trends. Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube said the UK will account for 28.6% of an estimated US$2.72 billion in inflows, compared to South Africa’s 27.5%. The rise follows increased migration of professionals to the UK, making remittances Zimbabwe’s second-largest foreign exchange source after mining.