263Chat - Zimbabwean media organisation focused on encouraging & participating in progressive national dialogue

Real estate investment firm, ZIMRE Holdings saw its revenues during the first half of the year ending June 30 catapult 124 percentage points to record $ 3.37 million from $ 1.51 million in comparative period the previous year, despite a difficult year for real estate sector. Following the currency reforms that saw the abolishment of the 1;1 parity between the USD and RTGS $ and the end to a multi-currency regime system in February and June of this year, respectively, the real estate sector suffered setbacks in form of…

Zimbabwe narrowed its trade deficit for the first five months of 2019, albeit still in the negative -thanks to a combination of improved export earnings and a decline in imports as compared to same period last year, 263Chat Business can report. The country’s trade deficit closed in the gap to record -US$ 399 million as compared to -US$ 1.263 billion of last year. This was on account of a 5.1 percent increase in export earnings of US$ 1.558 billion from US$ 1.482 billion realized last year during the period and a 28…

With Zimbabwe battling to upgrade and resuscitate its dilapidated road infrastructure across the country, a technical training services giant, AfriSkills, has organised a three-day workshop on road building, maintenance and repair aimed at furnishing and preparing professionals in road construction and related fields with the ever-evolving complexities of the field. Running under the theme Fundamentals of Road Building, Maintenance, and Repairs, the workshop will be held from the 18th to the 20th of September in Harare.…

Cyclone Idai has come and gone. But six months after the national disaster ravaged three Southern African neighbouring countries, Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe, a visit to one of the affected areas in Chimanimani still resembles a sad story of lives lost and damaged infrastructure while the few people spared of the cyclone wrath were subsequently dispersed. Few weeks after the natural disaster hit, the government, corporate world, non governmental organisations as well as other stakeholders swiftly moved in to assist…

Kadoma-based author and community based builder Believe Guta who in June this year launched his first ever inspirational book, ‘Hard Times Never Kill’ has followed up his project with a single track to buttress his message to all his followers. The book, launched in Kadoma attracted a number of business people in and round the small mining town who thronged the venue in support of the youthful writer all the way. However, the youthful writer has not been sitting on his laurels since the book was made public as he has…

A Zimbabwean senior doctor who is feared abducted has caused fellow doctors to raise red flags demanding details and his release as they promise a continuous down tools until he is found...

Medical doctors from Harare and Bulawayo have joined forces to demonstrate against the abduction of the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association president, Dr Peter Magombeyi and have vowed that they will not return to work until he is found. Magombeyi was allegedly abducted by three unidentified men at around 2200 hours in Budiriro on Saturday. He was recently threatened to accept the 60 percent salary increment which the employers was offering to the doctors after a standoff which saw doctors down tools. In an…

With Zimbabwe’s economy all but confirmed to contract by at least 8% in the year 2019, households are feeling the heat as poverty levels surge at alarming levels. Zimbabwe’s last recession cycle occurred from 2000 to 2008 when the local economy contracted at an average of 7.41% in each year. The period saw massive de-industrialization, company closures, foreign investor flight, job losses, and decline in agricultural productivity and escalation in poverty levels. Current salaries for most entry level to supervisor or…