The Community Mirror

26/08/2026

A FRESH fire has broken out at the Glen View Area 8 Home Industry Complex, popularly known as Old Caledonia, reigniting calls for the construction of a dedicated fire station near Highglen to improve emergency response times in the area.

The fire started at around 1am today at the complex, which is a major source of timber, hardware and other materials used by carpenters and furniture manufacturers.

Several goods, including glue, nails, timber, paint, thinners, generators and other materials, were destroyed in the blaze.

Read more: https://thecommunitymirror.co.zw/fresh-fire-reignites-calls-for-glen-view-8-fire-station/

21/08/2026

NetOne has marked its 30th anniversary by introducing a 60GB data package for US$30, giving customers more data capacity to support education, business, communication and participation in the digital economy.

The package, branded 30ForYou, offers 30GB anytime data and an additional 30GB off-peak data, valid for 30 days.

Read more:

NetOne has marked its 30th anniversary by introducing a 60GB data package for US$30, giving customers more data capacity to support education, business, communication and participation in the digital economy.

17/08/2026

Telecommunications giant NetOne has taken its 30th anniversary celebrations to rural communities, partnering ZimSmart Villages to bring telemedicine and healthcare services closer to villagers in Chikomba West and Musikavanhu in Chipinge.

The two initiatives, which combined medical outreaches with the launch of telemedicine services, demonstrate how telecommunications infrastructure can be deployed beyond traditional communication to improve access to essential services, particularly healthcare.

Read more: https://thecommunitymirror.co.zw/netone-takes-telemedicine-to-rural-communities/

14/08/2026

POLICE have released the names of 44 of the 46 people who died when the Rural Infrastructure Development Authority (RIDA)-owned Mbuya Nehanda passenger ferry capsized on Lake Kariba on Tuesday, as the identification of the remaining victims continues.

The tragedy occurred on August 11 near Long Island while the ferry was travelling from Kariba to Chalala.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has since declared the tragedy a State of Disaster, paving the way for the mobilisation of additional resources towards the recovery operation and assistance to affected families.

According to information availed by the Zimbabwe Republic Police, the captain indicated that the vessel had 120 people on board when it departed Kariba for Chalala, comprising 108 adults and 12 children.

However, investigations have since suggested that the ferry could have been carrying more passengers than the number initially declared.

Among those who perished was the vessel's captain, Sign Patsikadova (59), of 2999 Batonga, Kariba.

In a statement, national police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the 44 victims whose names were released had been positively identified by their next of kin.

Read more:

POLICE have released the names of 44 of the 46 people who died when the Rural Infrastructure Development Authority (RIDA)-owned Mbuya Nehanda passenger ferry capsized on Lake Kariba on Tuesday, as the identification of the remaining victims continues.

06/08/2026

Police arrest eight as Government orders crackdown on clandestine residential mining

Authorities have uncovered a clandestine illegal mining operation that had been running beneath a residential property in Marlborough, Harare, for an estimated four years, prompting renewed calls for a coordinated crackdown on illegal mining activities in urban areas.

Eight suspects were arrested on Sunday after police raided a property at No. 4 Wollington Close, where investigators discovered a network of excavations, including a shaft estimated to be about 10 metres deep and several pits believed to have been used for illegal gold extraction.

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Police arrest eight as Government orders crackdown on clandestine residential mining Authorities have uncovered a clandestine illegal mining operation that had been running beneath a residential property in Marlborough, Harare, for an estimated four years, prompting renewed calls for a coordinated c...

06/08/2026

Geo Pomona deploys 577 street cleaners across Harare

Geo Pomona Waste Management Pvt Ltd has deployed 577 street cleaners across Harare's 36 districts as part of an expanded street cleaning programme aimed at improving environmental hygiene and complementing the city's waste management operations.

Read more: https://thecommunitymirror.co.zw/geo-pomona-deploys-577-street-cleaners-across-harare/

01/08/2026

NetOne Cellular (Private) Limited has challenged Zimbabwe’s accounting and finance professionals to embrace digital transformation as a strategic business imperative, saying resilience, innovation and sustainable value creation will determine the competitiveness of organisations in an increasingly technology-driven global economy.

Addressing delegates at the 2026 Institute of Chartered Accountants of Zimbabwe (ICAZ) Winter School, a NetOne representative said finance professionals now occupy a far broader role than traditional financial stewardship, describing them as strategic advisers responsible for shaping long-term organisational success through technology-enabled governance and decision-making.

Read more: https://thecommunitymirror.co.zw/netone-urges-accountants-to-lead-digital-transformation-drive/

31/07/2026

Zimbabwe's mobile telecommunications operator, NetOne, has challenged young people to embrace artificial intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity as key drivers of innovation, industrialisation and employment creation, saying the country stands to benefit immensely from a digitally skilled generation capable of building home-grown technological solutions.

Speaking during an Artificial Intelligence Conference held under the theme, "Innovate, Industrialise and Create Employment with AI," a NetOne representative said the rapid emergence of AI presents unprecedented opportunities to transform Zimbabwe's economy, while also demanding greater investment in cybersecurity to protect critical digital infrastructure and citizens.

The conference brought together school heads, teachers, students, business entrepreneurs, officials from the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ), Marymount Teachers' College, Zimpapers and technology stakeholders to explore the role of AI in accelerating national development.

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Zimbabwe's mobile telecommunications operator, NetOne, has challenged young people to embrace artificial intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity as key drivers of innovation, industrialisation and employment creation, saying the country stands to benefit immensely from a digitally skilled generation cap...

30/07/2026

Marlborough residents fear worsening structural damage as suspected underground blasting investigated

Residents of the quiet Marlborough suburb are demanding urgent Government intervention after structural cracks appeared in several homes near Forrester Close and Wallington Close, where suspected underground excavation and intermittent blasting have been taking place since 2024.

The concerns have intensified following recent structural assessments on affected properties, with residents claiming the repeated blasting has left them living in fear as cracks continue to spread through walls, garages and cottages, raising concerns over the safety and value of their homes. However, engineers who inspected one of the affected properties concluded that while nearby blasting may have contributed to or accelerated the progression of the cracking, the predominant damage pattern is more consistent with foundation settlement and related structural movement.

Residents told The Community Mirror that they were never consulted before excavation activities commenced and remain uncertain about the exact nature of the operations being conducted within the residential neighbourhood.

According to several residents, blasting was carried out intermittently over the past two years before recently ceasing, although they fear the activity could resume at any time.

"We invested our life savings into these homes and now we are watching cracks appear before our eyes. We were never consulted and no one explained exactly what was being mined. Every time the blasting started, our homes shook and the cracks became more noticeable. We are worried because we do not know if it will start again," said one resident, who requested anonymity.

Another resident said attempts to establish whether the operators had the necessary approvals yielded few answers.

"When I asked to see their permits, I was told they were still waiting for approval from the authorities. As residents we deserve to know exactly what is happening in our community because it affects our homes, our safety and our investment," the resident said.

One homeowner commissioned an independent structural inspection after noticing progressive cracking.

The report documented widespread cracking across the inspected buildings and recommended further investigations, including confirmation of the property's foundation type and installation of crack monitoring equipment. While concluding that the observed damage was primarily associated with foundation settlement, the report stated that nearby blasting could have accelerated existing structural movement and recommended blast vibration monitoring using specialised equipment to determine any future impact.

Ward 41 Councillor Kudzai Kadzombe confirmed receiving complaints from residents in October 2024 and said the matter was reported to the relevant authorities.

"I received reports from residents alerting me that blasting was taking place at a residential property in Marlborough. I immediately notified the City of Harare Development Control Unit, the Environmental Management Agency and the Zimbabwe Republic Police. Site inspections were conducted and the operators were initially instructed to stop the activities.

"Some months later the blasting resumed and I was informed that the operators claimed to have obtained authority from the Ministry of Mines. They alleged that descendants of a family had approached the property owner after claiming their grandfather had left them a map dating back to the Rhodesian era indicating that a hidden treasure was buried beneath the property. They subsequently secured the owner's consent to excavate.

"Residents have since submitted petitions over persistent noise and vibration concerns. Structural engineers have now assessed several affected properties and documented visible cracking. Many of the affected homeowners are pensioners who have spent decades building and maintaining their homes. They are understandably concerned about the safety of their properties and the significant loss in property value.

"My concern is that mining or excavation activities of this nature should never compromise the safety of residents. Authorities must establish whether every legal and environmental requirement was complied with before such activities were allowed to proceed in a built-up residential area. Residents also have legal rights and deserve protection where their homes may have been adversely affected."

The councillor said affected residents were also exploring legal avenues to protect their properties and recover losses where appropriate.

Police records seen by The Community Mirror show that the matter was reported on 17 July 2026 under ZRP Marlborough Reference C.R. 127/7/26. The reported offence is contravening Section 368 of the Mines and Minerals Act, relating to prospecting for minerals without a licence, and the matter has since been referred to the CID Minerals Unit for investigation.

The developments come as Government has intensified its nationwide campaign against illegal and environmentally harmful mining activities. Authorities have repeatedly warned that mining operations conducted without proper approvals or in environmentally sensitive and inappropriate areas threaten public safety, infrastructure and the environment, with law-enforcement agencies directed to take decisive action against offenders.

Officials are yet to publicly confirm whether the Marlborough excavation was fully authorised or whether any mining-related permits remain valid.

Meanwhile, residents say their priority is no longer the mystery surrounding the alleged buried treasure, but the safety of their homes and the need for authorities to conclusively determine whether any excavation or blasting contributed to the damage now visible across the neighbourhood.

https://thecommunitymirror.co.zw/marlborough-residents-fear-worsening-structural-damage-as-suspected-underground-blasting-investigated/

23/07/2026

The City of Harare is accelerating the implementation of an integrated financial management system designed to strengthen payroll administration and enhance financial accountability following recommendations made by the Auditor-General on the municipality's 2022 and 2023 financial statements.

The move comes after public interest in the Auditor-General's report, which examined the City's financial records during a period when Zimbabwe was experiencing hyperinflation and public sector entities were required to prepare inflation-adjusted financial statements in line with International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS).

According to the City, the audit identified weaknesses in the transfer of payroll information from a standalone payroll platform into the municipality's Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) financial system, where transactions were captured through manual journal entries.

The local authority said the recommendation focused on improving internal controls by fully integrating payroll with the City's financial reporting system to eliminate manual processing and improve audit trails.

Read more: https://thecommunitymirror.co.zw/harare-accelerates-financial-systems-overhaul-following-auditor-generals-recommendations/