Duty-Free Trade Boost: ZimTrade says Zimbabwe has met all requirements for duty-free access to China, with exporters able to get Certificates of Origin for eligible shipments from May 1, opening room for more agricultural exports like blueberries, citrus and avocado. Hospitality Funding Crunch: Ahead of IATF 2029, the hospitality sector says it needs up to US$30m per operator to refurbish properties, with plans to add 10,000 hotel rooms in three years. Ethanol Fuel Shift: India’s E20 rollout reflects a wider push to higher ethanol blends globally, with E30 targeted by 2030. Blue Economy Investment: Lake Kariba’s new Blue Economy Strategy is set to unlock funding in fisheries, aquaculture, tourism, renewable energy and water transport as water levels improve. Urban Land & Housing Pressure: A Harare Ward 12 councillor urges lease agreements and approved plans to stop demolitions and protect land meant for schools and clinics. Smart Mining Push: Zimbabwe is positioning smart mining tech to raise output, safety and competitiveness as it targets a US$12bn mining industry. Water Meter Modernisation: ZINWA starts rolling out prepaid water meters in growth points and towns, including Nyika, Gutu, Chirundu and Zaka. Lithium Fraud Case: A Chinese executive faces allegations of misappropriating US$3.65m from a lithium mine, with court proceedings underway. Piped Gas Pilot: Fidelity Life is rolling out Zimbabwe’s first large-scale residential piped LPG project at Southview Fidelity Park for thousands of homes. Aviation Connectivity: Etihad and Fastjet Zimbabwe sign an interline/codeshare deal to expand routes via Abu Dhabi, supporting tourism and business travel. Cotton Revival: Government moves to revive cotton with hybrid trials across eight sites after a long production decline. Rail Logistics Upgrade: Beitbridge Bulawayo Railway commissions a US$1.5m West Nicholson siding for the first lithium concentrate export shipment to Maputo. Cross-Border Fibre: Powertel and Paratus launch a first phase fibre optic corridor linking Zimbabwe with regional networks, boosting digital connectivity. Plastics Enforcement Gap: A new investigation highlights Zimbabwe’s plastic pollution problem, pointing to weak enforcement of bans and lack of binding producer recovery rules.