Harare:  Inadequate funding and limited resources are frustrating Zimbabwe’s efforts to develop plans to deal with the impact of climate change, says a government progress report.  Zimbabwe has been facing political and financial turmoil for more than a decade, derailing the government’s ability to function and respond to crises.

London: If there is a continent that is on the rise, it is Africa, according to Zimbabwe’s Finance Minister Tendai Biti. “If you look at how we have managed our economies, how we have discovered the joy, the pleasure of macro-economic stability, since 2000, and how those economies have grown,  it has been a wonderful story,â€� he said in a speech in London. With average annual economic growth of 5 per cent, Africa generally, and Zimbabwe specifically, were gradually shaking off the legacy of lost decades in the years immediately after independence. Zimbabwe celebrated 33 years of independence on April 18, still with deep financial problems but in the knowledge that the worse was now behind it, he said.

Harare: Trade between Zimbabwe and Malawi has increased in the past two years, though skewed in favour of Malawi, with imports reaching US$176 million compared to exports of US$60 million. According to trade figures released by ZimTrade, between 2008 and 2009 trade was skewed in favour of Zimbabwe with the local economy recording imports of US$31,2 million and exports worth US$118,2 million.

Bulawayo: The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) and the Botswana Unified Revenue Service have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to start negotiations to establish a one-stop border post at the Plumtree port of entry. A one-stop concept at a port of entry is a facility that combines and integrates the border formalities of one or more countries at the point where those countries share a common border. It enables officials from the countries concerned to work closely together, usually under the same roof for efficient border management by, at times, performing their similar functions at the same time and eliminating duplication of functions.

Bulawayo:  The Government has been urged to channel resources towards the rehabilitation of the Beitbridge border post to speed up the clearance of passengers and goods. Speaking at a civic reception to welcome exhibitors and the business community to the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair on Tuesday night, Bulawayo Mayor Councillor Thaba Moyo said authorities should address challenges facing the business community when clearing goods and passing through Beitbridge border post.

Harare:  The Namibian Ports Authority says car dealers, agents and retailers can use an alternative route to bring in second-hand vehicles into the country after restrictions were imposed by Botswana on the movement of the cars on their roads. Speaking at Namport's stand at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair, public relations assistant Mr Cliff Shikuambi said dealers could use the Trans-Caprivi route which, though longer than the Trans-Kalahari route which passes through Botswana, would not require them to hire carriers. The route goes via Zambia into Livingstone from where it then goes into Zimbabwe.

Tunis:  The World Bank has pumped US$900,000 into the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA) for a single visa entry among five SADC countries.  Project manager Victor Siamudaala told the 54th CAF meeting here that Zambia and Zimbabwe have commissioned the pilot project of a single visa entry for tourists between the two-member states. “The project is a single visa entry approach among five member countries. We intend to transform this area into a premier tourism destination for Zambia and Zimbabwe,â€� Dr Siamudaala said.

Harare:  The Chinese government has raised red flags on Zimbabwe’s creditworthiness after insisting the cash-strapped government settle all outstanding arrears before accessing additional funds for infrastructure development projects. This comes as it emerged this week that the Chinese government has been armtwisting  the Zimbabwean government to settle debts, including those owed by Zimbabwean companies to Chinese firms. Addressing journalists earlier this week, Finance minister Tendai Biti said government had yielded to the pressure, paying about US$50 million to China since January in respect of the arrears to unlock new funding for infrastructure projects, particularly in the energy sector.

Tunis: One of the recent issues to hog the limelight is the number of supermarkets that have closed down after dollarization. The retail sector saw a number of new entrants into the sector, particularly small-scale supermarkets that cashed in on the food shortages that were experienced during hyperinflation and benefited from the liberal duty regime that exempted most basic commodities soon after the adoption of the multi-currency system. However, many of these have failed to sustain their operations in the multi-currency environment due to liquidity challenges and have been forced by circumstances to exit the market. Although many of these were not well known and were operating on a very small scale, some big companies such as Afro Foods and Buscod, which recently closed all branches in Bulawayo, were also affected.

Harare:  Government yesterday launched its first national transport policy that seeks to co-ordinate the development of infrastructure, mobilise resources and encourage participation of the private sector through public-private sector partnerships.Transport, Communications and Infrastructure Development Minister Nicholas Goche launched the policy during a ceremony to commission Manyame Bridge along the Harare-Bulawayo Highway and the dualised stretch of the highway from the bridge to Norton.