Former Zimbabwe Tourism minister, Walter Mzembi appeared in court yesterday. Walter Mzembi appeared in the Harare High Court on Wednesday, 28 January 2026, for the opening of his trial regarding the “TV screens” corruption case. State witnesses, including senior government official Zvinechimwe Ruvinga Churu, gave evidence that largely exonerated him. They testified that as a minister, he was not an “accounting officer” and lacked the legal power to personally dispose of government property. Despite the state’s case appearing to weaken, the High Court denied bail once again, meaning Mzembi remains in custody at Harare Remand Prison. The trial was adjourned and is scheduled to continue on 3 February 2026, when the final state witness is expected to testify.
Key Events for today
1. Trump accounts launched
2. Maria Corina Machado meets with US secretary Of State, Marco Rubio
Top Trending News
1. ECD Child kidnapped at Chiredzi School on Tuesday.
3. Tongai Moyo’s mother Gogo Chihera has died 14 years after Tongai died. She died at the age of 94.
4. Sunday Chidzambwa receives a GD6 from Wicknell. Madinda Ndlovu begs for a car
5. H.E. Ambassador Christoph Retzlaff met with H.E. Hon. Minister of Defence, Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri yesterday, to discuss preparations for her participation in the upcoming Munich Security Conference in Germany.
6. Toyota Corolla Cross a concern to the AA after scoring a 2 in NCAP tests. any vehicle lacking standard curtain airbags (side head protection) across all variants is capped at a maximum of two stars, regardless of its crash performance score.
Business
1. Newco, a new company led by CEO Dominic Malentsha Sewela (born c. 1966) is a prominent South African business leader and the current Group Chief Executive Officer of Barloworld Limited. As of late January 2026, Sewela is at the center of a historic corporate shift, leading the 123-year-old industrial giant through a R23 billion buyout that resulted in the company delisting from the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) on 27 January 2026. PIC was the largest shareholder of 21% and initially rejected the offer.
2. A deal is underway for West China Cement (WCC) to acquire 100% of AfriSam. The sellers were Public Investment Corporation (PIC), Rand Merchant Bank (RMB), Nedbank, Absa, Standard Bank, Liberty, FirstRand, Old Mutual Specialised Finance, Ninety One, MMI Holdings, Phembani Group. PPC’s offer to buy Afrisam was deemed to be undervalued. The African Manufacturers Foundation (AMF) asserts that the impending acquisition of South African cement producer AfriSam by West China Cement Limited represents a setback for African ownership in the manufacturing sector and South Africa’s industrial sovereignty. AMF highlights that an alternative bid from Camel Cement, owned by Tanzania’s Amsons Group, would have maintained continental ownership and included local Black Economic Empowerment partners [1]. This African bid was reportedly aligned with pan-African industrial goals like Agenda 2063 and AfCFTA, but the Chinese offer is currently proceeding through regulatory review. Lebo Radebe is the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the African Manufacturers Foundation (AMF). The African Manufacturers Foundation (AMF), was structured as a multi-layered pan-African partnership designed to offer an alternative to a foreign-owned model. The bid consisted of three main pillars: Camel Cement as the industrial lead providing technical and financial anchoring, local South African Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) partners ensuring compliance with transformation frameworks, and the AMF providing policy and advocacy to align the bid with regional initiatives like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
3. Gas shortages expected as Temane and Pande gas fields are expected to run dry. Sasol has officially notified its large-scale industrial customers that it will cease the supply of gas from these fields by mid-2026 . While some gas will still flow for Sasol’s internal operations and specific Mozambican power plants, the surplus available for export to South Africa is expected to vanish almost entirely. The depletion of these gas fields creates a triple threat: it forces major industries to switch to more expensive fuels, strips the region of its primary “clean” energy source, and risks massive job losses and billions in economic damage.
4. Sim Tshabalala in Kenya as he continues to explore opportunities
Africa
1. Multiple arrests have been made in Johannesburg at seven locatios as an international multi-disciplinary team dismantled the click2sell investment scam which operated from South Africa since 2012. The operatioon was led by officers from USA, Australia, UK, Canada and SA. Forensic companies Cybertrace, IFW Global and IRS forensics were involved in the lengthly investigation.
2. He spearheaded a management-led consortium, in partnership with Saudi Arabia’s Zahid Group, to take Barloworld private. The deal has been framed as a major B-BBEE transformation transaction, though it also faced scrutiny and conflict-of-interest allegations from some institutional investors regarding his dual role as CEO and buyer. Industrial equipment distribution, earthmoving machinery, power systems, mining services, construction equipment, starch and glucose production, supply chain management, diesel and gas generators, equipment leasing, agricultural solutions, and industrial ingredient manufacturing. The total cost of the Barloworld buyout transaction was R23 billion. For the full financial year ended 30 September 2025, Barloworld reported a total group revenue of R37.7 billion.
Community
Mve Valentine Special
Notes
As of 2025/2026, the South African cement market is dominated by a few major producers that operate integrated manufacturing plants, alongside smaller blenders and new international entrants.
PPC Ltd (Pretoria Portland Cement): The country’s largest producer by capacity and market share.
AfriSam: A major integrated producer currently undergoing a 100% buyout by West China Cement.
Afrimat: Recently became a top-tier player after its massive acquisition of Lafarge South Africa’s assets was finalised in 2024/2025.
Sephaku Cement: A key producer majority-owned by Dangote Cement, operating high-capacity plants in North West and Gauteng.
NPC InterCement (Natal Portland Cement): A significant regional player focused on KwaZulu-Natal and parts of the Eastern Cape.
Mamba Cement: An integrated producer based in Northam, Limpopo, notable for its significant Chinese investment (Jidong Development Group).
Cemza: A joint venture between South Africa’s Cemvest and the UAE’s Heidelberg Materials, operating a grinding plant in the Eastern Cape.
Dangote Cement South Africa: Beyond its Sephaku stake, the Nigerian giant maintains a direct corporate and distribution presence in the local market.
Kwikbuild Cement: A prominent cement blending company that packages and distributes various grades for the retail and construction sectors.
APC Cement (African Power Cement): A growing manufacturer and supplier focused on high-quality cement products for the Gauteng region.
