WATCH LIVE as Gambakwe looks at the tragic accident in which sic family members perished on the Masvingo Beitbridge road.
On April 2, 2026 (Easter eve/Thursday), a devastating head-on collision occurred on the Harare–Masvingo highway in Zimbabwe at the 246 km peg. A Toyota Corolla carrying six members of the Mujuru family collided with a Mercedes-Benz truck.
The victims, all from Tynwald North in Harare, were:
- Lilian Maranda Mujuru (40, wife/mother, also referred to as Mai Noku)
- Nokutenda Mujuru (15)
- Makanaka Mujuru (13)
- Ronald Junior Mujuru (11)
- Rufaro Shalom Mujuru (7)
- Kayden Mujuru (3)
All six perished in the crash. Ronald Mujuru Snr (also known as Ronald Mujuru or “Retired General”), the husband and father, was a well-known staunch supporter of Dynamos Football Club (Dembare) and was not in the vehicle. He survived but lost his entire immediate family.
Zimbabwe Republic Police identified the victims and extended condolences, urging drivers to exercise caution on the roads. Dynamos FC issued a statement consoling their longtime superfan, and there have been widespread messages of support and calls for contributions (e.g., via Ecocash) to assist with funeral arrangements and support for Ronald.
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- Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League- Highlanders F.C. and F.C. Platinum was played at Barbourfields Stadium in Bulawayo. Despite the high stakes of the fixture, the match ended in a 0-0 draw, maintaining Highlanders’ streak of five consecutive draws since the start of the 2026 season.
- The career of Collen Munikwa and the long-standing partnership between the Bulawayo Fire Brigade and the UK-based charity Operation Florian.
- Rutendo Benson Matinyarare says he is owed $4 Million by the Zimbabwe government. Matinyarare, a prominent Zimbabwean anti-sanctions activist, chairperson of the Zimbabwe Anti-Sanctions Movement (ZASM), and marketing strategist, has publicly claimed in recent interviews (including one titled “They Owe Me $4 Million… But I Won’t Be Silent”) that he is owed approximately $4 million USD, plus a farm and a house, for his lobbying and advocacy work against Western sanctions on Zimbabwe. He states this compensation was promised for his efforts in repositioning “Brand Zimbabwe,” mobilizing awareness, engaging international bodies (such as the UN Human Rights Council and U.S. Congress), and contributing to the partial removal of sanctions in 2024. He has suggested the government (or handlers linked to it) deliberately withheld payment to influence or silence his views, particularly after he began criticizing aspects of the current administration, such as constitutional amendment proposals or succession issues.
- Zimbabwe Intelligence leak Knowx Chivero’s cancer results
Summary of Key Events
- A Career Full Circle: Collen Munikwa, a Bulawayo native, returned to his hometown to assist in training local firefighters through Operation Florian, after having served in both the Bulawayo and UK fire services.
- The Role of Operation Florian: Since 2011, this UK charity has supported the Bulawayo Fire Brigade through the donation of fire engines, ambulances, and specialized equipment, as well as rigorous training programs.
- Regional Impact: The training program has upskilled over 800 firefighters, extending its reach beyond Zimbabwe to personnel from Zambia and Botswana.
- Technological Gap: Munikwa highlights that while Bulawayo firefighters are highly skilled and in global demand, there is a significant gap in technology and innovation compared to UK services like the Merseyside Fire and Rescue.
- Success and Retention: Bulawayo Mayor David Coltart praised the partnership’s success but expressed concern over “brain drain,” as highly trained local firefighters are frequently recruited by other countries like Australia and those in the Middle East.
Business
Zimbabwean bank, FBC Holdings (FBCH) is embroiled in a US$10 million tax dispute with the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra).
The dispute centers on the interpretation of Section 16(1)(o) of the Income Tax Act regarding the deductibility of interest expenses on deposits.
This dispute has reached a boiling point now because of a “perfect storm” involving a multi-year tax audit, a shift in national budget policy, and a direct threat to Zimbabwe’s international banking relationships.
Core of the Dispute
- The Conflict: Zimra argues that interest paid by banks to depositors should be a prohibited deduction (not tax-deductible). FBC Holdings maintains that these are legitimate business expenses incurred in the production of income and should therefore be deductible.
- Period Covered: The tax assessments in question cover the five-year period from 2019 to 2024.
- Financial Impact: FBC has classified the claim as a contingent liability. If Zimra’s position prevails, the bank could be liable for:
- US$9.4 million and ZiG 49.4 million in principal taxes.
- Potentially rising to US$18.2 million and ZiG 72 million once penalties and interest are factored in.
Key Arguments
- FBC’s Position: CEO Trynos Kufazvinei stated that legal and tax advisers believe the bank’s interpretation of the law is correct. He noted that the dispute temporarily threatened the bank’s access to foreign credit lines (worth nearly US$80 million) because lenders were wary of the “vague” tax liability.
- The Mismatch: Bankers argued that the current law created a “mismatch” where banks were taxed on gross income without accounting for the actual cost of sourcing that money (the interest paid to customers).
Resolution and Policy Shift
- 2026 National Budget: To resolve this industry-wide issue, Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube announced a policy shift in the 2026 National Budget.
- Legislative Correction: Starting January 1, 2026, a new arrangement will allow banks to deduct interest expenses on deposits for corporate income tax purposes.
- Current Status: While the future policy is clear, the historical dispute (2019–2024) remains active. FBC Holdings intends to challenge the claim through the courts if a settlement is not reached, expressing confidence in their legal standing.
Africa
Malawi President Prof Peter Mtharika has executed a series of high-level redeployments within three key financial crime-fighting agencies: the Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA), the Financial Intelligence Authority (FIA), and the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB). Critics have described these moves as a “purge” and “political capture,” while the government maintains they are routine “exigencies of service.”
| Agency | Name | Previous Role | New Role / Status |
| ACB | Christopher Kaminjolo | Director of Investigations | Seconded to the Ministry of Transport. |
| ACB | Kondwani Chinsakaso | Acting Director of Investigations | Seconded to the OPC after only two weeks in the role. |
| FIA | Jean Phillipo Priminta | Director General (PhD holder) | Seconded back to the Ministry of Justice. |
| FIA | Collin Chitsime | Director of Legal Services | Dispatched to Malawi College of Accountancy as a lecturer. |
| MRA | Internal Affairs Leaders | Director, Deputy & Senior Manager | All three seconded to the OPC simultaneously. |
| MRA | Tax Investigations Division | Entire Division | Disbanded; staff scattered to other divisions. |
Community
Mve two for one promotion
Notes
Collen Munikwa, a 57-year-old Bulawayo native born at Mpilo Central Hospital and educated at Luveve Primary and Hamilton High School, has seen his career come full circle from serving a decade in the Bulawayo Fire Brigade to becoming a key trainer with the UK-based charity Operation Florian. After his initial ten-year stint in Zimbabwe, he moved to the United Kingdom to study Software Engineering at the University of Coventry, but a chance encounter at a Liverpool exhibition led him to join the Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, where he served for over a decade and was notably the department’s only Black firefighter for a long period. Leveraging his deep knowledge of British fire-fighting manuals and his exposure to advanced UK technology, Munikwa eventually joined Operation Florian to bridge the technological gap between the two nations, recently returning to Famona Fire Station for the 13th pass-out parade. His journey highlights the global excellence of Bulawayo-trained firefighters, a success noted by Mayor David Coltart, who simultaneously celebrated the program’s regional expansion to 18 local authorities and expressed concern over the “brain drain” of these highly skilled professionals to countries like Australia and the Middle East.
