1. Death of Pardon “Paddy” Mhuri (Zimbabwe)
Pardon “Paddy” Mhuri, 42, a commercial farmer and Zimbabwe’s National Young Champion Farmer (awarded by VP Chiwenga in 2020), was killed in Sanyati, Mashonaland West — prime farmland sitting atop gold belts. He was attacked with shovels, iron bars, and stones over a dispute about gold ore disposal at Mhuri Mining Syndicate, Village 9B, Golden, and died on admission to hospital. Four suspects are wanted: Tinashe Mlalazi, Panganai Mlalazi, Ngonidzashe Mlalazi, and Wiseman Mlalazi. The killing highlights conflict between commercial farmers and armed illegal mining gangs (“Makorokoza”); civil society figures like Farai Maguwu link the violence to politicized mining rights overriding agricultural land rights. State-aligned media (Varakashi For ED) honored Mhuri but omitted how he died.
2. Key Events Today
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Zimpapaper hosted the 11th annual cancer walk.
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Ginimbi’s 6th anniversary: The socialite/businessman died 8 November 2020, aged 36, in a high-speed head-on collision on Borrowdale Road, Harare, returning from a birthday celebration for fitness trainer Michelle “Moana” Amuli — who also died, along with Elisha and Karim.
3. Top Trending
Jensen Huang / Alice Huang: Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang (Taiwanese-American, not a PRC citizen) allegedly had an affair with Alice Huang, a Chinese businesswoman and former executive at Megaspeed (Singapore-based data center/AI computing company). She became the subject of media and national security scrutiny in late 2026 over the relationship.
DJ Masomere / President Mnangagwa: DJ Masomere, with friend Madzibaba Moses Gwasarira, visited President Emmerson Mnangagwa at Precabe Farm, Kwekwe, to show 3D images of his house. The house was purchased with help from Sir Wicknell Chivayo (with the President’s permission) after Masomere’s participation in the 2023 campaign, then renovated into a double-storey mansion by Masomere and pro-ZANU PF friends. It was officially opened last Saturday by Hon. Ezra Chadzamira, Minister of State for Masvingo Province.
4. Africa
The SACP holds enough seats to help the ANC secure governing majorities in 18 municipalities across seven provinces, giving general secretary Solly Mapaila significant bargaining power after the party contested elections independently.
5. Business
Binance: CFO Kaiser Ng steps down after five years in a pre-planned six-month transition to pursue a new venture, succeeded by Justin Yek, former VP of finance at Airwallex. The announcement came just over a week after a historic $6.3 billion crypto heist (29 October 2026); Binance says the departure is unrelated.
TFG (The Foschini Group): Retrenchments in South Africa, Australia, and the UK follow an 11 October 2026 cybersecurity breach that took core IT offline, disrupting e-commerce and deliveries. Bash (TFG’s SA digital platform) is the group’s fastest-growing division: online sales up 53.3%, generating R2.15bn turnover (10.9% of African sales, up from 7.4%). Store changes: 120 closed, 71 opened (4,914 → 4,807 locations); over 95% of affected staff reassigned, avoiding retrenchments; 60–80 more closures planned. Group financials: revenue up 0.1% to R31.4bn; operating profit down 6.5% to R2.1bn; interim dividend 121c (down 6.9%); share price up 6.98% to R55. Regional: Africa = 68% of sales (revenue +2%, operating profit +2.7%); TFG London sales −2.2% in pounds, operating profit −32.5%; TFG Australia sales −4.4% in AUD, operating profit −28.5%. Other brands (Phase Eight, Hobbs, Whistles): own-website demand −30.2% in five weeks to end-October; sales −5.3%. Portfolio: 40 brands under Bash, including Foschini, Markham, Jet, @home, Sportscene, American Swiss, Phase Eight, Tarocash.
Sappi: Full-year profit fell to **$47m** (from $171m); EBITDA down 41% to **$294m**; headline loss of **29 US cents/share** (vs earnings of 65 cents prior year). Shares fell **13.66%** to R11.25 — biggest one-day drop in over seven years; lost more than half their value this year. Q4: EBITDA −11% to $99m; net loss widened to $16m. Drivers: $139m impairment on suspended Somerset Mill PM2 project; macroeconomic headwinds; high fuel, logistics, and chemical costs; pulp prices −6%; structural decline in graphic paper demand. Segments: North America hurt by PM2 ramp-up (improved in H2); Europe demand subdued; packaging/speciality below historical levels; pulp improved, label papers strong (Gratkorn PM9); South Africa hit by low-priced imports and $19m impairments + $26m strategic project costs. Actions/Outlook: cost savings program, liquidity management, proposed graphic papers JV with UPM (EC decision expected early January), covenant test suspension extended to June 2027. Q1 FY2027 EBITDA expected below Q4, though some categories improving.
