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1. By Tawanda Musarurwa
HARARE – The World Bank
has approved the commence-
ment of financial support to
Zimbabwe’s private sector
by the International Finance
Corporation (IFC), Reserve
Bank of Zimbabwe governor
Dr John Mangudya has said.
The approval was granted
on February 9. The IFC is a
member of the World Bank
Group which finances and
provides advice for private
sector ventures and projects
in developing countries.
RBZ governor Dr John Man-
gudya said the approval was
one of the outcomes of the
on-going re-engagement
process.
"We are quite pleased
that the World Bank group
approved that the man-
agement of IFC proceed to
prepare a new investment
programme for projects for
News Update as @ 1530 hours, Wednesday 09 March 2016
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IFC re-commences Zim private sector financing

2. Zimbabwe when it met in
February. That is a big suc-
cess story for this economy
because IFC are known for
providing capital or providing
new lines of credit to banks
and therefore the approval in
February will go a long way.
"It is one of the success
story of the re-engagement
process. What it means is
that investment projects can
now go to the World Bank
Group board for approval,"
he said.
In 2014, Finance Minister
Patrick Chinamasa made a
plea to the IMF to persuade
the IFC to resume financing
Zimbabwe's private sector.
The RBZ governor was
speaking at a Ministry of
Finance and Economic Devel-
opment and International
Monetary Fund joint press
conference where Minister
Chinamasa announced that
Zimbabwe had successfully
met all its quantitative and
structural benchmarks of
the third review of the IMF's
Staff Monitored Programme.
This means Zimbabwe has
successfully completed its
SMP and can now move to
the next step of develop-
ing a medium-term reform
programme as it steps up
efforts to normalise relations
with the IMF.
The IMF's head of mission to
Zimbabwe Domenico Fanizza
urged the country officials
to improve fiscal discipline
going forward for the pro-
posed reform programme to
be a success.●
2 news
RBZ Governor John Mangudya

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5. Zimbabwe and South Africa
are set to further strengthen
economic ties with a busi-
ness delegation expected in
the country next week.
Official figures show that
South Africa is the single
largest trading partner in
Zimbabwe, accounting for
at least 40 percent of total
exports and 60 percent of
total imports.
Zimbabwe has had to bear to
the brunt of a trade imbal-
ance, more so in a situation
where the depreciation of
the South African rand (ZAR)
against the United States
dollar continues to under-
mine the competitiveness of
local exports.
But this could be one of the
issues that could be topi-
cal when the two countries’
State officials and business-
people meet. Another will
be the issue of investment
between the two countries,
in view of the growing sig-
nificance of intra-regional
foreign direct investment.
South Africa’s Trade and
Industry deputy minister
Mzwandile Masina will lead
the business delegation to
Zimbabwe on what has been
termed “a three-legged
Investment and Trade Initia-
tive” (ITI).
The ITI will take place from
March13 to 19.
According to CBN, it is part
of South Africa’s Depart-
ment of Trade and Industry’s
efforts to cement economic
relations and increase trade
and investment between
South Africa and Zimbabwe.
Deputy minister Masina will
lead a 30 member delega-
tion to Harare, Gweru and
Bulawayo.
The delegation consists of
companies operating in the
agriculture and agro-pro-
cessing, built environment
professionals, oil and gas,
mining and capital equipment
and electro technical sectors.
The programme for the ITI
will include business semi-
nars, site visits, mini-exhibi-
tions and business-to-busi-
ness meetings.
The visiting South African
companies have received
assistance from the Depart-
ment of Trade and Industry
through its Export Marketing
and Investment Assistance
(EMIA) scheme. One of the
objectives of the scheme is
to increase export market
access for South African
products and services.
Trade between South Africa
and Zimbabwe has displayed
a positive growth trajectory.
During 2005 to 2014, South
Africa’s exports to Zimbabwe
grew by 247,3 percent from
7,1billion rand to 24,8billion
rand with minimal contrac-
tion recorded in 2006 and
2009. The current trade bal-
ance favours South Africa.
“The mission to Zimbabwe
will enable the South African
companies to identify trade
and investment opportunities
in the country and to interact
with Zimbabwean business-
people and consider ways in
which cooperation, partner-
ships and joint ventures can
be established in order to
explore these opportunities,”
says Deputy Minister Masina.
The ITI is also part of the
dti’s integrated national
export strategy aimed at
developing new markets for
South Africa’s value-added
and manufactured goods and
services, with an emphasis
on Africa and the emerging
markets.
- BH24 Reporter/Cape
Business News●
5 news
SA business delegation to visit Zim, but...

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7. BH247

8. HARARE – Econet Wire-
less has diversified into
home security service as the
telecommunications opera-
tor seeks to widen income
streams in the face of declin-
ing profitability from its
core business.
The telecoms operator
recorded a 52 percent slump
to $23 million in net profit
in the half year ended August
31, 2015, as weak consumer
demand and government
imposed service charge cuts
and taxes took a toll on its
performance.
Over the years, the tele-
coms operator has diversified
into other sectors such as
renewable energy, health and
beverages.
To improve its profitabil-
ity, the company in the past
year instituted a variety of
measures including retrench-
ments, salary cuts and
demanding a 15 percent
price cut from its suppliers.
Under the new service,
Econet Connected Homes,
which is a partnership with
its subsidiary Zimbabwe
Online (ZOL), the operator,
will provide 24 hour security
under different packages that
also include closed circuit
television and rapid response
teams in case of burglary or
other disturbances.
The home security system,
launched Tuesday evening,
allows users to monitor
activities at their property
and control it remotely using
smart phones or tablets
hundreds of kilometres away
from home.
It has sensors for curtain
and door movements, win-
dows breaks, human move-
ment, smoke alert or gas
leaks and sends the users a
message if any anomaly is
detected.
“You will be in full control
of your home and you will
be secure,” said the general
manager for Econet Con-
nected Lifestyles, Shepherd
Hondo.
Under the connected Life-
styles brand, Econet initially
launched a vehicle tracking
system which allows users,
especially companies to
monitor the movement of
their vehicles.
New Ziana
.●
8 news
Econet diversifies into home security

9. BH249

10. BH2410

11. BH24 Reporter
HARARE -The Zimbabwe
Tourism Authority (ZTA),
which is leading a delega-
tion of Zimbabweans that are
in Berlin, Germany for the
International Tourism Bourse
(ITB), is hopeful that the fair
will help boost tourist arrivals
in the country.
ITB, which is one of the
world’s leading travel fairs,
begins today and will run
until March 13.
The delegation will seek
to promote Zimbabwe as a
world-class tourist destina-
tion.
Germany is the world’s larg-
est outbound travel market
with 76 million travellers each
year and over half the Ger-
man population takes at least
one holiday abroad each year.
And data from IPK Interna-
tional show that Germany
topped global outbound
markets in 2015 followed by
United States of America, the
United Kingdom and China.
According to the United
Nations World Tourism
Organisation (UNWTO)’s 2015
Tourism Highlights, Ger-
many ranks third in tourism
expenditure, with a total of
$92,2 billion, after China and
the United States.
The market is known for high
spending averaging $2 100
per person per trip.
“Germany contributes 18 per-
cent of European arrivals into
Zimbabwe and ranks 3rd after
the USA and UK, contrib-
uting 26 355 arrivals, a far
cry from the 76 000 arrivals
attained in 1999, Zimbabwe’s
tourism peak
“The Authority is thus seized
with a challenge to surpass
the 1999 arrivals by achiev-
ing 100 000 arrivals from the
German market by 2020; in
line with the National Tourism
Blueprint: Towards A $5 Bil-
lion Economy by 2020,” said
the ZTA.
ZTA chief executive Mr
Karikoga Kaseke said:“Travel
fairs continue to be a signifi-
cant and competitive tool for
destination marketing and
promotion for any serious
destination eyeing tourism
growth.
“Our participation at ITB
2016 is a positive move for
destination Zimbabwe given
our absence at last year’s
edition.”
The delegation in Berlin
includes companies and insti-
tutions namely Africa Albida
Tourism, Falcon Safaris,
African Sun Limited, Civil
Aviation Authority of Zim-
babwe, Zimbabwe Parks and
Wildlife Management Author-
ity of Zimbabwe, Shearwater
Adventures, Rainbow Tourism
Group, Amalinda Collection,
African Bush Camps, Zimba-
bwe Travel Info, Musangano
Lodge, Nyati Travel and Sikil-
iza.●
11 news
Zim tourism eyes lucrative German market

12. HARARE - The mainstream
industrial index rose by a
marginal 0.01 to close at
98.97 as gains were only in
CBZ which gained $0,0050
to close at $0,1050.
Trading in the nega-
tive was Natfoods, which
slipped $0,0387 to trade at
$2,4113 while NicozDiamond
shed $0,0010 to settle at
$0,0150.
Activity was limited to nine
counters.
The mining index was flat
at 19.14 as Bindura, Fal-
gold, Hwange and RioZim
maintained previous price
levels at $0,0095, $0,0050,
$0,0300 and $0,1040
respectively
- BH24 Reporter ●
ZSE12
Equities market gains

13. Movers CHANGE Today Price USc SHAKERS Change TODAY Price USc
CBZ 5.00 10.50 NicozDiamond -15.01 3.00
NatFoods -1.57 241.13
Index Previous Today Move Change
Industrial 98.96 98.97 +0.01 points +0.01%
Mining 19.14 19.14 +0.00 points +0.00%
13 zse tables
ZSE
Indices
Stock Exchange
Previous
02 03
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14. 14 DIARY OF EVENTS
The black arrow indicate level of load shedding across the country.
POWER GENERATION STATS
Gen Station
09 March 2016
Energy
(Megawatts)
Hwange 506 MW
Kariba 470 MW
Harare 30 MW
Munyati 17 MW
Bulawayo 18 MW
Imports 0 - 500 MW
Total 1418 MW
•Thursday 24 March 2016 - Annual General Meeting of Willdale Limited; Place: Boardroom, Willdale Administration Block,
19.5km peg Lomagundi Road, Mount Hampden; Time: 1100 hours...
THE BH24 DIARY

15. JOHANNESBURG -South
Africa's rand and bonds
retreated early today as
sentiment was rocked by
Moody's decision late last
night to place the country's
credit rating on review for a
downgrade over its worsen-
ing growth prospects.
Stocks opened slightly
firmer, with the JSE Top-40
blue-chip index inching up
0,12 percent.
At 0700 GMT the rand had
weakened 0,2 percent to
15,4650 per dollar, gaining
back some ground after slip-
ping to 15,4700 overnight.
Government bonds weakened
as well, with the benchmark
issue due in 2026 adding 3
basis points to 9,315 per-
cent.
"Comments from Moody's
overnight have spiked the
risk-off trade with bonds and
currencies taking a beating
overnight," analysts at Ned-
bank Capital said in a note.
The rand, already on the
back foot after Tuesday data
showed the current account
deficit widened sharply,
saw a modest selloff after
Moody's said it was con-
cerned about the ability
of government policies to
restore fiscal strength and
boost growth.
Moody's cited weak economic
performance in Africa's most
indistrialised economy as a
risk factor when assigning
a negative outlook to the
rating in December 2015,
and said it now expected the
economy to grow at only 0,5
percent in 2016, slower than
Treasury's forecast of 0,9
percent.
Moody's visits South Africa
next week to assess the
economy and decide whether
to alter its Baa2 rating.
Finance Minister Pravin
Gordhan told local Radio 702
on Wednesday that South
Africa had a good to story to
tell Moody's.
"Clearly we need to prove to
ourselves and to them that
we are capable of working
together to grow our econ-
omy, create jobs and make
our fiscal framework a viable
one," Gordhan said. - Reu-
ters●
regioNAL News15
Rand, bonds retreat after Moody's puts credit status on review

16. TOKYO - Toshiba Corp has
granted Canon Inc exclusive
negotiating rights for its
medical equipment unit after
a hotly contested auction,
with a report putting Canon's
offer at more than 700 billion
yen ($6,2 billion).
The conglomerate put
Toshiba Medical Systems
Corp on the block to help
fund restructuring after
a $1,3 billion accounting
scandal, attracting a bevy of
suitors, particularly Japanese
imaging companies whose
products range from cameras
and copiers to diagnostic
devices.
The second-round of bidding,
which saw offers go much
higher than first estimated,
included Fujifilm Holdings
Corp, and Konica Minolta Inc
which had teamed up with
European buyout firm Per-
mira, sources familiar with
the matter said earlier.
Toshiba Medical, the world's
second-largest manufacturer
of CT scan machines, also
makes X-ray and magnetic
resonance imaging (MRI)
systems. It had revenue of
405,6 billion yen in the past
financial year.
Toshiba declined to com-
ment on the size of Canon's
bid. Canon also declined to
comment. The Nikkei busi-
ness daily said Canon had
won prime position to take
the unit, not only because
of the size of its bid but
also because there was little
overlap between the two
firm's medical equipment
businesses, raising few anti-
trust concerns.
Canon has been keen to
develop its medical devices
business and the purchase
would jump start that effort.
"The acquisition of Toshiba
Medical will allow Canon to
create a new business pillar,
on top of cameras and office
equipment businesses," said
Kazuyoshi Saito, senior ana-
lyst at IwaiCosmo Securities
Co.
"It might be a little pricey,
but will generate profits in
the first year. It is more rea-
sonable than Hon Hai paying
about the same for Sharp,"
he said.
The sale is part of a dras-
tic restructuring at Toshiba
after the company admit-
ted to overstating profits
from 2009. The costs of the
revamp have forced Toshiba
to ask lenders for additional
loans of about 200 billion
yen ($1,8 billion), sources
have told Reuters`.-Reu-
ters●
internatioNAL News16
Canon closes in on Toshiba's medical unit after fierce bidding

17. By Kurt Cobb
The $9,2 billion investors paid
to snap up new equity offerings
from US oil companies in 2016
proves those investors are
indeed ready for more punish-
ment.
The amount is in line with the
pace of such equity offerings in
2015 even as the mood in the
oil markets has grown increas-
ingly dour. In June of last year
I wrote:
New investors in US oil com-
pany shares must believe they
are catching the bottom and
will have a very profitable ride
up from here. This demon-
strates that OPEC's work is not
done and accounts in part for
the decision to leave produc-
tion quotas unchanged. OPEC's
next task is to convince those
making new investments in oil
that, rather than catching a
bottom in oil prices, they have
caught a falling knife.
A lot of investors did end up
catching a falling knife as oil
careened downward from about
$60 a barrel last summer to
Friday's close of about $36.
Investors this year may still
find that the knife is falling,
though it admittedly doesn't
have as far to fall this time
around. Still, it seems they
misunderstand OPEC's strategy
or believe that that strategy
will fail. As I said in the same
piece:
The cartel must dampen enthu-
siasm for investment for the
long term if the organisation's
members are going to benefit.
A crippled US oil industry with-
out friends in the investment
world is the only way to assure
that rising prices won't simply
lead to a stampede back into
US shale deposits.
It seems that the oil industry
still has friends in the invest-
ment world and that OPEC's
work is therefore not yet done.
The big question then is: Will
OPEC stay the course or relent
with a production cut this year
to raise prices?
I doubt that OPEC will relent.
As bad as the OPEC countries,
including Saudi Arabia, are
hurting, to give up at this point
would make all the previous
suffering pointless. Saudi
Arabia is really the linchpin in
OPEC. No member can resist
the will of the Saudis because
they control such huge and
flexible oil flows.
I have posited a speculative,
but nevertheless plausible rea-
son for why Saudi Arabia may
not give up on its strategy any
time soon: The kingdom may
be at or near its all-time maxi-
mum rate of production, a rate
it may only be able to main-
tain for the next decade or so.
Naturally, the Saudis want to
maximise their revenues during
this period of peak production.
They can't do that if US oil
companies keep overproducing.
If the Saudis can neutralise
those companies, by bankrupt-
ing them or forcing widespread
lease sales, this will allow
major international oil compa-
nies to buy up much of these
distressed assets. The majors
will develop these properties
more slowly than the inde-
pendents did because 1) the
majors do not have to worry
about their ability to meet debt
payments and 2) the majors do
not want to crater the price of
oil which would only under-
mine the value of their newly
acquired leases.
It is hard to imagine that the
Saudis launched their low-
price strategy on a wing and
a prayer without thinking
through how long it would
take to force other producers
to stop overproducing. But,
investors keep hoping that the
Saudis don't really know what
they are doing.
So far the Saudis appear to
have the upper hand, and I'm
guessing that those buying
newly issued oil company
shares these days are mis-
calculating once again. After
all, the funding derived from
these share offerings will only
serve to encourage continued
overproduction by making it
possible for producers to hang
on that much longer in hopes
of an upturn. – Oilprice.com
●
17 analysis17 analysis
The $9,2 billion bet against OPEC dominance