Zimbabwe Roundup: Afghan cricket tour, agriculture record, satellite launch 

Afghanistan cricket team to tour Zimbabwe

Afghanistan’s cricket team, the AfghanAtalan, will tour Zimbabwe from December 9 to January 6 for an all-format series, including two Test matches, three One Day Internationals (ODIs), and three Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is). The tour begins with a T20I series on December 9 and concludes with the Test matches in Bulawayo, in southwest Zimbabwe starting December 26. Afghanistan Cricket Board Chairman Mirwais Ashraf emphasised the significance of the tour and Afghanistan's historical ties with Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe Cricket's Chairman expressed excitement for the series, highlighting the engaging nature of their matches against Afghanistan. The Afghan squad will arrive in Zimbabwe on December 6 for practice ahead of the first T20I. 

Zimbabwe on track to set new winter wheat production record 

Zimbabwe is on track to set a new winter wheat production record, having already harvested over 490,000 tonnes this season, exceeding last year’s record of 460,000 tonnes. Farmers cultivated 121,900 hectares, the largest area since the 1960s, and achieved an average yield of five tonnes per hectare. Total production could surpass 600,000 tonnes, significantly above the annual requirement of 360,000 tonnes, which is expected to stabilise staple food prices. Collaboration between the government and the private sector, along with dedicated power supplies for farmers, contributed to enhanced productivity. Zimbabwe, alongside Ethiopia, has recently achieved wheat self-sufficiency, a notable feat for the continent.

Collaboration with Eswatini on energy efficiency projects

Zimbabwe is set to collaborate with Eswatini on energy efficiency projects, which are expected to enhance bilateral relations and significantly benefit both nations. During a workshop in Bulawayo, energy expert Mzwandile Thwala highlighted that implementing Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) for cooling systems could save the region 8 terawatt hours (TWh) of electricity by 2040, translating to a savings of around $840 million in electricity costs and a reduction of 6.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.

Enhancement of mobile connectivity in Zimbabwe’s border areas

The Zimbabwean government is taking steps to enhance mobile connectivity in border areas, as many residents currently rely on foreign service providers. Minister of Information Communication Technology, Dr Tatenda Mavetera, announced that initiatives will focus on underserved rural regions. The initiative is consistent with Zimbabwe's strategic goal of achieving a fully digitized and paperless economy by the year 2030.

Zimbabwe set to launch second satellite

Zimbabwe is set to launch its second earth observation satellite, ZimSat-2, on November 5, contingent on weather conditions. Developed by the Zimbabwe National Geo-Spatial and Space Agency (ZINGSA) in collaboration with Southwest State University in Russia, ZimSat-2 features a multispectral camera for high-resolution imaging vital for agriculture, geology, urban planning, and environmental monitoring. Its primary function is to monitor crop health and analyse vegetation using the Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI).