ZFN FRIDAY DRINKS

In the first segment: Tinashe, Ranga and Rufaro discuss the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Zimbabwe (ICAZ) Winter School 2026, exploring the key conversations around the accounting profession, leadership and business practices. The conversation then moves to Air Zimbabwe — its return to the spotlight with direct flight to London, the importance of connectivity, and the bigger question: is there a sustainable business case for Zimbabwe’s national airline? Should the government be running an airline, or should national carriers be judged purely on commercial performance? Tinashe, Ranga and Rufaro debate the balance between national pride, public ownership and business realities. We also discuss Varun Beverages’ interest in acquiring a controlling stake in Dairibord Holdings, Zimbabwe’s largest dairy and food processor, and what the deal could mean for competition, consumers and local industry. What role should the Competition and Tariff Commission (CTC) play in major corporate transactions? Can Zimbabwe attract investment while ensuring fair competition? Watch Friday Drinks for insightful conversations on business, economics and the issues shaping Zimbabwe. Sponsored by Delta Corporation - 'Share a Coke' and join the conversation.

Why is Zimbabwe fixated on five O Levels? Join Tinashe, Ranga, and Rufaro ask whether Zimbabwe's education system is serving every child—or simply preserving an outdated model inherited from the colonial era. The discussion explores: Why the five O-Level benchmark has become the defining measure of success in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe should create multiple pathways to success instead of relying on a one-size-fits-all academic model. Why rural communities consistently produce lower O-Level pass rates and what that says about the education system. ls the problem that rural learners are failing—or is the system failing rural learners? Rural industrialisation requires an education system that equips young people with practical, technical and entrepreneurial skills relevant to their local economies. An examination originally designed for an academic minority shouldn't determine the future of every child. Expanding technical and vocational education alongside academic pathways. This episode is sponsored by BancABC Zimbabwe. Join the conversation in the comments.

Join Tinashe, Ranga, and Rufaro as they discuss the anti-immigration protests in South Africa and the return of more than 56,000 Zimbabweans, exploring the impact on both countries. We ask the important question: Is the South African state complicit in anti-immigration protests? What role does South Africa state play in preventing or enabling the anti-immigration protests? Is this about policy, political rhetoric, unemployment pressures, or failure of protection for migrants? Or is the state struggling to manage deeper structural issues like high unemployment and public service strain? What does reduced migration mean for South Africa’s labour market, skills needs, and broader economic growth? What happens to families in Zimbabwe who depended on remittances? The conversation turns to Zimbabwe’s own economic direction — the debates around the minimum wage, unemployment, and whether higher wages lead to fewer jobs or a more fair and non-exploitative society. Tinashe, Ranga and Rufaro explore, everything ultimately ties back to one core question: economic activity and how it drives opportunity. A thoughtful, hard-hitting discussion on migration, remittances, jobs, wages, and the future of regional economic stability. Sponsored by Delta Corporation - 'Share a Coke' and join the conversation.

Tinashe, Ranga, and Rufaro are back with another episode of Friday Drinks. The team unpacks Cuba's new free-market reforms, widely regarded as the country's biggest economic shift since the Cuban Revolution. They examine what these reforms could mean for Cuba's economy and discuss why free markets are often associated with investment, productivity, and economic growth. The conversation also explores the long-standing relationship between Zimbabwe and Cuba, including the bilateral teacher training programme established in the mid-1980s, through which hundreds of Zimbabwean teachers received training in Cuba. We turn to South Africa's illegal immigration debate, including reports that more than 8,200 foreign nationals have been voluntarily repatriated from South Africa, including about 1,500 Zimbabwean nationals. They also discuss South Africa's domestic challenges, particularly high youth unemployment, and how these issues shape the immigration debate. Finally, they examine the recent decline in gold prices, looking at why gold has tumbled from recent highs and what this could mean for investors and gold-producing economies such as Zimbabwe. If you enjoy insightful discussions on economics, business, public policy, and regional affairs, subscribe to Friday Drinks and join us for a new episode every week. Sponsored by Dairibord Zimbabwe.

🎙️ In this episode: Tinashe, Ranga and Rufaro explore: Why are platinum miners reportedly owed around US$228 million in unpaid export income under the foreign currency retention system. What does this mean for investor confidence, and the wider economy. The conversation also explores whether Zimbabwe is overregulating businesses, the challenges facing the formal sector, and what policymakers can do to build trust and encourage investment. Topics covered: • Platinum miners and the US$200 million payment backlog • Bank policy rates and money supply • Inflation and monetary policy • Regulation vs overregulation • Investor confidence and economic growth • Taxation and the formal sector. Join the conversation and share your thoughts in the comments. Sponsored by Delta Corporation - 'Share a Coke' and join the conversation.

Join Tinashe, Ranga and Rufaro as they unpack some of the week's biggest ideas. ls colonizing Mars a worthy human pursuit? The markets certainly seem to think so, with investors continuing to back SpaceX. But is this humanity's next great frontier or simply 21st-century colonialism? Rufaro reflects on his Comrades Marathon experience and explores what inspires ordinary people to take on one of the world's toughest endurance races. The team also discusses the ZSE's approval to launch an Entrepreneurship Exchange and what it could mean for entrepreneurs and growing businesses seeking capital. Plus, the Government of Zimbabwe plans to introduce a Local Content Act aimed at curbing imports of certain goods. Is it a smart strategy to boost local industry, or could it create unintended consequences?

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Tinashe, Rufaro and Ranga unpack two major developments: they discuss the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange(ZSE) approval of a new Entrepreneurship Exchange and what this could mean for startups, small businesses, and access to capital in the country. Could this be a game-changer for local entrepreneurs? The team also explores the Government’s proposed Local Content Act, aimed at reducing imports and promoting local industry. Is this the right move to strengthen Zimbabwe’s economy, or are there risks that need to be considered? Join the conversation as they break down the opportunities, challenges, and bigger questions behind these policy and market shifts.

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Join Tinashe, Ranga and Rufaro begin with agriculture, unpacking the difference between lifestyle farming and commercial farming, and debating whether successful farming requires full-time presence on the farm. The discussion then moves into deeper economic issues, including RBZ money supply growth, inflation risks, and what rising liquidity could mean for prices and stability in the economy. The panel also explores tax pressure and enforcement by ZIMRA, following recent concerns raised by Delta, and what this signals for investor confidence and the ease of doing business in Zimbabwe. At the centre of the debate is a key question: is Zimbabwe becoming a hostile business environment? From farming and productivity to taxation, money supply, and informalisation, the panel breaks down the forces shaping Zimbabwe’s economic reality. Sponsored by Delta Corporation - 'Share a Coke' and join the conversation.

In this episode, Ranga and Rufaro discuss Zimbabwe’s mining sector amid major policy shifts, including the ban on foreign participation in small-scale gold mining and requirements for 98% local representation in senior and middle management roles across mining operations. They unpack what these changes mean for investment, skills development, and the long-term competitiveness of Zimbabwe’s mining industry. The discussion explores key questions around regulatory risk, ease of doing business, and whether policy is aligned with the realities of large-scale mining development and global capital requirements. Zimbabwe holds significant mineral wealth, including lithium and gold, and continues to attract investor interest. But how these policies are implemented will shape confidence in the sector going forward. Join the conversation and share your thoughts in the comments. This episode is sponsored by Dairibord Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe’s new mining policy a ban foreign participation in small-scale gold mining The 98% local requirement for senior and middle management in mining operations What “localisation” means in practice for skills, capacity, and leadership The role of foreign expertise in large-scale mining and whether it is replaceable locally Regulatory risk and how sudden policy shifts affect investor confidence Ease of doing business in Zimbabwe’s extractive sector Implications for capital-intensive projects like lithium mining Balancing economic empowerment with attracting foreign direct investment What these policies signal about Zimbabwe’s long-term industrialisation strategy The future of mining competitiveness in a global commodity market

Join Tinashe, Ranga and Rufaro as they unpack why Command Agriculture failed? Why is Zimbabwe struggling to attract meaningful foreign direct investment (FDI)? And what does it mean for the economy when the US dollar dominates everyday transactions? Zimbabwe’s banking sector, low deposit levels, the decline in agricultural funding, the shift from maize to tobacco farming, the US dollar economy and ZiG, and the broader economic and political challenges affecting growth and investment. The team also discusses: Millers and GMB The impact of politicised agricultural funding Why bank deposits in Zimbabwe remain low The dominance of the US dollar in rural economies Whether politics continues to hold Zimbabwe back economically Why Zimbabwe is not attracting investment at the same scale as other African countries Sponsored by Delta Corporation — Share a Coke and join the conversation.