RBK reports that leading Moscow universities have sharply raised tuition fees, with some programmes rising by more than 30% and several now costing over $13,500 a year.
The steepest increases were reported at MEPhI and MIPT, including nuclear physics, robotics, applied maths and computer science. HSE also raised fees sharply, with advertising and PR now above $14,000, while economics and management programmes cost around $14,000 to $15,000 a year.
Which school of thought are you?
A Keynesian would argue that cutting the ZiG policy rate from 35% to 30% is unlikely to shift aggregate demand because its marginal and investment is interest inelastic when liquidity preference is high, marginal efficiency of capital remains below the cost of credit.
A monetarist would counter that the relevant indicator is the monetary aggregate… with ZiG money supply expanding at 55% p.a., the stance is already expansionary, so the rate cut further weakens the nominal anchor and risks feeding inflation expectations.
Zimbabwe has 3 companies generating over $1 billion in annual revenue.
Econet Wireless. Delta Corporation. Innscor Africa.
Combined, they generate $3.3 billion — in an economy still synonymous with hyperinflation and economic collapse in international media.
And what they have in common is more interesting than the milestone itself.
Read the breakdown in yesterday's @AfridigestHQ newsletter.
➜ https://t.co/GhOu1Gc8z6
Great news from Russian financial media today.. 📉😂 Looks like the Russian Central Bank just discovered the "magic money printer" solution to fix their massive budget deficit. They just pumped nearly 5 trillion rubles (4,748 billion to be exact) into the banking system.
According to Bloomberg, they are basically printing money through repo loans so Russian banks can buy up the government's debt. To top it off, the Duma rushed a law through in just three days, allowing the government to blow past all spending limits and increase the national debt however they like. 💸🏃♂️
As economist Nikolaj Korzhevsky noted, this completely changes the game. Sure, printing money will cover their immediate bills for a little while, but it's going to trigger massive inflation. But hey, inflation is just a hidden tax on regular Russian citizens, so who cares right? Everything is going exactly according to plan! 🤷♂️ Peak Russian economics.
Source: Financial data reported by Bloomberg and Russian economic analysts (June 22, 2026) regarding the Central Bank's emergency monetary measures.
Manufacturing Employment Concentrated in Beverages and Food Processing
According to the latest CZI data, the beverages subsector accounts for 27% of total manufacturing employment, making it the largest employer in the sector. This is followed by food products (13%) and wood and wood products (12%), highlighting the dominant role of agro-processing industries in sustaining manufacturing jobs. Together, these three subsectors contribute more than half of manufacturing employment, underscoring their importance to industrial growth and job creation.
@czionline
Manufacturing Sector Shows Strong Long-Term Confidence.
The latest CZI survey indicates strong investor confidence in manufacturing, with 80% of firms operating for more than 14 years. Established firms aged 14–15 years account for 50% of the sector, while 30% have operated for over 15 years.
The low proportion of new entrants (2%) reflects challenging business conditions, but the dominance of long-standing firms demonstrates the sector's resilience and continued attractiveness despite economic headwinds.
@czionline
Businesses Enter 2026 with Strong Optimism.
According to the latest Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) business outlook survey, Zimbabwean businesses are broadly optimistic about economic and industry performance in 2026.
Key Results:
-54.7% of respondents expect the economy to perform better in 2026.
-36.1% anticipate economic conditions will remain the same.
-Only 9.2% expect the economy to worsen.
At the sector level, confidence is even stronger:
-63.1% expect their industry sector to improve.
-25.6% foresee no major change.
-11.3% anticipate a deterioration in sector performance.
The @czionline findings indicate that most businesses expect a more favourable operating environment in 2026, supported by expectations of policy reforms, infrastructure development and improved macroeconomic stability.
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Popular Russian neurobiologist Vladimir Alipov says the sharp cognitive decline some people experience after retirement may be linked to the sudden loss of purpose and social interaction.
While working, he says, a person “understood what he was doing and why,” earned his own money, and felt he was “doing something useful for society” and was “part of some important system.”
After retirement, life can become reduced to “sit around, watch television” a kind of “aimless, meaningless life” that Alipov says may be destructive for the nervous system. He also points to social isolation, noting that elderly people who stop communicating and just sit at home have a sharply increased risk of dementia.
“There may really be something important in the fact that we socially interact,” he says.
Zimra Commission general Regina Chinamasa speaking on how the authority has managed to surpass its 2025 revenue target of US$7,2 billion to US$7,6 billion and increasing its tax base by registering more taxpayers
💵🇨🇳Dollar dominance crumbles in Africa as China’s yuan powers toward $400 billion trade boom
The Chinese yuan is steadily eroding the US dollar’s grip on Africa’s trade through booming bilateral commerce and new payment infrastructure.
🔶 China-Africa trade hit a record $348 billion in 2025, up 17.7% YoY, with Chinese exports to Africa surging 25.8% to $225 billion
🔶 African banks and businesses are increasingly using the yuan for trade finance, import payments, and export settlements
🔶 South Africa’s Standard Bank joined China’s CIPS payment network and processed around $500 million in transactions within four months
🔶 China's tariff elimination for 53 African countries boost exports like Kenyan avocado oil, South African apples, and Nigerian cattle products
🔶 Growing use of yuan in trade finance is supported by expanding CIPS access
Meanwhile, back in the real world, Elvira Nabiullina has warned that Russia's June inflation will be affected by a spike in fuel prices, after drone attacks and the Iran conflict.
She says the government is taking measures, but supply may take time to recover, and higher petrol prices could feed into inflation expectations because fuel is sensitive for both households and businesses.
TASS reports that the average Russian salary has hit 112,654 rubles ($1,543).
The fastest annual wage growth was recorded in Magadan, Kaluga, Chukotka, Moscow and Khabarovsk. Magadan rose from about $2,116 to $2,604. Chukotka increased from around $2,937 to $3,375. Moscow climbed from about $2,588 to $3,008.
Kaluga rose from roughly $1,103 to $1,442, while Khabarovsk increased from around $1,256 to $1,581.
Important caveat: these are average, not median, wages. In Russia, the average wage is roughly 60% higher than the median, compared with about 25% in much of Western Europe, so headline figures are pulled upward heavily by high earners.
“Chinese manufacturing in Zimbabwe is broader than just mining and steel. Sino-Zimbabwe Cement has been operating since 2001 in Gweru and was running at 90% utilisation as recently as 2022. Chinese investment is also supporting local production of cement, bricks, porcelain tiles, ceramic tableware, school shoes, gumboots and other manufactured products that are supplying domestic and regional markets.” – Carrie Li, Executive Chairperson Zimbabwe Chinese Business Association
#MSSR2025Launch #ZimIndustry #ManufacturingIndaba
MADE IN ZIMBABWE. WELLDONE CENTURY AUTO ASSEMBLY
Century Auto Assembly is preparing to commence vehicle assembly production. Their plant, located in Mt Hampden, Mashonaland West Province is part of Bronzepels Investments (Pvt) Ltd expansion project. Century Auto Assembly is an emerging automotive enterprise prepared to compete in the local motor industry once fully operational. Progress in setting up the plant is at an advanced stage. The company has successfully concluded the installation of testing equipment for vehicle suspension systems and brake performance. Century Auto is a tried and tested company with established regional operations in countries such as Nigeria, Ghana, and Egypt. In those markets, the company has gained extensive experience in assembling a range of vehicles, including GSC models, Ford Ranger, JMC, and Toyota units.
The Ministry's Mashonaland West Provincial office paid a visit to Century Auto Assembly to get an appreciation of progress. The US 10-million-dollar project is 99% complete. Century Auto started its operations back in February 2025 and here we are. It can be done.
The Government of Zimbabwe, like any administration that truly values its people, holds the safety and well-being of its nationals as a matter of deepest concern. To date, we have been able to repatriate 660 of our citizens from South Africa, and we remain committed to supporting all those who wish to return home. If you or someone you know requires assistance, please do not hesitate to reach out to our embassy and consulates. We will leave no one behind.
I think they are being cautious; the Middle East situation has just begun after all. Reversing things should things deteriorate is more dispiriting!!!!
Forex Inflows Jump 39% to US$8.3 Billion.
Zimbabwe recorded US$8.3 billion in foreign currency inflows during the first five months of 2026, up 39.1% from US$6 billion in the same period last year, according to the RBZ’s Monetary Policy Committee.
By the Numbers:
🔵Forex inflows (Jan–May 2026): US$8.3 billion.
🔵Forex inflows (Jan–May 2025): US$6.0 billion.
🔵Increase: US$2.3 billion.
🔵Growth rate: 39.1%.