Trade & Infrastructure Finance: Afreximbank and DBSA will each put $10m into a Joint Project Preparation Facility to move Southern African projects from concept to bankability, prioritising power/energy transition, transport and logistics, ICT and strategic minerals beneficiation. Construction & Jobs: Afrimat’s Construction Index rose 5% quarter-on-quarter in Q2, with construction employment up by 95,000 since Q2 2025 and building-material output up 8.5%—a rare bright spot for labour-intensive activity. Logistics Turnaround: Transnet says it returned to profit of R4.6bn for the year to end-March 2026 as revenue rose to R88.6bn, supported by higher rail and pipeline volumes and tariff adjustments. Food Supply Pressure: Lucky Star canned pilchards faces demand constraints after frozen fish shortages cut local canning output by about 60%, pushing up unit costs and lowering volumes. Local Government & Service Delivery: Coalition instability is adding strain to municipalities ahead of 2026 elections, while El Niño forecasts raise the risk of compounded climate stress on already fragile systems. Digital & Cyber Governance: FSCA will wait for global AI guidance before drafting local AI rules, signalling a principles-led approach for financial firms. Public Procurement Push: Zimbabwe’s procurement conference spotlighted using digital tools and strategic partnerships to pull MSMEs and cooperatives into public buying. Industry Events: Automechanika Johannesburg 2026 (27–29 Oct) is set to connect Southern African buyers with parts, diagnostics and workshop equipment suppliers.