Online Reporter
Nyore Madzianike
Senior Reporter
Government has reaffirmed its commitment to implementing reforms aimed at improving the ease of doing business, attracting domestic and foreign investment, strengthening investor confidence and enhancing the country’s competitiveness.
Speaking at the 2026 Global Business Achievers Network awards and dinner ceremony in Harare, Vice President Dr Kembo Mohadi said Government remained committed to unlocking the full potential of its people, particularly young innovators, while creating an environment in which enterprise can thrive.
The awards recognised entrepreneurs who excelled in leadership across various sectors of the economy.
“As Government, we firmly believe that a vibrant private sector remains the engine of sustainable economic growth.
“We therefore continue implementing reforms that improve the ease of doing business, attract domestic and foreign investment, strengthen investor confidence and enhance Zimbabwe’s competitiveness.
“We are committed to unlocking the full potential of our people, particularly our young innovators, and ensuring that enterprise thrives in a stable, predictable, and digitally progressive environment,” he said.
Vice President Dr Mohadi said effective public-private collaboration remained indispensable to national development, adding that when governance and enterprise align, development accelerates.
“When transparency and accountability guide our actions, confidence grows.
“And when integrity defines leadership, prosperity becomes sustainable,” he said.
He said Zimbabwe was richly endowed with natural resources and human capital, with Government’s strategic focus remaining on industrialisation and value addition.
“We must build industries that create jobs, strengthen domestic production capacity and position Zimbabwe competitively within regional and global markets,” he said.
Vice President Dr Mohadi welcomed the recognition of youth-led enterprises and women in business, saying empowering women and young entrepreneurs strengthened economic inclusion and reinforced national resilience.
“An inclusive economy is a stable economy, and an empowered generation secures our future.
“As we celebrate excellence tonight, let us reaffirm our commitment to corporate governance, transparency, accountability and ethical leadership.
“Let excellence be accompanied by integrity.
“Let profitability be matched by responsibility.
“Let growth be guided by principle.”
Vice President Dr Mohadi said Zimbabwe continued to advance regional integration under the SADC framework and the African Continental Free Trade Area, creating opportunities for youth and emerging businesses to access continental markets, engage in cross-border partnerships and develop regional value chains.
“Zimbabwe is open for business and for youth-driven innovation,” he said.
He commended the award recipients, saying they exemplified the determination, resilience and innovation required to realise Vision 2030.
“Your achievements demonstrate that despite challenges, Zimbabweans possess the ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit to succeed.
“I encourage today’s award winners to continue striving for excellence, mentoring emerging entrepreneurs, particularly young people and women, so that together we build a stronger, more inclusive economy.
“To those who may not receive awards this evening, remember that success is not measured by recognition alone.
“Continue pursuing excellence with integrity, discipline and perseverance.
“Your contribution to national development remains equally important,” he said.
Vice President Dr Mohadi reiterated Government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for businesses to thrive, innovate and flourish.
“The journey towards an upper middle-income economy requires partnerships between the Government, the private sector, academia, civil society, development partners and communities.
“Together, we can unlock Zimbabwe’s vast economic potential and create sustainable prosperity for present and future generations”.
He said national development was a shared responsibility requiring Government, business, civil society and citizens to contribute meaningfully towards building a prosperous Zimbabwe.
Describing the awards ceremony as strategic rather than merely symbolic, Vice President Dr Mohadi said recognising achievement strengthened the national culture of productivity, accountability and innovation.
“By recognising achievement, we strengthen our national culture of productivity, accountability, and innovation.
“We affirm that excellence matters, we reinforce the centrality of ethical leadership, and we inspire others to pursue distinction in their respective areas of operation.”
Vice President Dr Mohadi said under the National Development Strategy 2, Zimbabwe remained firmly committed to attaining Vision 2030, adding that the country’s youthful population represented a tremendous national asset that Government was committed to harnessing.
He said Government was walking the talk on youth empowerment by streamlining legislative and policy frameworks to ensure young people’s participation across all sectors of the economy.
“To date, the Government has put in place strategies and policies such as the National Youth Empowerment Strategy and the National Youth Policy, all meant to advance youth empowerment.
“Distinguished Guests, through institutions such as the Empower Bank and the Zimbabwe Women’s Microfinance Bank, the Government continues to roll out collateral-free, low-interest funding models, ensuring that women and young entrepreneurs can transition from informal trading to formal, scalable corporate entities,” he said.
Vice President Dr Mohadi said Government had operationalised innovation hubs and industrial parks across State universities, transforming institutions of higher learning into centres of commercialised technology, start-ups and intellectual property.
He said Government had also initiated specialised mechanisation programmes, land allocation quotas and gold mining formalisation initiatives under which thousands of young Zimbabweans were actively transforming the primary production sectors.
“All these interventions are enabling youth and women-owned enterprises to grow, create employment and improve livelihoods across both rural and urban communities,” he said.
Vice President Dr Mohadi said no nation could achieve sustainable development without a vibrant private sector.
“Business drives investment, stimulates production, creates employment, advances innovation and generates revenue for national development.”
The ceremony was attended by business people drawn from across all sectors.
