Online Reporter
Judith Phiri
Zimpapers Business Hub
THE Government will next year launch a National Investment Climate Dashboard to monitor the implementation of regulatory reforms aimed at improving investment conditions and capture investor feedback in real time.
The initiative is designed to improve the business conditions in the country and promote investment and accelerate economic growth.
In his address at the first meeting of the 2025 Cabinet Year, President Mnangagwa underscored the crucial need to ensure that regulations, fees and administrative licences do not stifle business but rather facilitate economic growth.
While regulations are necessary for controlling business practices, the President stressed that they must be balanced with the need to foster an environment conducive to enterprise and innovation.
The Government said last week it would, starting with the agriculture sector, review fees levied by statutory bodies as well as the regulatory conditions to enhance business conditions in the country.
According to the 2026 Budget Strategy Paper signed off by the Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion, Professor Mthuli Ncube, the dashboard will play a key role in promoting transparency.
“In addition, a National Investment Climate Dashboard will be launched in 2026. This tool will enhance transparency, accountability and responsiveness in the investment environment.”
He said the country’s investment policy from 2026 would focus on regulatory reforms aimed at reducing the cost of doing business and compliance costs associated with the various business regulations.
Prof Ncube said all ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) were expected to conduct value chain analysis for their respective sectors to reduce regulatory requirements such as permits, charges and licences imposed on the business sector.
“To improve the ease of doing business and maximise investment opportunities, the One Stop Investment Service Centre, Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA), will be enhanced through automation of registration systems for licensing of investments,” he added.
“The country has great potential in resource-based investments, which require MDAs to prioritise investment planning aimed at developing a pipeline of investment opportunities.”
He said all MDAs will budget for project development for all proposed investments up to pre-feasibility study in order to access funding for detailed feasibility study from the Project Preparation and Development Fund (PPDF).
To improve investment coordination in the country at the national and provincial levels, the minister said all MDAs should establish investment committees to be co-chaired by the Treasury.
Meanwhile, as the Government continues to work on modalities to provide tangible incentives for Zimbabweans in the diaspora to invest at home, the 2026 Budget Strategy Paper recognises the diaspora as a vital resource for national development, not only through remittances but also through investment, skills transfer and international advocacy.
Prof Ncube said: “Cognisant of this, the Government will continue to enhance diaspora participation in national development and in strengthening economic ties with other countries.
“Government recognises the diaspora as a vital source of capital, skills and market access and will continue to explore ways to attract diaspora investment.”
He said this will include the promotion of impact investing, blended finance mechanisms and tailored financial instruments aligned with National Development Goals.
The Minister said the diaspora will also be engaged as ambassadors to promote Zimbabwe’s economic opportunities globally.
“In addition, the Government will continuously strengthen remittance infrastructure and instruments to promote use of formal channels by the Diasporans when remitting funds.
“Government will also maintain its commitment to uphold various international investment protection agreements, which benefit members of the Diaspora as well as other investors,” he added.
He said beyond developing policies that enable, empower and improve engagement with the Diaspora, the Government would continue to capacitate diplomatic missions to ensure quality delivery of consular services to the Diaspora community.
The Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStat) estimated in its 2022 census that at least 908 913 Zimbabweans lived abroad. However, other estimates of the Diaspora population are far higher.
While there is no consensus on the exact number of Zimbabweans abroad, there is considerable evidence that the Zimbabwean migrant population is a vast and untapped population that can be targeted for mainstreaming into national development strategies, according to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
