Sikhulekelani Moyo [email protected]
MIDLANDS Province attracted the largest share of projected investment in the third quarter of 2026, securing US$1,4 billion from 30 approved licences, representing about 54 percent of the national total, the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA) has said.
In its third quarter report, ZIDA said it approved 182 new investment licences with a combined projected investment value of US$2,6 billion.
Although Midlands led in projected investment value, Harare recorded the highest number of approvals, with 81 licences, accounting for 44,5 percent of the total and representing projected investment of US$360,78 million.
Mashonaland West followed with projected investment of US$223,12 million from 19 licences.
Mashonaland Central attracted US$155,30 million from 14 licences, while Mashonaland East recorded US$95,70 million from 10 licences.
Masvingo secured US$95,40 million from three licences, Manicaland US$78,10 million from six licences, Matabeleland South US$75,65 million from five licences, Matabeleland North US$64,50 million from five licences and Bulawayo US$51,03 million from nine licences.
ZIDA said Midlands, Harare and Mashonaland West collectively accounted for about 76,4 percent of projected investment during the quarter.
“Their concentration highlights the need to strengthen project preparation and investment promotion in provinces attracting smaller shares of approved investment,” the report states.
The report also shows that actual investment inflows from the monitored January 2022 to September 2026 cohort remained concentrated in a few provinces.
Midlands and Harare together accounted for about US$1,25 billion, representing approximately 64 percent of realised investment.
Masvingo recorded about US$398 million, while Mashonaland West attracted US$132 million. The four provinces collectively accounted for approximately 91 percent of cumulative inflows.
At sector level, manufacturing emerged as the leading contributor by projected investment value, attracting US$1,22 billion across 49 licences.
Mining followed with US$1,06 billion from 78 licences.
“Together, the two sectors accounted for US$2,28 billion, or approximately 87,6 percent of total projected investment, compared with approximately 79,6 percent in Q2,” said ZIDA.
Energy attracted projected investment of US$129,52 million from seven licences, while services recorded US$63,63 million across 18 licences.
Tourism and hospitality attracted US$46,50 million from seven licences, construction US$34,48 million from 12 licences and agriculture US$30,40 million from seven licences.
Other sectors included transport, with US$10 million; real estate, US$5 million; information and communication technology, US$2 million; and financial services, US$1 million.
ZIDA said manufacturing attracted US$1,046 billion in projected foreign currency cash injections, while mining accounted for US$628,22 million in imported capital equipment.
Actual investment inflows from the monitored January 2022 to September 2026 cohort were also concentrated in manufacturing, mining and agriculture.
Manufacturing recorded approximately US$769 million, mining US$588 million and agriculture US$370 million.
Together, the three sectors accounted for about US$1,73 billion, representing nearly 89 percent of verified inflows.
Other actual inflows included services at US$121 million, energy at US$47 million, transport at US$17 million, financial services at US$10 million, construction at US$9 million, tourism and hospitality at US$7 million, ICT at US$6 million, health at US$1 million and real estate at US$1 million.
“The lower realised investment in service and infrastructure-oriented sectors provides a basis for targeted follow-up on financing and implementation constraints. It also reinforces the need to broaden the investment pipeline with projects that have clear markets, viable financing arrangements and credible implementation plans,” said ZIDA.
The agency said renewable energy, energy storage, agrivoltaics and electric vehicle charging featured prominently in project preparation and public-private partnership proposals during the quarter.
“These opportunities connect energy investment with industrial production, agriculture and transport and provide scope for diversification beyond established investment sectors,” the agency noted.
