NCC board demands measurable reforms under competitiveness strategy

THE National Competitiveness Commission (NCC) board will place implementation discipline, regulatory reform and measurable improvements in the business environment at the centre of its oversight of Zimbabwe’s National Competitiveness Strategy (NCS) 2026–2030.

The strategy document was officially launched by Vice-President Dr Kembo Mohadi at the ongoing National Competitiveness Commission Summit in Bulawayo today.

NCC board chairperson Mrs Patience Chimuka said the board’s responsibility extended beyond endorsing the strategy to ensuring that its interventions translated into tangible improvements for businesses and the wider economy.

“In endorsing this Strategy, the Board is satisfied that it meets the highest standards of policy coherence, fiscal prudence, and developmental impact,” she said.

Mrs Chimuka said the strategy had been introduced at a time when Zimbabwe was confronting a rapidly changing global economic environment, including geopolitical shifts, technological disruption and climate-related pressures, while regional integration was creating new opportunities for investment and industrialisation.

“The NCS arrives at a critical juncture for our nation. The global economic landscape is increasingly volatile, shaped by geopolitical realignments, technological disruption, and the accelerating impacts of climate change.

“At the same time, Africa is advancing regional economic integration through initiatives such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), creating new opportunities for trade, investment, industrialisation and regional value chains.”

Against this backdrop, she said Zimbabwe needed to move beyond incremental reforms and focus on strengthening productive capacity, innovation and the business environment.

“Against this backdrop, enhancing national competitiveness has become more critical than ever.

“For Zimbabwe to survive and thrive, we must move beyond incremental reforms and embrace a transformative approach that strengthens productive capacity, drives innovation, improves the business environment and positions our economy to compete effectively in regional and global markets.”

Mrs Chimuka said the board would subject implementation to rigorous scrutiny, particularly around whether reforms were removing constraints affecting private-sector growth.

“Our oversight role demands that we ask difficult questions: Are we removing the binding constraints to private-sector growth? Are our resources being deployed efficiently?

“Are we delivering measurable improvements in the ease of doing business? The NCS answers these questions through its clear strategic objectives, prioritised interventions, and a robust monitoring and evaluation framework.”

She singled out Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) as a critical instrument for improving the quality and predictability of regulation.

“The Board will pay particular attention to the implementation of the Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) regime, as mandated by the recent Office of the President and Cabinet Circular. We view RIA as a non-negotiable tool for embedding good regulatory practice across all Government entities, and we will actively track its adoption and effectiveness,” said Mrs Chimuka.

She also stressed that competitiveness ultimately depended on the capacity of Zimbabweans to participate in and benefit from economic growth.

“We are particularly encouraged by the emphasis on upskilling women and youth, promoting digital literacy, and fostering a culture of innovation and intellectual property protection.”

Mrs Chimuka said successful implementation would require coordinated action across Government, business, development partners, academia and civil society.

“A competitive Zimbabwe is not an abstract aspiration; it is a concrete outcome of deliberate, sustained, and collective action.”