Online Reporter
Rutendo Nyeve, [email protected]
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa is set to headline the 2026 CEO Africa Roundtable, which starts today in Victoria Falls.
The high-level conference has been organised by the CEO Africa Roundtable and brings together captains of industry, senior Government officials and international investors under the theme: ‘A Spirit of Dialogue: Partnering for Vision 2030.’
The theme underscores a fundamental shift towards locally crafted solutions to Zimbabwe’s economic challenges, moving away from externally imposed policy prescriptions.
It emphasises open, evidence-based engagement between the Government, business, labour, and academia to co-create pragmatic policies responsive to Zimbabwe’s unique context.
President Mnangagwa’s address on Friday is expected to represents the pinnacle of three days of intensive policy deliberations.
The President will also participate in a business interface session, allowing industry leaders to engage directly with him on pressing economic matters.
This interaction is expected to strengthen trust between the public and private sectors, a critical ingredient for successful implementation of Vision 2030.
The roundtable comes at a pivotal moment for Zimbabwe’s economy.
According to concept notes for the event, the country stands at a crossroads, grappling with macro-economic headwinds while holding significant promise anchored in its abundant natural resources, youthful population, and strategic position within Africa’s rapidly integrating markets.
The draft programme reveals a comprehensive agenda tackling Zimbabwe’s most pressing economic challenges.
Today, focuses will be on stabilisation and policy alignment, featuring sessions on climate-resilient agriculture systems with Lands Minister Dr Anxious Masuka and SeedCo MD Felistus Ndawi.
A dedicated session on the cotton value chain, from fibre to fashion, will feature Edgars’ senior management.
Thursday tackles critical structural issues including pension fund sustainability, energy deficits, development financing, artificial intelligence, and human capital development.
The energy session, titled ‘No Grid, No Growth: How to Solve Zimbabwe’s Production and Transmission Problems’, features Energy Minister July Moyo, Zimplats CEO Eng Alexander Mhembere and SIRDC’s Dr L. Madzingaidzo.
A session on artificial intelligence and digital transformation will bring together academic and former Deputy Prime Minister Professor Arthur Mutambara and ICT Minister Tatenda Mavetera who will explore opportunities for Zimbabwe in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Friday addresses public debt management, infrastructure development, and macroeconomic stability before President Mnangagwa’s address.
Finance Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube will join economist Professor Gift Mugano to examine Zimbabwe’s rising domestic debt, described in programme notes as a ticking time bomb.
The roundtable’s significance extends beyond dialogue. Expected outcomes include policy reform priorities endorsed by public and private sector leaders, clear investment and industrialisation roadmaps, and an action-oriented communiqué aligned to the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2).
“A defining paradox of Africa’s development journey has been the heavy reliance on externally derived economic theories
“Increasingly, African scholars and institutions are calling for endogenous thinking and African-led solutions. This call resonates strongly with Zimbabwe’s reform agenda,” reads the concept note.
The conference targets senior policymakers, CEOs, financial institutions, development finance institutions, and regional bodies, positioning Zimbabwe as a credible partner within Africa’s economic renaissance.
A series of networking events, including a leaders’ cocktail, policy dinner, and closing gala, will facilitate relationship-building among delegates.
