Online Reporter
Harmony Agere
President Mnangagwa has officially opened the inaugural Zimbabwe Industrialisation Conference and Expo, urging local industry to accelerate value addition, import substitution and beneficiation to drive economic growth and create jobs.
Speaking at the conference, the President said Zimbabwe should take advantage of opportunities in strategic sectors such as iron and steel, lithium, cement, pharmaceuticals and tobacco among others.
He said the manufacturing sector continues to show positive growth, with capacity utilisation rising to 61.2 percent in the first quarter of 2026 from 55.8 percent in 2019.
President Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe imports about US$2.5 billion worth of manufactured products that could be produced locally, calling on industry to reduce import dependence while increasing exports of finished goods.
He said Government will continue implementing reforms to improve the investment climate, strengthen industrial financing and expand critical infrastructure, including energy, transport, logistics, digital connectivity and water supplies.
“The need to beneficiate iron and steel, lithium, cement, pharmaceuticals, tobacco, leather, cotton, fertilizers, dairy, oilseed processing as well as sugar, grains, logistics and packaging, are areas deserving attention from us all,” he said.
“Additionally, the Study confirms that Zimbabwe’s industrial sector has demonstrated remarkable resilience, recording higher capacity utilisation, which is now at 61.2% in the first quarter of 2026, up from 35% in 2019.”
The President also emphasised the importance of research, innovation and technology, commending local firms investing in artificial intelligence and modern production systems to improve competitiveness.
He reiterated that Zimbabwe’s minerals should be processed and beneficiated locally to maximise national benefits and called for stronger integration of small and medium enterprises into industrial value chains through improved access to finance, technology and markets.
President Mnangagwa said he expects the conference to foster investment, partnerships and practical solutions that will accelerate Zimbabwe’s industrialisation before officially declaring the inaugural Zimbabwe Industrialisation Conference and Expo 2026 open.
