Private sector challenged to act on reforms, drive investment for Vision 2030

THE private sector should move beyond dialogue and translate the conducive policy environment created by the Government into tangible investment outcomes. Minister of Industry and Commerce, Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndlovu, made these remarks on Friday while officially opening the 2026 CEO Africa Policy Roundtable in Victoria Falls.

He declared that the major barriers to business growth have been cleared and now businesses should take the lead and deliver economic transformation.

He challenged chief executives to see the gathering not merely as a platform for discussion but as a launch pad for action, stressing that the Second Republic had laid the necessary policy foundation to achieve Vision 2030.

“The policy environment is set, the ease of doing business reforms are underway, and the licensing framework is being rationalised. We have cleared the underbrush, and it is now time for you to plant the seeds of investment,” Minister Ndlovu said.

The three-day roundtable, which ran under the theme: “A Spirit of Dialogue: Partnering for Vision 2030”, brought together Government officials, captains of industry and commerce, and development partners to align on the country’s development trajectory under the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2).

Minister Ndlovu reminded delegates that while Government provides the enabling environment, the private sector remains the principal driver of economic growth and structural transformation.

“In you, I see not just stakeholders, but partners, innovators, and leaders who will build the value addition plants, back our SMEs, and create the jobs that give meaning to the prosperity we seek,” he said.
Ndlovu further said the Government has already rolled out key policies to support private sector investment, including the Zimbabwe National Industrial Development Policy (ZNIDP 2) for 2026-2030, the first industrial policy to place strong emphasis on mineral value addition, beneficiation, manufacturing and industrialisation.

Under NDS2, industrialisation will focus heavily on agro processing, with 15 critical agro value chains identified in partnership with the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development.

Minister Ndlovu said these value chains would soon be made public to guide investment decisions.
He reaffirmed that the Government was pushing ahead with ease of doing business reforms, prioritising the rationalisation of overlapping licences and streamlining regulatory requirements to reduce the cost and complexity of doing business.

The minister said Cabinet has also approved the country’s first Consumer Protection Policy (2026-2030) to safeguard consumer rights and promote fair trading practices, while the Wholesale and Retail Policy is being finalised to consolidate the commerce sector and combat counterfeit goods.

“We will also introduce compulsory standards for critical consumable goods through the Standards Bill,” he said.

Minister Ndlovu assured industry that quality standards would be upheld to protect both consumers and legitimate businesses.

Drawing on the national philosophy “Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo/ Ilizwe lakhiwa ngabanikazi balo”, Minister Ndlovu challenged the private sector to embrace shared responsibility and move beyond conversation.
“The philosophy applies as much to the boardroom as it does to the village, this nation is built by its owners. I challenge you to move beyond conversation and into action, engaging with us not just as policy makers but as collaborators,” he said.
Minister Ndlovu called upon all stakeholders, including cooperating partners, to put all hands on deck with unity of purpose and unwavering determination as Zimbabwe embarks on the final lap towards Vision 2030, which envisions a prosperous and empowered upper-middle-income society.
The Zimbabwe CEO Policy Roundtable saw sessions that explored investment opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area and the adoption of artificial intelligence-driven manufacturing to enhance productivity and competitiveness.