Online Reporter
Judith Phiri and Nqobile Bhebhe, Zimpapers Business Hub
Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister, Professor Mthuli Ncube, has challenged stakeholders to transform Bulawayo’s vacant factories into hubs for global call centres and knowledge processing, unveiling significant tax incentives to support the sector’s growth.
Speaking at an oversubscribed 2026 Post-Budget Breakfast Meeting in Bulawayo, Prof Ncube outlined a strategic push to position both the city and Zimbabwe as a competitive destination for Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) and Knowledge Process Outsourcing (KPO).
The Minister announced that the Government has formally granted Special Economic Zone (SEZ) status incentives to the sector, placing it on par with other export-oriented industries.
“Then there is an issue of call centres,” Prof Ncube said, referencing the national budget. “There’s a paragraph in the main budget document which talks about the BPOs—business process organisations. These are call centres and knowledge-based processing organisations, which mainly focus on the ICT sector.”
Detailing the fiscal support, he added: “We have basically given Special Economic Zone status incentives to this sector, so that when you operate in this sector, servicing mainly offshore clients, you are as good as operating in an export processing zone. You have the same incentives.”
Emphasising the national priority attached to this initiative, the Minister concluded: “We really want to drive this sector. I am looking forward to some of these factories in Bulawayo being occupied by BPOs and KPOs going forward.”
The initiative is aimed at attracting investment, creating youth employment, and generating foreign currency through the export of ICT-enabled services.
