Online ReporterNqobile Bhebhe
Zimpapers Business Hub
Zimbabwe has set a target to break into the top 50 of the major global competitiveness indicator rankings within the next five years, placing business environment reforms, industrial competitiveness, and the ease of doing business at the centre of its 2026-2030 economic transformation agenda
The target is contained in the National Competitiveness Strategy (NCS) 2026-2030, launched during the second edition of the National Competitiveness Commission Summit in Bulawayo.
“The Strategy and its implementation roadmap aim to assist the country in creating a competitive business environment for Zimbabwean goods and services to be globally competitive, focusing on addressing the competitiveness challenges facing the country.
“The overarching strategy for Zimbabwe is to position the country in the top 50 countries in the next five years in all major global competitiveness indicators,” reads part of the document.
An industrial expert, Mr Gilbert Musano, said the target was achievable if the Government translated the strategy into measurable reforms that reduce the cost and complexity of doing business.
Mr Musano said the target should provide a clear benchmark against which the Government could measure progress in improving infrastructure, access to finance, productivity, regulation and industrial capacity.
“The top 50 target gives Zimbabwe a clear destination. The important issue now is to ensure that the strategy moves beyond policy statements into measurable reforms that directly improve the operating environment for industry and investment,” he said during the summit.
The expert said achieving the target would require a Whole-of-Government approach, warning that competitiveness could not be delivered by the NCC or Ministry of Industry and Commerce alone.
“Competitiveness cuts across the entire economy. We need a whole-of-Government approach involving finance, energy, transport, infrastructure, trade, investment and regulatory authorities.
“Every ministry and agency must understand how its decisions affect the cost and competitiveness of businesses,” he added.
The strategy comes as the Government seeks to improve the operating environment for businesses, attract investment and strengthen the capacity of local firms to compete in regional and international markets.
“The overall goal of this Strategy is to create a conducive business environment that fosters national industry competitiveness as enshrined in Vision 2030, which seeks to achieve an upper middle-income society status by 2030,” reads part of the document.
The NCS identifies two key expected outcomes — improved global competitiveness of Zimbabwean products and an improved business environment and ease of doing business.
The document links competitiveness directly to economic growth and investment, noting that countries with stronger competitive environments tend to attract capital, entrepreneurs and skilled labour.
“A more competitive economy is one that is likely to grow faster over time and more attractive to capital, high-profile entrepreneurs and labour. The evidence of low scores and ranking shows that Zimbabwe is not competitive. This weighs down on economic growth and development prospects.”
Implementation will follow four cascading stages — the overall goal, expected outcomes, strategic objectives and an implementation roadmap.
The strategy also places emphasis on collaboration between Government, business, labour, academia and development partners.
“The NCS acts as a practical expression of the partnership between the Government, private sector, labour, academia and development partners, which recognises the cross-cutting responsibilities that each must play in delivering enhanced national competitiveness and greater economic growth and development.”
The NCC will coordinate the competitiveness agenda, including developing periodic competitiveness frameworks and reviewing business regulations, working alongside institutions such as the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Investment Development Agency and Office of the President and Cabinet.
The five-year strategy follows the National Development Strategy 1 mid-term review, which directed the NCC to develop a framework to guide policy formulation and action on competitiveness.
It also builds on President Mnangagwa’s February 2025 Cabinet directive and the inaugural Competitiveness Summit in Bulawayo, where the Government called for a National Competitiveness Strategy to guide reforms.
