Nqobile Bhebhe nqobile.bhebhe@chronicle.co.zw
ZIMBABWE has set an ambitious target of breaking into the top 50 of major global competitiveness rankings within the next five years, placing business environment reforms, industrial competitiveness and ease of doing business at the heart of its 2026-2030 economic transformation agenda.
The target is contained in the National Competitiveness Strategy (NCS) 2026-2030, which was launched during the second edition of the National Competitiveness Commission (NCC) Summit held 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.
Industrial expert Mr Gilbert Musano said the target was achievable provided Government translated the strategy into practical and measurable reforms that reduce the cost and complexity of doing business.
Mr Musano said the target provided a clear benchmark against which progress in improving infrastructure, access to finance, productivity, regulation and industrial capacity could be measured.
“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.
He said achieving the target would require a whole-of-Government approach, warning that competitiveness could not be driven by the NCC or the 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 said.
The strategy comes as Government intensifies efforts to improve the business operating environment, 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 outcomes: improved global competitiveness of Zimbabwean products and an enhanced business environment characterised by greater ease of doing business.
The strategy directly links competitiveness to economic growth and investment attraction, noting that countries with stronger competitive environments are more successful in drawing 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 of the strategy will follow four cascading stages comprising the overall goal, expected outcomes, strategic objectives and an implementation roadmap.
The strategy also places strong emphasis on collaboration among Government, the private sector, 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 spearhead implementation of the competitiveness agenda, including the development of periodic competitiveness frameworks and the review of business regulations, working alongside institutions such as the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency and the Office of the President and Cabinet.
The five-year strategy follows recommendations made during the National Development Strategy 1 mid-term review, which tasked the NCC with developing a framework to guide competitiveness policy and reform.
It also builds on President Mnangagwa’s February 2025 Cabinet directive and resolutions from the inaugural Competitiveness Summit in Bulawayo, where Government called for the formulation of a National Competitiveness Strategy to drive reforms and accelerate economic growth.
Source: Zimbabwe targets global top 50 competitiveness ranking – herald
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