HARARE, May 9 (NewsDay Live) — Industry and Commerce minister Nqobizitha Ndhlovu has urged Zimbabwean companies to shift from survival mode to competitiveness to drive sustainable industrial growth.
Speaking at the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) Mashonaland Annual Business Awards dinner in Harare on Friday, Ndhlovu said resilience alone was no longer enough in Zimbabwe’s changing economic environment.
Held under the theme “From Resilience to Competitiveness: Charting a New Path for Sustainable Industrial Growth,” the awards recognise outstanding business performance, innovation and contribution to economic development.
Ndhlovu said Zimbabwean businesses had spent years navigating harsh economic conditions that forced many into survival mode.
“Resilience by itself is not an end. The next step is to become competitive in production, quality, pricing, innovation and market research, both locally and internationally,” he said.
He said manufacturing sector capacity utilisation stood at 57% in the first quarter of 2026, while manufactured exports rose 18% over the same period.
Total export earnings, including mining and agriculture, reached US$9,7 billion, highlighting opportunities for value addition and beneficiation, he said.
“It is important to note that together we have boosted the manufacturing sector. It now contributes approximately 50% to GDP. There is scope for this key sector to grow further and create more employment opportunities,” Ndhlovu said.
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He said government was working to improve the ease of doing business by streamlining regulations, lowering compliance costs and upgrading infrastructure, particularly energy and transport systems.
“Our focus at the moment is to accelerate improvements in the ease of doing business environment,” he said.
Speaking at the same event, ZNCC Harare chairperson Amiel Matindike said businesses were helping shape Zimbabwe’s economic future.
“Tonight, we celebrate businesses and individuals who have demonstrated excellence in their respective sectors,” Matindike said.
He said the chamber would continue engaging government on industrial competitiveness, taxation, infrastructure development, access to finance and regional trade integration.
