Harare, (New Ziana ) –The Zimbabwe government will soon launch a new Industrial Development Policy aimed at transforming the manufacturing sector as it moves to accelerate industrialization, strengthen local production and reduce dependence on imports.
Industry and Commerce Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu said this at the launch of the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) 2025 Annual Manufacturing Sector Survey in Harare on Thursday, adding industrial transformation is now a national necessity rather than a long-term aspiration.
“As we reflect on the findings of this report, we are reminded that Zimbabwe’s industrial transformation is no longer a matter of aspiration, but it is a national imperative,” he said.
He said while the manufacturing sector had shown resilience in recent years, the survey highlighted the need to accelerate industrialization, deepen domestic value chains and improve the competitiveness of local industries.
Ndlovu said the government will soon launch the Industrial Development Policy 2, which is a comprehensive framework designed to shift the economy from stabilisation towards industrial expansion, productivity growth, technological advancement and export competitiveness.
“Our future lies in value addition, beneficiation and the development of globally competitive industries. The era of exporting jobs through the export of raw commodities must surely come to an end,” he said.
He said the policy will be supported by a strengthened Local Content Strategy aimed at increasing domestic production, creating jobs and reducing reliance on imports.
“The current import bill remains unsustainably high and continues to place pressure on domestic industries. This situation cannot persist indefinitely. The country must produce more of what it consumes and export more of what it produces,” he said.
To strengthen implementation, the government plans to establish a digital local content platform that will track compliance, certify local suppliers and provide real-time information on local content performance, with a Local Content Steering Committee having since been established to oversee implementation across Government and industry.
Ndlovu said value addition in the mining sector is a key pillar of industrial growth, citing the country’s first export of lithium sulphate as evidence of progress in mineral beneficiation.
He also challenged manufacturers to take advantage of emerging opportunities in mineral processing and downstream industries, saying Zimbabwe must move beyond exporting raw materials and become a producer of semi-finished and finished goods.
Ndlovu further urged industry to embrace digital transformation, artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing technologies to remain competitive in regional and global markets.
“For Zimbabwe, the adoption of artificial intelligence technologies is no longer an option; it is now an economic necessity,” he said.
He added that the government will continue implementing reforms to improve the ease of doing business, strengthen quality standards and curb the proliferation of counterfeit products.
He commended the CZI for producing a survey that provides valuable insights into the state of manufacturing, saying the findings will assist in shaping policies aimed at driving industrial growth and achieving Zimbabwe’s economic development goals.
New Ziana
