Antony Chawagarira
BULAWAYO – Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has called on industry leaders and investors to embrace innovation, strengthen partnerships and accelerate value addition as Zimbabwe positions itself to compete in the global economy.
He said this in delivering the keynote address at the 2026 International Business Conference held on the sidelines of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF 2026).
Vice President Chiwenga championed the conference theme, “Connected Economies, Competitive Industries,” stressing that Zimbabwe is laying a strong foundation to lead Africa into the Fourth Industrial Revolution through deliberate policy reforms and industrial modernisation. He highlighted economic reform as a central pillar of Zimbabwe’s growth trajectory, noting that Government is leveraging the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2) alongside the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) currency to promote macroeconomic stability, fiscal discipline and a predictable business environment. The Vice President said these reforms are designed to restore investor confidence and enhance ease of doing business.
He emphasised the need for industrial value addition, urging industries to move away from exporting raw materials toward beneficiation and agro-processing.
He noted that sectors such as mining and agriculture hold significant potential to drive sustainable growth if supported by modern processing technologies and local manufacturing capacity. Turning to infrastructure development, he underscored Government’s commitment to rehabilitating rail and road networks to improve logistics efficiency and reduce the cost of doing business. He also highlighted ongoing investments in water security through the construction of mega dams and the expansion of renewable energy projects to ensure reliable power supply for industry.
On technology and innovation, the Vice President revealed that Zimbabwe is advancing the 2026–2030 National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, which seeks to strengthen collaboration between universities, research institutions and industry. He said this integration is expected to accelerate innovation and support the Government’s rural industrialization agenda.
Vice President Chiwenga also underscored the importance of strategic partnerships, pointing to Zimbabwe’s role as host of the Intra-African Trade Fair as a key opportunity to position the country as a gateway to regional and continental markets under the African Continental Free Trade Area framework.
Vice President Chiwenga then challenged delegates to move beyond discussion and translate commitments into tangible investment outcomes that generate employment and stimulate economic growth. “Let us transform dialogue into measurable economic impact and ensure that our policies, partnerships and innovations deliver real value to our people,” he said.
