Zimbabwe reaffirms ease of doing business reforms

Government has reaffirmed its commitment to implementing reforms aimed at improving the ease of doing business, attracting both domestic and foreign investment, and strengthening Zimbabwe's competitiveness as it pursues Vision 2030.

Speaking at the 2026 Global Business Achievers Network Awards and Dinner in Harare on Wednesday night, Vice President Dr Kembo Mohadi said Government remained focused on creating an enabling environment for businesses to thrive while unlocking the potential of young innovators and entrepreneurs.

The awards ceremony recognised outstanding entrepreneurs and business leaders from various sectors of the economy for excellence in leadership and innovation.

"As Government, we firmly believe that a vibrant private sector remains the engine of sustainable economic growth," Vice President Mohadi said.

"We, therefore, continue implementing reforms that improve the ease of doing business, attract domestic and foreign investment, strengthen investor confidence and enhance Zimbabwe's competitiveness.

"We are committed to unlocking the full potential of our people, particularly our young innovators, and ensuring that enterprise thrives in a stable, predictable and digitally progressive environment."

He said effective collaboration between Government and the private sector remained critical to achieving national development goals.

"When governance and enterprise align, development accelerates. When transparency and accountability guide our actions, confidence grows. And when integrity defines leadership, prosperity becomes sustainable," he said.

Vice President Mohadi welcomed the recognition of youth-led enterprises and women-owned businesses, saying their empowerment was essential to promoting economic inclusion and building national resilience.

"An inclusive economy is a stable economy, and an empowered generation secures our future," he said.

"As we celebrate excellence tonight, let us reaffirm our commitment to corporate governance, transparency, accountability and ethical leadership. Let excellence be accompanied by integrity. Let profitability be matched by responsibility. Let growth be guided by principle."

He said Zimbabwe continued to strengthen regional integration through the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), creating opportunities for young entrepreneurs to access regional markets, establish cross-border partnerships and participate in regional value chains.

"Zimbabwe is open for business and for youth-driven innovation," he said.

Congratulating the award recipients, Vice President Mohadi said they embodied the resilience, determination and innovation needed to drive the country's transformation.

"Your achievements demonstrate that despite challenges, Zimbabweans possess the ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit to succeed," he said.

He encouraged award winners to mentor emerging entrepreneurs, particularly women and young people, while urging those who did not receive awards to remain committed to excellence.

"Success is not measured by recognition alone. Continue pursuing excellence with integrity, discipline and perseverance. Your contribution to national development remains equally important," he said.

Vice President Mohadi reiterated that achieving an upper middle-income economy under Vision 2030 required partnerships among Government, the private sector, academia, civil society, development partners and communities.

"The journey towards an upper middle-income economy requires partnerships between the Government, the private sector, academia, civil society, development partners and communities. Together, we can unlock Zimbabwe's vast economic potential and create sustainable prosperity for present and future generations," he said.

Describing the awards ceremony as more than a symbolic event, the Vice President said recognising excellence helped strengthen a culture of productivity, accountability and innovation.

"By recognising achievement, we strengthen our national culture of productivity, accountability and innovation. We affirm that excellence matters, we reinforce the centrality of ethical leadership, and we inspire others to pursue distinction in their respective areas of operation," he said.

Vice President Mohadi said Government remained committed to empowering young people through the National Development Strategy 2, describing Zimbabwe's youthful population as one of the country's greatest assets.

He said Government had introduced policies such as the National Youth Empowerment Strategy and the National Youth Policy to increase youth participation across all sectors of the economy.

Through institutions including Empower Bank and the Zimbabwe Women's Microfinance Bank, Government was providing collateral-free, low-interest financing to help women and young entrepreneurs transition from informal trading to formal businesses.

He added that innovation hubs and industrial parks established at State universities were transforming institutions of higher learning into centres for commercialised technology, start-ups and intellectual property development.

Government had also rolled out mechanisation programmes, land allocation initiatives and gold mining formalisation projects that were creating opportunities for thousands of young Zimbabweans in primary production sectors.

"All these interventions are enabling youth and women-owned enterprises to grow, create employment and improve livelihoods across both rural and urban communities," he said.

Vice President Mohadi concluded by reiterating that a vibrant private sector remained indispensable to Zimbabwe's economic transformation.

"Business drives investment, stimulates production, creates employment, advances innovation and generates revenue for national development," he said.

The awards ceremony was attended by business leaders and entrepreneurs from across Zimbabwe's economic sectors.