The Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce has called for urgent structural reforms, warning that low productivity and persistent business constraints continue to stifle economic growth despite recent stabilisation efforts.
ZNCC President Tapiwa Karoro told delegates at the 2025 ZNCC Annual Business Review Conference in Harare that while inflation and exchange rate stability have improved, most companies still operate in a challenging environment.
“Productivity levels across key sectors remain unacceptably low, and capital investment is still subdued. These limitations continue to hold back growth, competitiveness, and employment,” Karoro said.
He added that infrastructure gaps, regulatory bottlenecks, and a complex tax system further weaken the ease of doing business, creating a fragile environment for investment.
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“Regulatory adjustments introduced over the past year have provided some relief, but much more needs to be done. Stabilisation alone is insufficient; we need meaningful structural reforms that unlock growth and strengthen the private sector,” Karoro emphasised.
He urged the government to create a predictable policy environment and deepen dialogue with industry to ensure reforms address the real needs of businesses. ZNCC reaffirmed its commitment to partnering with government to build a more competitive and productive economy.
Industry and Commerce Minister Nqobizitha Ndhlovu acknowledged modest improvements in certain areas, such as capacity utilisation, value chain expansion, and product development, but stressed that overall productivity remained low.
“While policy adjustments in licensing, regulatory administration, fees, and taxes have helped restore some confidence, the private sector’s full potential is yet to be realised,” Ndhlovu said.
He called for consistency in policy implementation to support productivity growth and attract much-needed investment into Zimbabwe’s productive sectors.
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