Industry and Commerce Minister Mangaliso Ndhlovu has challenged government departments to translate Zimbabwe’s economic growth and improving industrial output into jobs, stronger businesses and better living standards, warning that progress must be measured by tangible results.
Ndhlovu made the call in Bulawayo while opening the Ministry of Industry and Commerce’s 2026 Strategic Plan Review Workshop, where he urged officials to focus on practical measures to increase production, strengthen competitiveness and expand trade.
Zimbabwe’s economy grew by 8.3% in 2025, while manufacturing capacity utilisation increased to 61.2% in the first half of 2026, up from 57.3% in 2025. Manufactured exports had reached approximately US$593 million by August 2026, according to figures released by the ministry.
The minister said the priority was to translate these indicators into measurable improvements in the productive sector and the lives of ordinary Zimbabweans.
“Our task is not simply to plan activities, but to agree on practical actions that strengthen production, improve competitiveness, expand trade and create opportunities for our people,” Ndhlovu said.
He called on ministry departments to align their budgets, work plans and performance contracts with four Cabinet-approved policy frameworks covering industrial development, local content, consumer protection and quality standards.
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The review is intended to assess implementation priorities and ensure that the ministry’s programmes are tied to clear targets rather than administrative activities, as the government seeks to strengthen domestic production and expand markets for locally manufactured goods.
Ndhlovu said the success of the ministry’s work should be measured by business performance, the competitiveness of local products and the extent to which economic activity creates employment and improves household welfare.
“Success must be reflected in stronger enterprises, more competitive products, expanding markets, productive employment and improved livelihoods for the people of Zimbabwe,” he said.
The figures presented by the ministry point to gains in economic output and manufacturing activity, but the minister’s remarks place the emphasis on whether those gains can be sustained and translated into broader economic benefits.
Higher factory utilisation and manufactured exports can support industrial growth, but their impact on livelihoods also depends on companies’ ability to remain competitive, expand production, access markets and create jobs.
The ministry’s strategic review places implementation and measurable outcomes at the centre of its work, with departments expected to link policy commitments to production, trade and employment objectives.
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