The Government plans to transform the country’s timber and paper industry from a largely raw material exporter into a competitive producer of high-value timber products under the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), covering the 2026–2030 period.
According to the NDS2 document, the strategy seeks to reposition the sector as a key contributor to industrialisation, job creation and export growth by deepening local value addition and strengthening downstream manufacturing.
Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube, in the strategy document, said the new policy thrust marks a decisive shift in how the forestry sector contributes to the economy.
“During NDS2, the Government will revitalise the timber and paper industry from a primarily raw material exporter to a producer of high-value timber products, including furniture, paper and wood-based industrial goods,” he said.
NDS2 is the country’s medium-term economic blueprint that succeeds the first National Development Strategy (2021–2025) and is aligned with Vision 2030, which aims to transform the country into an upper-middle-income economy.
The strategy places strong emphasis on value addition, export-led growth and green industrialisation across productive sectors, including agriculture, mining and manufacturing.
In the timber sector, the Government plans to significantly raise domestic processing capacity for timber, pulp and paper products, while reducing reliance on imports and promoting export-oriented production.
Under the strategy, local value addition in timber products is targeted to rise from about 25 percent in 2024 to over 60 percent by 2030. At the same time, domestic paper and wood-based product manufacturing is expected to expand to meet at least 80 per cent of national demand.
Minister Ncube noted that to achieve the targets, the Government will facilitate investment in modern sawmills, pulp and paper mills and downstream wood-processing industries through access to affordable financing and public-private partnerships (PPPs).
He said emphasis would be placed on retooling existing facilities, establishing new timber-processing clusters and adopting environmentally sustainable production technologies.
Zimbabwe’s timber industry is largely concentrated in Manicaland, which hosts about 70 000 hectares of timber plantations controlled by state-owned Allied Timbers, Wattle Company, Border Timbers, Mutare Board and Paper Mills, as well as smaller private players.
Allied Timbers, the country’s largest timber company, has more than 10 estates spread across Manicaland, the Midlands and Matabeleland.
Minister Ncube said, in line with inclusive growth objectives, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) will be integrated into the timber and paper value chains.
“The Government plans to support furniture manufacturing, woodcraft and other downstream wood-based industries, while common facility centres and shared processing infrastructure will be developed to enhance efficiency, technology access and skills upgrading,” he said.
Analysts say the policy direction could unlock significant opportunities if effectively implemented.
Economic analyst Mr Walter Mapfumo said the NDS2 thrust on modernising the timber value chain could significantly improve the sector’s competitiveness and export potential.
“Facilitating investment in modern sawmills and pulp and paper mills, supported by affordable financing and public-private partnerships, addresses long-standing capacity and efficiency gaps,” he said.
He added that the focus on retooling existing facilities and establishing timber-processing clusters could lower production costs, improve quality and create stronger linkages with downstream wood-processing industries.-herald
