INDUSTRY and Commerce Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu has said Zimbabwe’s economic competitiveness will largely be determined by the quality of its regulatory environment, calling for smarter, evidence-based regulation to lower the cost of doing business.
Speaking at the Second Competitiveness Summit convened by the National Competitiveness Commission in Bulawayo on Thursday, Minister Ndlovu said regulation must support, rather than hinder, economic growth.
The summit is being held under the theme: “Accelerating Regulatory Reforms and Ease of Doing Business for a Dynamic and Competitive Zimbabwean Economy.”
“Our collective responsibility, therefore, is to ensure that regulation facilitates enterprise, investment, innovation and productivity, rather than becoming an impediment to economic activity,” Minister Ndlovu said.
He noted that Zimbabwe’s reform agenda is anchored on Vision 2030 and is being implemented through the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2).
For the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, he said, the agenda is being driven through key policy frameworks, including the Zimbabwe National Industrial Development Policy 2 (ZNIDP2) 2026-2030, the Local Content Strategy 2026-2035, the Consumer Protection Policy 2026-2030 and the National Quality Policy 2026-2030.
“These frameworks recognise that industrialisation and competitiveness require an environment in which businesses can invest, innovate, access markets, adopt new technologies, and compete on a fair and predictable basis,” he said.
Minister Ndlovu identified the institutionalisation of Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) across Government as one of the most significant reform measures aimed at enhancing competitiveness.
“RIA strengthens the quality of policymaking by ensuring that proposed regulations are properly assessed for their economic and social implications before implementation,” he said.
“Going forward, we expect this approach to strengthen evidence-based regulation, reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens and improve the overall business environment.”
The minister said Zimbabwe’s competitiveness drive must also be viewed against the backdrop of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and an increasingly integrated global economy.
“As markets become increasingly integrated, Zimbabwe must ensure that its regulatory, standards, customs and trade facilitation systems enable our businesses to compete effectively and participate meaningfully in regional and global value chains,” he said.
He called for a decisive shift towards smarter regulation that is proportionate, predictable, transparent, digitally enabled and responsive to the needs of business, particularly micro, small and medium enterprises.
At the same time, Minister Ndlovu stressed that competitiveness must remain inclusive and sustainable, with due consideration given to environmental responsibility, climate resilience, energy efficiency and responsible resource utilisation.
He said achieving national competitiveness required a broad-based partnership involving Government, the private sector and other stakeholders.
“It requires a strong partnership between Government, the private sector, regulators, academia, financial institutions and development partners.
“Government must provide the enabling policy and regulatory environment, while business must respond through investment, innovation, productivity improvements, technology adoption and adherence to global standards,” he said.
Minister Ndlovu also commended the National Competitiveness Commission for its continued work in producing evidence-based analysis and recommendations aimed at enhancing Zimbabwe’s domestic, regional and international competitiveness.
“As we convene this Second Competitiveness Summit, our focus must therefore be on implementation and measurable outcomes. We must identify the regulatory constraints that continue to raise the cost of doing business, determine where reforms are required, and establish clear actions for addressing them,” the minister said.
“The success of this Summit should ultimately be measured not by the quality of our discussions alone, but by the reforms that follow, reforms that make it easier to invest, produce, trade, innovate and create employment in Zimbabwe.”
According to Minister Ndlovu, strengthening competitiveness will require sustained commitment and practical action, including improving regulatory systems, building institutional capacity, embracing technology and ensuring policies remain aligned with business needs.
“I am confident that the deliberations of this Summit will generate practical, evidence-based and implementable recommendations that will further strengthen Zimbabwe’s competitiveness and advance our collective pursuit of Vision 2030, a Prosperous and Empowered Upper-Middle Income Society,” said Minister Ndlovu.-herald
