Story by Bruce Chahwanda, Political Editor
ZIMBABWE’S export earnings reached US$9.7 billion in 2025, as value addition and beneficiation initiatives under the Second Republic expanded the country’s footprint on regional and international markets.
The surge comes amid intensified government support for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), with incentives aimed at boosting production of goods and services for export.
Value addition remains central to Zimbabwe’s economic development agenda, with authorities seeking to increase returns from manufactured products and the country’s mineral resource base.
Industrialists are leveraging supportive policies to scale operations and widen market access. Among them is Mr Davison Norupiri, whose export portfolio spans Malawi, Zambia, South Africa and Botswana.
Across sectors, from manufactured goods to handicrafts and floriculture, Zimbabwean products are attracting strong demand abroad.
Chief executive of Tangle Flora, Mrs Lillian Chinamasa, said European markets were showing growing interest in local produce.
“We have had a huge interest from the Netherlands. This follows market linkages facilitated through ZimTrade, which has positioned our flowers for that source market,” she said.
The Lupane Women Development Trust has also recorded significant gains in overseas markets.
“Our products have made huge inroads in Germany, the United Kingdom, Turkey and Spain. Our handicrafts are very competitive, and this has given us a better edge above our competitors,” said chairperson Mrs Hildergard Mufukare.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has urged exporters to embrace innovation and new technologies to sustain export growth.
“Under National Development Strategy 2, export growth must be inclusive and help improve the quality of life for our people. Our national development philosophy is ‘leaving no one and no place behind,’” he said.
“As such, opportunities will be extended to the Small and Medium Enterprises sector, cooperatives, youth and women-led enterprises, rural producers, and community-based industries.
“Through ZimTrade’s cluster development programmes, communities are being empowered to meaningfully participate in export value chains. This is how exports must translate into jobs, incomes, broad-based economic empowerment and sustainable development.”
The President said innovation, science and technology, alongside research, would continue to underpin economic transformation.
“There is a need for deliberate programmes to improve the use of digital platforms and new technologies to grow our exports,” he said.
Government has also stepped up ease-of-doing-business reforms to enhance profitability and competitiveness for exporters.
Export receipts have risen steadily in recent years, and projections for 2026 indicate the country could surpass last year’s US$9.7 billion performance as value addition efforts gain further momentum.
