A STUDY for evidence-based policymaking for the resuscitation of Bulawayo’s industrial base and operationalisation of special economic zones (SEZs) is set to be commissioned, Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube has announced.
This comes as plans gather momentum for the proposed Bulawayo Industrial Park, an initiative expected to position the city as a springboard for industrialisation, attract massive investment inflows, create jobs across multiple sectors and drive broader regional transformation.
The project dovetails with the wider industrialisation aspirations of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and is aimed at contributing meaningfully to socio-economic growth, particularly for Bulawayo and its surrounding areas.
Industrial parks are designated areas deliberately planned and developed for industrial use, typically comprising subdivided plots supported by critical infrastructure such as roads, transport networks and public utilities.
In some instances, they also provide shared facilities that promote collaboration, efficiency and innovation among manufacturers.
By centralising industrial activity, such parks reduce logistical costs, improve the ease of doing business and create a conducive environment for enterprises to thrive.
In Bulawayo, the Umvumila Zone has been identified as a key starting point for the initiative.
Over the years, Bulawayo’s industrial sector had sharply declined, with several companies closing or relocating to Harare, leaving thousands without jobs.
However, the advent of the Second Republic and introduction of ease-of-doing-business reforms have seen a number of firms emerging from distress and increasing capacity utilisation.
ZITF chairperson, Dr Busisa Moyo
Building a solid domestic industrial base was a core priority under the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1), which laid a critical foundation towards the attainment of Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030 of becoming an upper middle-income economy.
Speaking to journalists after the 2026 Post-Budget engagement in Bulawayo on Monday, Prof Ncube said accelerating industrial revival remains a dominant issue in the city.
“What I found interesting is that in Bulawayo, the topical issue is still the resuscitation of the closed industries. That is an issue for Bulawayo, we are not hearing as much of that from Harare, for example or other cities,” said Prof Ncube.
“So, at least we know that there is a nuance that we need to respond to. I have asked the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries and my Treasury staff to work together to produce a research paper on how we can deal with this matter — the resuscitation of closed industries, empty factories and how to launch an export processing zone or a special economic zone in Bulawayo as part of that strategy. Then there is also a need to expand that strategy to places such as Gweru, which also have similar issues and Mutare as well.”
Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (Zida)
During the engagement, Prof Ncube also suggested transforming some of Bulawayo’s vacant factories into hubs for global call centres and knowledge process outsourcing (KPO) operations, unveiling generous tax incentives to drive growth in the sector.
The Government, he said, has formally extended SEZ incentives to the sector, effectively placing it on the same footing as export-oriented industries.
“Then there is the issue of call centres,” Prof Ncube said.
“There is a paragraph in the main Budget document which talks about BPOs — business process outsourcing organisations. These are call centres and knowledge-based processing organisations, which mainly focus on the ICT (informartion and communication technology) sector.”
Detailing the fiscal support, he added: “We have basically given Special Economic Zone status incentives to this sector so that when you operate in this sector, servicing mainly offshore clients, you are as good as making an export processing zone. So you have the same incentives.”
Emphasising the national importance of the initiative, Prof Ncube expressed confidence that Bulawayo’s industrial landscape would soon be transformed.
“We really want to drive this sector. I am looking forward to some of these factories in Bulawayo being occupied by BPOs and KPOs going forward.”
Bulawayo-based economist and academic Mr Stevenson Dlamini said it was critical to first undertake the proposed study to ensure evidence-based policymaking.
“Minister Ncube spoke on the pending study that they are engaged in, and the aim is to determine the cogs that are impeding the growth of the manufacturing sector, which primarily is housed in Bulawayo,” said Mr Dlamini.
“The study aims to determine all the cost barriers and any obstacles that are impeding the growth or the reindustrialisation of Bulawayo. The successful completion of that study will help determine the reforms that will specifically be relevant to the needs of the industry and unlock the value that is currently locked up in those former giants of the industrial era.”
Industrialist Mr Busisa Moyo, who is also the United Refineries Limited managing director and chairperson of Zida (Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency) and ZITF (Zimbabwe International Trade Fair) Company, said Bulawayo has vast, near-empty factories that could readily accommodate call centres.
“We have well-situated factories in Bulawayo and there is an opportunity to rekindle industrialisation in the city. About 80 percent of factory spaces in Bulawayo have a rail siding, and this is an endowment. We could use some of those spaces for call centres,” he said.
