The Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA) presented Zimbabwe’s expanding investment opportunities at the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Zimbabwe (ICAZ) Winter School and Investment Conference in London, co-hosted with Financial Markets Indaba. Addressing delegates, ZIDA’s Chief Investment Promotion Officer, Silibaziso Chizwina, emphasised the agency’s mandate to streamline the investor journey and strengthen Zimbabwe’s commitment to building a transparent, competitive, and investor-friendly business environment.
As a one-stop investment promotion and facilitation body, ZIDA provides licensing, regulatory support, and aftercare services under a single umbrella. This model is designed to ease administrative barriers, thereby enhancing investor confidence and supporting Zimbabwe’s broader objectives of improving the ease of doing business and mobilising both domestic and international capital.
Several high-growth sectors were spotlighted in alignment with the country’s national development strategy. Energy remains a critical area of focus, particularly in renewable generation, decentralised off-grid solutions, and transmission infrastructure to meet rising demand and sustain industrialisation. In agriculture, opportunities include agro-processing, irrigation development, and value-added exports, positioning Zimbabwe as a prospective hub for regional food security. Mining, one of Zimbabwe’s economic mainstays, was also highlighted for its wealth of untapped resources alongside policies that encourage value addition and beneficiation.
Tourism emerged as another sector of promise, with Zimbabwe’s natural assets—ranging from Victoria Falls to diverse wildlife—providing scope for investment in hospitality, eco-tourism, and transport services. ZIDA noted its commitment to supporting tourism investors through institutional backing, streamlined processes, and tailored incentive structures.
Central to the London presentation were investor protections and incentives. These include Special Economic Zones offering tax concessions and customs exemptions, bilateral and multilateral agreements safeguarding investment rights, and guarantees for the repatriation of profits and capital. Together, these mechanisms are intended to provide the predictability and stability considered vital for long-term investments in frontier and emerging markets.
In closing remarks, Chizwina reaffirmed ZIDA’s role in mobilising capital to drive national transformation while ensuring returns for investors. By combining regulatory clarity with access to bankable projects, Zimbabwe positions itself as a competitive destination for global investment. The London event thus served not only as a platform to showcase the country’s evolving investment narrative but also to engage directly with stakeholders in an international financial centre, situating Zimbabwe within broader African and global capital flows.
