HARARE –  By September, the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency a total of 2,197 projects had been licenced, reflecting a solid 20.8% jump from the same period in 2024, with a projected investment tally of approximately US$38.66 billion.
 
The macroeconomic environment is notably stable, bolstered by a relatively resilient local currency and proactive government measures, such as reducing licensing fees to streamline business operations.
 
During the third quarter alone, 363 projects—around 17% of the total—were actively monitored, representing a combined projected investment value of US$4.74 billion. These monitored projects are already making significant strides, with US$1.47 billion—about 31% of their projected total—having materialized into actual inflows, marking an impressive 43% increase from the previous quarter’s US$1.03 billion.
 
One standout project, the Magcor Consortium Group of Companies Zimbabwe (Pvt) Ltd, accounts for a sizable 16% of the total projected investment from projects licenced since January 2022. While still in the agreement finalization stage, it exemplifies the potential for substantial impact once financing is secured. The company seeks to develop a major coal-to-fertiliser and coal-to-liquid fuels project, which aims to boost Zimbabwe’s agricultural and industrial sectors by producing fertilisers and other chemical compounds locally. 
 
Looking at the sources of actual investment, capital equipment imported from abroad dominates, making up around 50% of inflows. This segment saw notable growth, increasing by 18% to US$729 million—up from US$617.37 million in the previous quarter—and underpins key sectors like manufacturing, mining, and agriculture that depend heavily on machinery and imported capital.
 
Other important contributors include foreign exchange loans and debt injections (27%) and foreign equity investments (23%), while local funds and raw material imports are minimal—each accounting for roughly 1%. Sector-wise, manufacturing leads with US$645 million, followed by mining at US$472 million, and agriculture at US$202 million, together representing 89% of total actual investments.
 
Regionally, Midlands Province attracted the lion’s share with US$607 million (31%), trailed closely by Harare with US$410 million (28%), and Masvingo at US$397 million (27%). The other seven provinces collectively contribute smaller shares but demonstrate distributed development opportunities across the country.
 
In the third quarter, ZIDA issued 203 new investment licences—a 6.8% rise from the previous quarter and a significant 20.8% increase from Q3 2024, when 168 licences were granted. These licences carried a projected investment value of US$3.26 billion, soaring by 178% from last year’s US$1.17 billion, predominantly driven by large-scale projects in construction, mining, and energy.
 
Investors’ commitments to productive sectors remain strong, with about US$354 million allocated to capital equipment imports and a hefty US$2.82 billion channeled into working capital. An additional US$72.5 million was secured through foreign loans, while US$10.8 million went into importing raw materials and components. These figures reflect an increasingly mature investment climate that benefits from stable policies, digital facilitation tools, and strategic engagement efforts.
 
Harare continues to dominate as the primary investment hub, capturing over 74% of total projected investments, fueled by its manufacturing, construction, real estate, and services sectors. Notably, other regions such as Matabeleland North and South also contribute meaningfully, indicating broad-based development and diversified growth across Zimbabwe’s provinces.