INDUSTRY experts have called on Zimbabwe and other African nations to ramp up local production and dismantle structural barriers undermining the continent’s competitiveness.
Speaking at the 2026 ELISA Business Summit at Gwango Resort in Hwange recently, finance and leadership coach Nigel Chanakira said Zimbabwe must leverage opportunities across Africa to position itself for growth.
“I think we should be thinking now with the opportunity that we have for scaling and be looking across Africa,” Chanakira said.
He stressed that sustainable business models must be accessible, inclusive, and responsible, warning that reliance on imports was stifling development.
Chanakira noted that Africa possesses battery resources yet continues to import second-hand vehicles instead of manufacturing locally.
“We should be able to produce goods that are cheaper or at least equal and match and compete with the imported brand,” he said.
Ecosystem Architect Entrepreneurship for Everyone CEO Thomas Hillin urged businesses to embrace local production to enhance reliability and build capacity.
“More products should be made here. Because when you’re making local products, you’re not so dependent on transportation. It’s much more reliable,” Hillin said.
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He added that strong branding and storytelling were key to unlocking value in locally made goods.
Green Giraffe co-founder and CEO Joseph Simukoko noted that while the African Continental Free Trade Area presents a major opportunity, tariffs remain a barrier in many countries.
“That’s an opportunity for Africa. It’s an opportunity for Zimbabwe,” Simukoko said.
Other business leaders called for structural reform to boost regional competitiveness.
