Once the heartbeat of Zimbabwe’s manufacturing sector, Bulawayo has seen decades of deindustrialisation as companies have migrated to Harare, leaving vast industrial areas such as Donnington and Belmont bereft of their former bustle.
Yet industry leaders insist the city’s industrial identity is far from extinguished and that a revival is within reach.
Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) Matabeleland chapter president Ainah Dube-Kaguru, who is also chief executive officer of the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ), told the Southern Eye Business that Bulawayo’s industrial heritage remained a source of pride for the province and the country.
“Bulawayo is the industrial hub in Zimbabwe. Indeed, for us, it has been the pride of this province. Bulawayo metropolitan, that is the pride that we have, that industry is located here,” Kaguru said.
Despite its historical legacy, Bulawayo’s manufacturing sector faces significant headwinds.
According to a 2024 CZI survey, the city’s manufacturing capacity utilisation stands at 45.8%, well below Mashonaland East’s 75.6%.
Bulawayo also has the oldest manufacturing plants in the country, averaging 22 years compared with just 11 years in Mashonaland Central.
Kaguru acknowledged that over the years the city had witnessed a significant migration of industries to Harare, largely driven by proximity to markets and inputs.
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She stressed, however, that the city should not abandon efforts to revive its industrial base.
“But we are not giving up on industry, on the developments around there to contribute to our economy as Zimbabwe,” she said. “We still believe that we have got so much that we can offer.”
Recent data points to renewed investor confidence.
Bulawayo attracted US$53 million in approved investments in the fourth quarter of 2025, largely anchored in manufacturing, property development and services.
The government has also pledged to restore Bulawayo to its former status as the nation’s industrial powerhouse, with a new focus on modern technology and sustainable development.
The Bulawayo Industrial Revitalisation Initiative seeks to unlock idle assets and attract joint ventures.
Kaguru identified a reliable electricity supply as one of the key issues affecting industry, though she acknowledged improvements in power availability in recent months.
“Of late there has been really a lot of improvement in that direction. But we are not saying that Zesa must go it all by themselves,” Kaguru said.
She underscored the need for industries to explore alternative sources of energy, particularly solar power, to complement electricity supplied by the national grid.
“For many people, even for a small industry and all that, people have gone now to solar. When we are talking about the green energy revolution, you are talking solar,” she said.
Kaguru said the NRZ was also exploring solar energy as part of its strategy to meet its power requirements, taking advantage of its extensive land holdings and industrial buildings.
“We have got lots of land, we also have buildings that have got roofs and all that, like our workshops and everything,” she said.
She called for greater engagement between industry and stakeholders to accelerate investment in renewable energy, particularly solar.
According to Kaguru, reduced tariffs on imports from China could also create opportunities for local companies to access solar equipment and other technologies at competitive costs.
China’s zero-tariff regime, which took effect on May 1, 2026, grants duty-free access to Zimbabwean products entering the Chinese market while making imports of advanced machinery and solar equipment more affordable.
Bilateral trade between the two countries reached a record US$4.4 billion in 2025.
Kaguru added that Zimbabwe could learn from China’s experience and eventually explore other renewable energy sources, including wind power.
She noted that industrial revival should not be viewed solely as a government responsibility, but as a shared effort involving the private sector and other stakeholders.
“Yes, we appreciate what the government is doing. But the government is also looking at us to contribute in one way or the other.”
The remarks come amid continued calls for the revival of Bulawayo’s manufacturing sector, which was once anchored by major industries in areas such as Donnington.
Other stakeholders have also suggested that access to reliable and affordable energy, private-sector investment and stronger industrial participation will be critical to restoring Bulawayo’s position as the country’s industrial powerhouse.
