Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. GOVERNMENT is targeting to raise investments to above 13,1% of the gross domestic product (GDP) translating to US$6,86 billion under the newly released National Development Strategy (NDS) 2 document, beyond 2026.
During the presentation of the 2026 National Budget Statement yesterday, Finance, Economic Development, and Investment Promotion minister Mthuli Ncube also presented the NDS 2 document to cover the period 2026 to 2030.
According to Ncube, the government valued the economy at US$52,4 billion following its rebasing a few months back.
Hence, at 13,1% of the GDP, according to NDS 2, this translates to US$6,86 billion.
“During NDS 2, investment is targeted to rise steadily from projected 9,8% of GDP in 2025 to above 13,1% of GDP beyond 2026, under promotion initiatives that benefit from a conducive environment of a Zimbabwe that is open for business,” the NDS 2 document reads.
“To achieve the investment target, government will strengthen the country’s investment environment through reforms that promote and protect investors.
“The measures include reviewing of the legislative framework to streamline investment procedures, simplify customs procedures and strengthen dispute resolution mechanisms.”
However, this level of investment is considered a drop in the ocean, as the Treasury previously highlighted back in 2021 that the country has a capital deficit of US$40 billion, with only a fraction of that amount having been realised to date.
Banker and entrepreneur Nigel Chanakira revealed earlier this month that for Zimbabwe to place its economy on a much firmer long-term growth trajectory, it needed to secure US$50 billion in new actual investment over the next
decade.
“Government will also improve the attractiveness of the country’s business and investment climate by honouring obligations under bilateral and multilateral agreements, to ensure that investments are safeguarded in line with global standards,” the NDS 2 document reads.
“Furthermore, high-level targeted global investment promotion initiatives will be undertaken to market bankable project proposals, targeting strategic investments into production of fertilisers, lithium batteries and enhanced cotton-to-textile manufacturing value-chains, among others.
“This deliberate shift from passive promotion to active deal-making will secure the anchor investments needed to fundamentally transform and diversify the country’s value chains and industrial base.”
While the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency has been securing investment commitments worth billions of United States dollars on a quarterly basis, the realisation of these investments is still to be realised.
As previously reported, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development 2025 World Investment Report, released in June, reported less than US$1 billion worth of annual investments have been coming into the country.
It reported Zimbabwe receiving foreign direct investment inflows of US$280 million in 2019, US$194 million (2020), US$250 million (2021), US$395 million (2022), US$635 million (2023), and US$597 million (2024).
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