Source: People, not minerals, are Zimbabwe’s greatest asset: Minister Ndlovu –Newsday Zimbabwe

Industry and Commerce Minister Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndlovu says Zimbabwe’s greatest resource is its people, not its vast mineral wealth, as the country pushes to industrialise and achieve Vision 2030.

Speaking at the High-Impact Business Masterclass hosted by Sharpe Business Academy in Harare on Wednesday, Ndlovu challenged government and business leaders to ensure the country’s natural resources create opportunities for ordinary Zimbabweans, particularly young people.

“When you want to know how much Zimbabwe has in terms of its mineral endowment, the question to ask is which minerals do you not have?” Ndlovu said.

“But given that we have marketed Zimbabwe as such a mineral-endowed country, do young people appreciate what we have? Are these riches translating into real impact?”

He said achieving Vision 2030 would require a collective effort from government, business and citizens.

“This is a vision which government alone cannot achieve, and the private sector alone cannot achieve. It calls upon Zimbabwe as a collective to come together,” he said.

Ndlovu underscored agriculture’s role in industrialisation, noting that the sector supplies most of the raw materials used by local manufacturers.

His remarks come as Zimbabwe prepares to implement National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), the final five-year plan leading to Vision 2030.

Although manufacturing became the country’s largest contributor to GDP in 2024, the sector continues to face challenges, including high production costs, ageing equipment and limited access to finance. Capacity utilisation fell from 52.3% in 2024 to 47.7% in the first quarter of 2025.

The ministry is targeting US$1 billion in manufactured exports by 2027 as part of efforts to boost industrial growth and job creation.

Ndlovu said the country’s future competitiveness would depend less on its mineral deposits and more on its ability to develop skilled, productive and innovative citizens.

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