By Desire Tshuma
BULAWAYO — Once the heartbeat of Zimbabwe’s manufacturing industry, Bulawayo is showing fresh signs of an industrial resurgence, with major investments in commercial infrastructure, manufacturing and agro-industrial production raising hopes of renewed economic activity after years of decline.
The developments came under the spotlight during a tour of projects in the country’s second-largest city by the Ministry of Information, Publicity, Media and Broadcasting Services, accompanied by journalists to assess progress on the ground and witness emerging investment opportunities.
The delegation was led by Information, Publicity, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Zhemu Soda and included his deputy, Omphile Marupi, and Permanent Secretary Nick Mangwana.
The tour provided an opportunity to examine developments that could help restore Bulawayo’s historic industrial standing, with the US$24 million Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) Business Complex, a new manufacturing plant in Steeldale and agrochemicals producer SHUMBA’s expanding regional market presence emerging as key components of the city’s economic renewal.
For decades, Bulawayo was regarded as Zimbabwe’s industrial powerhouse, supported by a strong manufacturing base, engineering firms, textile factories and a network of industries that provided employment and sustained commercial activity. However, prolonged economic challenges, industrial closures and declining production weakened that position, leaving the city grappling with unemployment, underutilised industrial capacity and a shrinking manufacturing base.
The latest investments offer a fresh opportunity to reverse that trajectory, although the extent of the recovery will ultimately depend on whether new projects translate into sustained production, lasting jobs and wider economic benefits for residents.
Dr Soda expressed optimism over the developments, describing the projects as an encouraging sign of progress towards the Government’s industrialisation and economic transformation objectives.
“The project is in line with what the people of Bulawayo require. This is aligned to the principle or concept of devolution, where provinces have to determine what they would want to see being developed or happening in their provinces, especially projects that are aligned to the interests of the local people,” he said, speaking about the ZITF development.
His remarks placed the investments within the broader devolution agenda, which seeks to ensure that development priorities reflect local needs while contributing to national economic growth. The ministerial tour also highlighted the role of private-sector investment in complementing Government efforts to revive production, expand commercial infrastructure and create employment.
Leading the provincial assessment, Bulawayo Metropolitan Province Permanent Secretary for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Paul Nyoni, said the investments reflected opportunities emerging from the Government’s economic policies, an enabling business environment and the decentralisation of development priorities.
One of the most prominent developments is the redevelopment of the ZITF Fairgrounds into a modern commercial and business destination. The US$24 million ZITF Business Complex is expected to transform the historic exhibition grounds, which have operated for nearly seven decades, into a diversified hub incorporating a shopping mall, hotels, conference facilities, convention centres, parking infrastructure and a golf course.
Nyoni said the project was progressing ahead of schedule, with completion targeted for 2027. The development is already employing more than 82 people, with the workforce expected to rise to about 450 during construction and a further 600 during the fittings phase. Once operational, the complex is projected to sustain approximately 450 full-time jobs.
The employment figures point to the potential of large commercial developments to stimulate economic activity beyond their immediate construction sites. Local transport operators, food suppliers, security companies, maintenance contractors and small businesses could benefit from the demand generated by the complex, while hotels and conference facilities could help attract more visitors and business events to Bulawayo.
For a city seeking to diversify its economic base, the redevelopment could strengthen its position as a destination for trade, investment, tourism and conferencing. Yet the wider significance of the project lies in its potential to support a more vibrant business environment in which local enterprises can expand alongside major investments.
Nyoni said the progress reflected the investment environment created under the Second Republic, pointing to macroeconomic policies, ease of doing business, peace and devolution as factors supporting private-sector activity.
The manufacturing sector is also showing signs of renewed activity, with a new factory taking shape in the Steeldale area. The plant is expected to produce cooking oil, water and stockfeeds, expanding the operations of a business already established in eastern Zimbabwe and Harare.
According to Nyoni, construction began about six months before the tour, with the buildings more than 85 percent complete and machinery installation approximately 65 percent complete. The project is expected to strengthen domestic manufacturing while creating opportunities for agricultural producers and suppliers of industrial inputs.
A planned solar installation with a generation capacity exceeding 2.8 megawatts is another notable feature of the investment. The system is intended to supply electricity to the plant, with surplus power potentially fed into the national grid, subject to the necessary arrangements. Reliable energy remains a critical consideration for manufacturers seeking to maintain production, manage operating costs and improve competitiveness. The proposed solar project could therefore provide an additional source of power while supporting broader efforts to diversify Zimbabwe’s energy supply.
Nyoni said the business had already employed 276 people, with only about 25 coming from outside Bulawayo. Plans to establish outgrower arrangements for soya beans and other edible beans could further connect the factory to farmers, creating potential markets for agricultural produce while securing raw materials for industrial processing.
Such linkages could help deepen value addition by moving more agricultural output into locally manufactured products rather than relying solely on the sale of unprocessed commodities. The plant’s proximity to the railway station could also provide logistical advantages, particularly for transporting coal and other industrial inputs, while offering an alternative to road haulage.
Meanwhile, agrochemicals manufacturer SHUMBA is demonstrating how local industry can use Zimbabwe as a production base for reaching regional markets. During the tour, Nyoni expressed encouragement over the company’s exports to neighbouring countries and markets as far afield as Kenya.
He said duty-free import arrangements for goods intended for re-export had helped businesses improve their competitiveness, subject to compliance with customs requirements. Such arrangements can reduce upfront costs on imported inputs and improve cash flow for companies participating in regional supply chains.
The ability of Zimbabwean manufacturers to reach markets beyond the country’s borders is particularly important as the economy seeks to broaden its export base, generate foreign currency and increase the contribution of value-added products to national output. SHUMBA’s regional footprint illustrates the opportunities available to manufacturers that can combine competitive production with access to wider markets.
However, sustained export growth will depend on reliable infrastructure, consistent product quality, competitive pricing and a regulatory environment that enables businesses to plan and invest with confidence.
The three projects reflect different but complementary dimensions of Bulawayo’s economic revival: commercial infrastructure, domestic manufacturing and export-oriented production. They also place renewed emphasis on devolution, through which development priorities are intended to be brought closer to provinces and communities.
For Bulawayo, that means leveraging its industrial heritage, existing infrastructure and skilled workforce to attract investment and rebuild productive capacity. The city’s recovery, however, will require more than new buildings and investment announcements. Factories must operate consistently, workers must retain their jobs, agricultural producers must secure viable markets and local enterprises must gain opportunities to participate in emerging supply chains.
The Ministry of Information’s tour, conducted alongside journalists, brought these developments into public view, highlighting both the opportunities emerging from the investments and the broader challenge of restoring Bulawayo’s place in Zimbabwe’s industrial economy.
For the Second Republic, the projects provide an opportunity to demonstrate how investment, infrastructure development and policies supporting business expansion can contribute to economic recovery. For Bulawayo’s residents, the more immediate measure of success will be whether that promise translates into employment, stronger businesses and a sustained return of manufacturing activity.
After years in which economic difficulties eroded the city’s industrial standing, the emerging investments offer a potential turning point. Whether they herald a lasting industrial comeback will depend on how effectively the projects move from construction and expansion to sustained production, job creation and measurable economic gains.