COUNTRY FOCUS: ZIMBABWE
As Zimbabwe courts investors and
ramps up efforts to create a business-
friendly environment, Nhena Nyagura,
CEO of Dandemutande, a subsidiary of
Gondwana International Networks (GIN),
says connectivity and communication
will be key to forging a path towards the
country’s digital future.
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Seizing
opportunities in
Zimbabwe’s new era
F
ollowing the events of November 2017,
there has been a seismic shift in the
political and business environment
underpinned by the new maxim ‘Zimbabwe
is open for business’. As a result of a
PR offensive by President Emmerson
Dambudzo Mnangagwa, Zimbabwe has
seen an upsurge in investment conferences
across various sectors as investors seek
to understand the potential investment
opportunities available.
These and other efforts have already led
to the government securing US$15 billion
worth of investment commitments from
foreign investors to date while the diaspora
www.intelligentcio.com
community express renewed interest in
working with a new Zimbabwe.
Broad and necessary reforms have already
been put in place to position Zimbabwe
as an attractive investment destination,
including the effective repeal of key areas
of the Indigenisation Act, such that except
for the mining sector (specifically extractive
mining of diamonds and platinum), any
investor can now acquire or control business
without limitation on shareholding.
Significant changes have also been
made to the Electoral Act to allow for the
provision of free and fair elections, while the
government has also committed to inviting
international observers to witness future
elections in the country.
Locally, there has been an upsurge in capacity
utilisation and overall industrial growth. While
the country does continue to experience
cash liquidity shortages and foreign currency
availability continues to be constrained, the
government is actively working to normalise
the situation as much as possible to create a
productive business environment for local and
foreign investors alike.
Zimbabwe’s economic progress will hinge
on the provision of world-class connectivity
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