By Dennis Ndlovu|Zim GBC News
The involvement of local investors in Zimbabwe’s licensed projects has seen a dramatic decline, with new official data revealing their participation collapsing by 97.55% to US$3.15 million in the third quarter of 2025.
The figures, released this week in the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency’s (ZIDA) third-quarter report for 2025, highlight a decisive shift toward foreign-driven ventures. These now constitute nearly the entirety of the country’s US$3.26 billion in projected investment value.
This collapse in local participation comes alongside a broader investment surge. ZIDA reported issuing 203 new investment licences, a 6.8% increase from the previous quarter and a 20.8% rise compared to the same period in 2024. The total projected investment value reached US$3.26 billion, a 178% year-on-year increase from the US$1.17 billion recorded in Q3 2024.
“The number of new investment licences increased by 23.4% year-on-year, while the total proposed investment value rose sharply by 178.6%,” the report stated.
“This expansion was driven primarily by large-scale, capital-intensive projects in the mining and energy sectors, where investors continue to leverage foreign financing for project development.”
The report added, “The data also points to a decline in local capital participation, with contributions falling from US$128.28 million in Q3 of 2024 to US$3.15 million in Q3 of 2025.”
ZIDA noted, reflects the predominance of foreign-driven projects during the period, reaffirming sustained international confidence in Zimbabwe’s investment framework and the agency’s effectiveness in mobilising cross-border capital into strategic sectors.
The financial services sector dominated in projected investment value, accounting for US$2.15 billion, while mining led in the number of licences issued with 105 new projects licensed.
The quarter also featured several strategic milestones, including the Cabinet approval of a Public-Private Partnership with Jindal Energy Zimbabwe for the rehabilitation of Hwange Units 1–6 and the official designation of the Manhize Special Economic Zone for the Dinson Iron and Steel Company.
ZIDA also launched the eRegulations Portal in August, developed with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, to serve as a central digital guide for investment-related procedures.
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