By A Correspondent
As Zimbabwe continues to grapple with runaway inflation, a weakening local currency, and chronic energy shortages, the country’s business elite will gather this Wednesday in the resort city of Victoria Falls for the 2025 Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) Annual Congress.
Despite the bold rhetoric of economic revival, many critics argue that the gathering may amount to little more than empty bravado amid a worsening economic crisis.
The three-day event, themed around economic recovery, policy alignment, and sustainable industrial growth, brings together executives, economists, policymakers, and development partners to explore pathways for transformation. Yet, for many observers, the dissonance between the lofty objectives of the congress and the grim realities on the ground raises critical questions about the private sector’s role and influence.
ZNCC Chief Executive Officer, Chris Mugaga, struck an optimistic tone ahead of the congress: “Zimbabwe has what it takes in terms of creating sustainable policies for the growth and survival of business. So, this conference is being held at the right time where we want the entire private sector to attend and show commitment to the government’s cause or thrust for development.”
But for others, Mugaga’s sentiments ring hollow. While business leaders routinely echo the government’s language of development and reform, real economic indicators tell a different story. The Zimbabwean dollar has plunged on both the official and parallel markets, civil servants are demanding salaries in U.S. dollars, and investor confidence remains fragile. For many, the annual congress has become a stage for rhetorical posturing rather than a platform for genuine transformation.
“The private sector keeps aligning with government narratives, yet fails to challenge the policy inconsistencies and corruption that have crippled industry,” said an economist based in Harare who asked not to be named. “What Zimbabwe needs is not another retreat in Victoria Falls, but bold decisions and honest dialogue about structural reform.”
While some business leaders may see the congress as a chance to influence policy, critics argue that it merely reinforces a façade of progress. Last year’s resolutions—focused on export growth, access to credit, and policy clarity—have yet to yield any measurable impact.
As the congress begins, the nation will be watching not just for words, but for action. Without a fundamental shift in both policy direction and private sector accountability, Zimbabwe’s economic future risks remaining trapped in a cycle of lofty conferences and deepening crises.