Country profile 2015 : Zimbabwe / [Oliver Maponga]

The Zimbabwean economy is predominantly agro-based, with the agricultural sector employing about 67.2 per cent of the total labor force while the manufacturing and mining sectors employ about 4 and 1.5 per cent, respectively (Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency, 2014). The agriculture, fisheries and forestry sectors supply 60 per cent of the raw materials required by the industrial sector, contribute 40 per cent of total export earnings. The years of economic slowdown in Zimbabwe had a negative impact on the social sectors and the country’s social development. While Zimbabwe is confronted with major economic challenges, including the impact of the strong United States dollar on exports, and limited access to markets and international resources owing to economic sanctions, the economic diversification agenda upon which the country has embarked should, however, be pursued with relentless vigour through value addition and beneficiation, especially in the agricultural and mining sectors. Structural challenges related to the conduct and conclusion of land reform and to the indigenization and economic empowerment programme need to be addressed, to strengthen the platform for accelerated transformation.