The government intends to decentralise industry so that a factory is built in each of the country’s 63 districts in a move meant to stimulate economic development.
This was revealed in the launched Zimbabwe National Industrial Policy (ZNIDP), to be implemented from 2019 to 2023. Part of the policy reads:
The government will promote industrialisation through the provision of incentives and targeted financing, policy support and business development services for the establishment of micro, small, medium and large scale manufacturing industries in rural areas in line with available local resources.
There shall be a deliberate thrust to develop factories in every district under the one district one factory concept. This will enhance the empowerment of marginalised rural communities.
The policy document further says that industrialisation will be based on the local resource endowment of specific areas;
Industrialisation will also be based on the local resource endowment of specific areas. Processing of traditional agricultural products such as sorghum, rapoko, marula fruits and mopane worms can spur the creation of new factories in source areas.
Local flora and fauna can also be used as raw materials in the manufacturing of pharmaceutical and herbal medicines and as such, also offer value addition opportunities.