ZIMBABWE’S manufacturing industry, though the largest single driver of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), is showing sluggish growth, according to the latest 2023 Economic Census data.

The census, which mapped 204,798 enterprises, shows that over 70% of business establishments are in wholesale, while only 8% are in manufacturing.

The sector contributes 15.3% to GDP at current prices, but remains constrained by low levels of capacity utilisation.

Findings from the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT) reveal that micro manufacturing firms are operating at just 45.8% of their capacity, while large-scale operators are running at 60.9%.

This points to broad inefficiencies across the sector.

The census also highlights the dominance of informality, with 81.0% of manufacturing businesses unregistered.

Only 17.6% are formally listed with the Registrar of Companies. These challenges show that while manufacturing is a central pillar of Zimbabwe’s economy, structural hurdles continue to stifle its growth trajectory.