The Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Monica Mutsvangwa, has called for the urgent repurposing of idle factories across the country to accelerate Zimbabwe’s re-industrialisation drive and strengthen the growth of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
Speaking after touring the Maker Space Innovation Hub at the Bulawayo SMEs Centre, yesterday, Minister Mutsvangwa said dormant industrial infrastructure must be refurbished and converted into productive workspaces to unlock economic opportunities, particularly for women and youth entrepreneurs.
“Across the country, we have industrial shells that are no longer being used. These facilities can be repurposed into decent, affordable workspaces for MSMEs. If we are serious about re-industrialisation, we must fully utilise what we already have before investing in new infrastructure,” she said.
Mutsvangwa said revitalising idle factories aligns with President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s vision of transforming Zimbabwe into an upper middle-income economy through industrial growth, job creation and inclusive development.
“MSMEs are the pulse of our economy, contributing over 60 percent to GDP. Manufacturing remains critical to our economic recovery and growth. By providing infrastructure, machinery and technical support, we empower our entrepreneurs to scale up production and compete both locally and regionally,” she said.
She noted that much of the dormant infrastructure is privately owned, urging property owners to partner with Government and financial institutions to rehabilitate the facilities for productive use.
“We are calling on private sector players who own these idle factories to come forward and collaborate. Through public-private partnerships, we can turn these spaces into thriving industrial hubs that support value addition and beneficiation,” she said.
The Minister also commended the Maker Space Innovation Hub initiative, describing it as a practical model for industrial incubation. She said such centres provide critical access to modern equipment, innovation support and shared services that small businesses often cannot afford independently.
Bulawayo, once Zimbabwe’s industrial hub, has experienced significant factory closures over the past two decades. Government officials say restoring industrial capacity in the city is central to broader national economic recovery efforts.
Mutsvangwa said her ministry will continue engaging stakeholders to identify idle facilities nationwide and facilitate their conversion into productive industrial clusters aimed at boosting manufacturing output and creating sustainable jobs.
