Zimbabwe is currently experiencing a crisis and has lost investors to neighbouring countries in recent times. According to American business publication now is the time to re-engage with Zimbabwe if investors want to get in on the ground floor ahead of a resurge in the economy.

Here are some of the sectors with great investment potentials in Zimbabwe you should know.

1.            Agribusiness

Agriculture is the backbone of Zimbabwe’s economy in as much as Zimbabweans remain largely a rural people who derive their livelihood from agriculture and other related rural economic activities. It provides employment and income for 60-70 percent of the population, supplies 60 percent of the raw materials required by the industrial sector and contributes 40 percent of total export earnings. Despite the high level of employment in the sector, it directly contributes only 15-19 percent to annual GDP, depending on the rainfall pattern (Government of Zimbabwe, 1995).

Agribusiness is Zimbabwe’s untapped goldmine, and a major potential source of millionaires in 2019. According to a World Bank report, Africa’s agribusiness industry is expected to be worth $10 billion by 2030 if there are no political bouts once again in the country.

2.            Solar power generation

Solar energy is one of Africa’s most abundant natural resources. Most parts of sub-Saharan Africa enjoy more than 300 days of free God-given sunlight every year. Still, over 2 million people in the country, especially in rural areas, don’t have access to reliable electricity. In most cities and towns, power outages are the norm and people often have to rely on noisy petrol and diesel power generators. Solar energy is free, absolutely clean and abundant. And it provides the best alternative for people in remote parts of Zimbabwe who are out of reach of electricity grids. Solar energy generation is one of fastest growing and most promising renewable energy sources of power generation worldwide.

3.            Real Estate

In almost every corner of the country, real estate projects will emerge since there is vast of cheap virgin land. The biggest attractions and possible constructions are high-rise hotels and office buildings, residential homes and apartments, and shopping malls.

In Zimbabwe already there is a shortfall of 3 million housing units. Zimbabwe’s large and youthful population, an expanding middle class, increasing urbanization, influx of expatriates and multinational companies are the key drivers of demand for both commercial and residential real estate.

4.            Mining

Zimbabwe has the second largest reserves in the world of platinum and equivalently large diamond reserves. Gold and coal prospects are nothing to ignore. The capital requirements are too big for some investors while the typical politics of extractive industries confound other investors. For those investors fearful of entering the extractive processes, there is value-add potential in downstream manufacturing. Another big opportunity lies in the processing of minerals. There are no functional manufacturing or processing plants in the country at the moment.

5.            Manufacturing sector

Zimbabwe imports a lot of food and retail products from neighboring countries. There are a lot of opportunities to manufacture equipments used in different sectors of the economy like knitting products for clothing, consumer electronics, wood and furniture saw milling, communication equipments, chemicals for agriculture and finishing textures.

6.            Media

With the coming on board of private owned radio and television stations, the Media in Zimbabwe is growing rapidly. The key investment opportunities lie in digitization which will allow Outside Broadcasting Units and Satellite Uplinks. Opportunities exist in digital media especially in news blogs, e-commerce, classified and payment gateways as more and more people get mobile.

7.            Healthcare

Africa’s growing middle class wants better services. The Zimbabwean healthcare sectors presents investors an opportunity to improve offerings. An influx of illegally imported drugs into the country, along with outdated technology and infrastructure, have not satisfied locals for quite a long time. The Ministry of Health currently does not have personnel stationed at ports of entry to stop illegal imports, but have stated aspirations to change this. Private players are welcome into the country.

8.            Education

The country is rich with creative and innovative talent. However, poor access to quality education is a serious threat to Zimbabwe’s vibrant human capital.  Building of more schools especially in resettlement areas, improvement of infrastructure of old schools, provision of new furniture and learning material to schools in the country has therefore become a necessity, with this lays opportunities for investment.

Technology has spread its roots in every nook and corner of business, leaving no room for old schools techniques or outdated modes of learning. E-books have opened gates of opportunities for owners of e-libraries and e-book clubs because knowledge knows no limits and everyone is equally curious to know anything and everything available under the sun.

9.            Transport and Logistics

Zimbabwe’s location in the SADC makes it the centre in the region which allows the country to access to neighbouring countries. There are investment opportunities in transporting goods and people using the various means of transportation and in the maintaining and management of these services.

10.          Tourism

Tourism industry in Zimbabwe has a lot of investment opportunities to offer. With its world class parks and wonders Zimbabwe needs to provide world class services as well and realise value of money in tourism. There are investment opportunities in all parks, games, reserves, world wonder site, monuments and historical cities and sites. What can be offers by investor? Tours, accommodation, guides, education, security, banking, games, documentary tours, hunting, surfing and food among others.