Zimbabwe faces potential exclusion from Africa’s largest economic transformation through bureaucratic delays preventing access to the $3.4 trillion African Continental Free Trade Area market encompassing 1.3 billion consumers.
Trade Law Centre executive director Trudi Hartzenberg warned Harare to expedite gazetting of AfCFTA tariffs and rules of origin, noting current delays lock Zimbabwean firms out of unprecedented continental market access opportunities. The world’s largest emerging trade bloc by participating countries offers transformative potential for African economic integration.
Zimbabwe has completed 90% of required tariff line offers but remains unable to trade under AfCFTA until government completes legal processes for remaining 10% and establishes comprehensive rules of origin. This administrative bottleneck prevents Zimbabwean exporters from accessing preferential trade arrangements with 47 other African countries.
Economic implications are substantial, with United Nations Economic Commission for Africa estimating AfCFTA could raise intra-African trade by 15-25%, equivalent to $50-70 billion in additional trade value by 2040. Zimbabwe’s delay in implementation means missing first-mover advantages as countries like Kenya, Ghana, and Rwanda actively pursue export opportunities through pilot trading initiatives.
Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce regional manager Kudakwashe Matare cautioned that domestic competitiveness challenges, including high business costs, infrastructure deficiencies, and institutional inefficiencies, could undermine Zimbabwean firms’ ability to compete effectively under AfCFTA even after implementation.
Current manufacturing capacity utilization at 52% reflects broader economic challenges that could limit Zimbabwe’s ability to capitalize on expanded market access. However, the country’s mineral wealth, agricultural potential, and skilled labor force position Zimbabwe to benefit substantially from continental integration once operational constraints are addressed.
The trade pact aims to eliminate duties on 90% of goods while removing non-tariff barriers, creating seamless continental market access for participating countries. Zimbabwe’s wealth of minerals and agricultural products could find expanded markets across Africa through successful AfCFTA implementation.
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