One Zimbabwe Rising: Every Space Productive, Every Citizen Empowered, Every Opportunity Seized.

Under the visionary stewardship of His Excellency, President Cde Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, Zimbabwe is undergoing a profound economic renaissance driven by the foundational pillars of the National Development Strategy (NDS1 & NDS2). At the heart of His Excellency's transformative agenda is a resolute commitment to lifting every Zimbabwean above the poverty datum line, steering the nation toward an Upper-Middle-Income Economy status.

Recognizing Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) as the vanguard of this new economic frontier, the President has championingly dismantled barriers to growth through a robust "Ease of Doing Business" framework. His administration has actively catalyzed the transition of SMEs from the informal periphery into the mainstream economy, placing Value Addition and manufacturing at the absolute core of the sector. Through targeted directives to the Ministry of Local Government and municipal councils, His Excellency has mandated the creation of affordable, state-of-the-art workspaces, ensuring that micro-enterprises possess the infrastructure required to scale.

Beyond structural support, His Excellency has boldly democratized economic participation. By institutionalizing a pioneering SME Quarter System for Government Tenders, the President has opened unprecedented pathways for small-scale miners, agriculturalists, and local manufacturers to execute major national projects—spanning housing, road construction, water reticulation, and energy generation.

As SMEs4ED, we stand firmly aligned with our Mastermind. We do not merely celebrate his vision; we are the active implementers of it. We pledge our absolute support to his leadership as we formalize, industrialize, and drive Zimbabwe's mainline economy forward under his exceptional guidance.

At the vanguard of national economic mobilization stands Cde Dr. Sithembiso Nyoni, whose portfolio is structurally tasked with translating the foundational tenets of economic empowerment into impactful, community-led growth. As the ZANU PF Secretary for Economic Development and Empowerment, her leadership serves as a vital bridge between macroeconomic policy and grassroots execution, driving sustainable industrialization across Zimbabwe.

Under her astute direction, the department prioritizes extensive Grassroots Empowerment, institutionalizing frameworks that guarantee absolute inclusivity. By equipping local communities—most notably Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), women, youth, and historically marginalized or disabled communities—with cutting-edge resources and practical, market-driven technical skills, her programs catalyze localized production and self-reliance.

Central to Cde Dr. Nyoni's strategy is a rigorous focus on Resource Management and Capacity Building. Under her stewardship, beneficiaries receive comprehensive institutional training designed to ensure the responsible, productive, and efficient utilization of both public empowerment funds and local natural resources. This proactive educational approach significantly mitigates operational risk, drastically minimizing business failures while fostering a culture of accountability and corporate resilience.

Through these targeted interventions, Cde Dr. Nyoni continues to play an indispensable role in advancing the milestones of Vision 2030. By transforming grassroots enterprises into high-yielding economic contributors, her department remains a cornerstone in the collective march toward establishing a prosperous, sovereign, and inclusive Upper-Middle-Income Economy.

Distinguished Partners, Stakeholders and Entrepreneurs,

As we accelerate toward an upper-middle-income economy, the mandate for SMEs has shifted from baseline survival to high-impact industrialization. Sustainable growth demands a decisive transition from consumption to production. To secure our economic sovereignty, we must focus aggressively on robust import substitution and local value-addition projects.

The SME sector remains the ultimate backbone of macroeconomic stability and GDP growth. With thousands of brilliant young minds graduating annually, it is our collective responsibility to absorb this vital intellectual capital—transforming ambitious youths from job seekers into innovative job creators. Governments worldwide look to us for tangible economic solutions. As the SMEs4ED Affiliate leadership, our goal is to foster a collaborative ecosystem that scales grassroots enterprises into industrial drivers.

Together, let us spearhead a production-led revolution that guarantees prosperity for generations to come.

Forward ever, backward never.

Dr. Lloyd Bahera
National Chairman, SMEs4ED Affiliate

At the intersection of international investment and grassroots empowerment stands Cde Dr. Paul Tungwarara, a dynamic visionary whose strategic leadership directly translates executive policies into tangible economic transformation. As the driving force behind the Presidential Empowerment Funds, Dr. Tungwarara has revolutionized local enterprise, overseeing capital and resource allocation schemes that have successfully fortified thousands of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) across Zimbabwe's ten provinces.

Dr. Tungwarara's approach to economic development bridges robust financial support with a rigorous ethos of institutional excellence. A steadfast advocate for sustainable corporate governance, he consistently implores the SME sector to conduct commerce with absolute transparency, order, and honesty—championing integrity as the fundamental currency required to build a prosperous and reputable society. His mentorship program focuses heavily on risk mitigation, actively encouraging emerging entrepreneurs to study established market leaders, extract vital institutional knowledge, and minimize systemic failures.

Firmly believing that operational discipline is the bedrock of corporate longevity, Dr. Tungwarara emphasizes a strict segregation between personal affairs and commercial enterprises, ensuring that business results remain uncompromised by social dynamics. His commitment to mobility and logistical capacity is unmatched; through wide-reaching, completely non-selective vehicle distribution initiatives, he has provided local entrepreneurs with the vital logistical assets needed to scale production and expand market reach.

As SMEs4ED, we honor Dr. Paul Tungwarara as a cornerstone of our organizational trajectory. His exceptional capacity to mobilize resources, coupled with his dedication to building a disciplined, highly ethical entrepreneurial ecosystem, makes him an invaluable pillar of the Second Republic's industrialization agenda.

At the heart of Zimbabwe's journey toward Vision 2030 lies a profound truth: our national economic sovereignty and industrial future are being forged in the workshops, factories, and businesses of our Small and Medium Enterprises. As SMEs4ED, our mandate transcends basic business support; we are anchoring a structural revolution that turns local ingenuity into industrial capacity.

Masvingo Province, from the bustling hubs of Chiredzi to our furthest borders, is rich with untapped potential and relentless ambition. The challenges our entrepreneurs face—be it accessing capital or navigating market expansion—are simply milestones on our path to progress. Through structured capacity building, targeted financial literacy, and robust market integration, we are transforming traditional small businesses into highly competitive, value-adding industries.

To every entrepreneur across Zimbabwe, my message is clear: Think bigger, build stronger, and look beyond the immediate horizon. Do not view your enterprise merely as a means of sustenance, but as a vital pillar of our national economy. True leadership is about building structures that outlast us, and by scaling your businesses today, you are creating the sustainable employment and localized manufacturing chains that will define tomorrow.

United in purpose, and guided by the industrialization agenda of His Excellency, President C.D. Mnangagwa, we will continue to match entrepreneurial ambition with tangible economic opportunity. Together, we are not just witnessing economic growth—we are driving it.

"Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo!"