24-Hour Economy Could Transform Zimbabwe’s Output, Says Ncube

Southerton Business Times
Sep 21, 2025
3 min read

Cityscape at dusk with light trails from cars on busy streets. Tall buildings are illuminated, creating a vibrant, bustling urban atmosphere. — Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube proposes a 24-hour economy in Zimbabwe (image source)

Finance Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube yesterday unveiled a proposal to transition Zimbabwe toward a 24-hour economy, arguing that staggered shifts and deregulated after-hours trading could boost manufacturing output by up to 30 percent. Speaking at the Zimbabwe Productivity Institute’s annual conference, Ncube said flexible working hours and extended retail operations would catalyze growth in key sectors such as agro-processing, textiles, and logistics.

“Embracing a 24-hour economic model is not just about lights burning late—it’s about seizing every opportunity to produce, export and earn foreign currency.”— Professor Mthuli Ncube, Finance Minister

Second only to imports, idle capacity costs Zimbabwe’s formal sector an estimated US $600 million annually, according to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe. Under Ncube’s plan, factories would stagger production lines, while supermarkets and pharmacies could apply for after-hours trading licenses issued by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce.

“This is about maximising our assets—our people, our plants, our power. We cannot afford downtime.”— Professor Mthuli Ncube

Private-Sector Response and Energy Challenges

Private-sector reaction was cautiously optimistic. Delta Corporation CEO Omar Mohadi called the concept “a welcome innovation” but warned that power reliability and transport costs must improve first.

“If businesses run round-the-clock, they need consistent electricity supply.”— Omar Mohadi, Delta Corporation CEO

Electricity remains a bottleneck. ZETDC data shows Zimbabwe faces an average of six hours of daily load-shedding. To mitigate this, Ncube proposed tax incentives for firms that invest in solar and energy-efficient machinery, and fast-track approval for dedicated industrial power lines.

Labour Concerns

Labour unions voiced concerns over worker welfare. Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) president Japhet Moyo stressed that extended hours must come with overtime pay, transport allowances, and strict health and safety protocols.

“We support increased productivity but not at the expense of our members’ well‐being.”— Japhet Moyo, ZCTU President

Regional Precedents

Economic analysts note that regional peers have already piloted 24-hour models with mixed success. In Kenya, the Industrial and Business Permit Act of 2019 allowed flexible operating hours, leading to a 12 percent rise in manufacturing employment—but also increased living costs in urban centres.

Background

Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030 blueprint targets upper-middle-income status through a knowledge-intensive, export-led growth path. Yet slow reforms, currency volatility, and energy shortages have left GDP growth averaging 3 percent over the past five years—below the 7 percent regional benchmark. Since 2024, the government has relaxed foreign exchange controls and retired bond notes, stabilizing the local unit. However, investor confidence remains fragile until structural issues in power, logistics, and labour relations are addressed.

Ncube’s proposal echoes suggestions by the International Labour Organization and the African Development Bank, which in a joint 2023 report recommended unlocking off-peak capacity and strengthening industrial zones operating beyond standard business hours.

Next Steps

Ncube has tasked a cross-ministerial task force—spanning the Ministries of Industry, Labour, and Energy—to develop draft regulations within four months. A public comment period will follow, giving firms and unions a chance to weigh in. Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) is reviewing emergency power purchase agreements to bolster grid capacity during peak demand.

Critics caution that without rapid improvements in infrastructure and labour safeguards, a 24-hour economy could exacerbate social inequalities. Supporters argue that, if well-managed, the model could drive Zimbabwe toward Vision 2030 targets, create tens of thousands of new jobs, and provide continuous foreign exchange revenue.

References

“Minister Ncube proposes 24-Hour economy to boost productivity,” The Herald, 20 Sept 2025.
Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, Quarterly Economic Review, Q2 2025.
Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company, Load-Shedding Report, Aug 2025.
Enhancing Industrial Capacity in Africa, African Development Bank & ILO, 2023.