Mauritius Pulls Ahead as Zimbabwe Lags on Economic Freedom

Mauritius has topped Africa’s 2025 economic freedom rankings, while Zimbabwe lags near the bottom (image source)

Mauritius has topped Africa’s 2025 economic freedom rankings while Zimbabwe remains near the bottom, a sharp contrast underscoring diverging policy choices on trade openness, property rights, and regulatory quality. The latest rankings, highlighted in regional analyses, show Mauritius continuing to perform strongly in open markets and sound business regulation. Zimbabwe, by comparison, scored poorly on governance, property rights, and rule-of-law indicators that undermine investor confidence and restrict private-sector growth.

The policy gap is stark. Mauritius retained high marks for reforms that simplify business processes and strengthen contract enforcement, while Zimbabwe’s low scores reflect persistent weaknesses in transparency, land tenure, and judicial reliability. These shortcomings raise transaction costs for firms and deter foreign direct investment.

“Mauritius demonstrates how predictable rules attract knowledge-intensive capital; Zimbabwe needs credible, verifiable reforms to reverse capital flight,” said a Harare-based economist.

Economic freedom indices aggregate measures including rule of law, government size, regulatory efficiency, and open markets. High-scoring countries offer stable property rights and transparent institutions, while low scorers face policy unpredictability and weak enforcement, raising borrowing costs and deterring private capital.

For Zimbabwe, the impact is visible: restricted credit access for SMEs, weak job creation, and reliance on informal trade and remittances. National commentators stress that restoring investor confidence requires demonstrable institutional reforms and stronger anti-corruption enforcement, not just policy statements.

Corporate leaders in Harare note that inconsistent contract enforcement and procurement disputes extend project timelines and increase costs. Regional traders highlight that markets such as Mauritius and South Africa offer more predictable customs and market access, creating advantages that Zimbabwean firms struggle to match.

Over the past decade, many African economies have improved their business climates through streamlined tax codes, digital licensing systems, and investor protections. Mauritius stands out as a leader, while Zimbabwe’s repeated low rankings highlight entrenched governance deficits.

Policy reforms to watch in Zimbabwe include measures to secure land tenure, ensure transparent procurement, strengthen judicial independence, and ease finance access for small businesses. International observers say future investor confidence will hinge on whether Harare enacts and enforces measurable, time-bound reforms.