Harare, (New Ziana) – Â Zimbabwe is set to gain a new benchmark for measuring its economic competitiveness when the National Competitiveness Commission (NCC) and the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStat) jointly unveil findings from the National Competitiveness Baseline Survey (NCBS) on Wednesday.
The findings, scheduled for release on October 14, 2026, in Harare, are expected to provide a statistical foundation for assessing the country’s competitiveness, identifying economic and business environment gaps, and evaluating the impact of policy reforms.
In a joint press statement issued on Monday, the two institutions said the survey responds to the need for reliable, nationally representative data that captures Zimbabwe’s unique economic and business environment.
“The NCBS addresses the need for reliable, nationally representative domestic competitiveness data that reflects Zimbabwe’s unique economic and business environment,” the statement said.
The baseline survey is intended to establish a reference point against which the country’s competitiveness can be tracked over time, helping policymakers and other stakeholders identify areas requiring intervention and assess whether reforms are delivering the desired results.
Its significance comes against the backdrop of the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) Mid-Term Review, which identified national competitiveness as a priority and mandated the NCC to develop a periodic competitiveness index.
The survey provides an important step towards translating that policy priority into a measurable framework for monitoring Zimbabwe’s economic performance and business environment.
According to the joint statement, the study draws insights from the public, private and informal sectors, reflecting the importance of considering different economic actors when assessing the country’s competitiveness.
The survey is guided by four pillars – innovativeness, inclusiveness, sustainability and resilience – which are intended to provide a broad assessment of the factors that influence economic performance and the country’s capacity to sustain growth.
Beyond presenting the findings, the launch is expected to highlight priority competitiveness indicators and policy recommendations that could inform future interventions by Government and other stakeholders.
The institutions said the event would provide a platform for dialogue among Government, the private sector, academia, development partners and civil society, creating an opportunity to discuss the findings and their implications for national development.
The release of the findings is expected to provide stakeholders with a common statistical reference for discussions on competitiveness and the policy measures needed to strengthen the country’s economic position.
New Ziana
