Zimbabwe Country Commercial Guide
Learn about the market conditions, opportunities, regulations, and business conditions in zimbabwe, prepared by at U.S. Embassies worldwide by Commerce Department, State Department and other U.S. agencies’ professionals
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Selling Factors and Techniques
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Zimbabweans, in general, have adapted to the U.S. style of business, and Americans will not have to adjust their sales techniques significantly. Sales materials are written in English, which is the official language for business.

Trade Promotion and Advertising

Zimbabwe is a relatively small market that hosts a few trade shows annually. The Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) is the country’s premier expo, held every April, where local and international companies showcase their products. The 2025 edition of ZITF featured 596 exhibitors, including 45 international participants from 28 countries.

The Zimbabwe Agriculture Dealers and Manufacturers Association (ADMA) hosts an annual agribusiness show in June, which attracts key players in the sector. The 2025 edition was the largest to date, with over 250 exhibitors, including several American brands. Other specialized trade shows include the Zimbabwe Agricultural Show, MINE ENTRA for the mining sector, and the Zimbabwe International Travel Expo for the tourism industry.
Companies can also advertise their products through the local press or use local Internet providers to host websites.

Pricing

Prices in Zimbabwe are market-determined, and sellers may list prices in both USD and ZiG. The Government in April 2025 lifted the requirement for sellers of goods and services to price products at the prevailing rate published by the RBZ. Trader can price their products at market determined rates, although physical U.S. cash sometimes elicits deeper discounts. Most products are subject to a value added tax (VAT) of 15 percent, except for some basic commodities that are zero-rated.

Sales Service/Customer Support

Several local companies provide adequate after-sales service for locally assembled equipment and imported machinery. However, currency shortages negatively affect the availability of spare parts. The high level of technical skills in the country enables relatively good customer support from the private sector. 

Local Professional Services

There are several well-established and international accounting firms in Zimbabwe, and legal standards remain reasonably high. 

Principal Business Associations

Zimbabwe’s principal business associations represent various sectors and play a key role in lobbying the government for policies that benefit their members. The Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) advocates for manufacturers, while the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) represents retailers. The Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe focuses on the interests of miners, and the Bankers Association of Zimbabwe (BAZ) supports the financial sector.

The CEO African Roundtable connects African CEOs, C-suite executives, and business leaders. The American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) advances the interests of American and American-affiliated companies, while also including local firms engaged in business with U.S. companies.

Limitations on Selling U.S. Products and Services

According to the amended Indigenization and Economic Empowerment Act of 2018 there are still sectors reserved exclusively for Zimbabwean citizens including public transport, retail and wholesale trade, barber shops, hairdressing and beauty salons, employment agencies, valet services, grain milling, bakeries, tobacco processing, advertising agencies, and provision of local arts and crafts. There are no limitations on selling U.S. products and services if they meet with the country’s packaging and labeling standards.

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Global Business Navigator Chatbot Beta

Welcome to the Global Business Navigator, an artificial intelligence (AI) Chatbot from the International Trade Administration (ITA). This tool, currently in beta version testing, is designed to provide general information on the exporting process and the resources available to assist new and experienced U.S. exporters. The Chatbot, developed using Microsoft’s Azure AI services, is trained on ITA’s export-related content and aims to quickly get users the information they need. The Chatbot is intended to make the benefits of exporting more accessible by understanding non-expert language, idiomatic expressions, and foreign languages.

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As a beta product, the Chatbot is currently being tested and its responses may occasionally produce inaccurate or incomplete information. The Chatbot is trained to decline out of scope or inappropriate requests. The Chatbot’s knowledge is limited to the public information on the Export Solutions web pages of Trade.gov, which covers a wide range of topics on exporting. While it cannot provide responses specific to a company’s product or a specific foreign market, its reference pages will guide you to other relevant government resources and market research. Always double-check the Chatbot’s responses using the provided references or by visiting the Export Solutions web pages on Trade.gov. Do not use its responses as legal or professional advice. Inaccurate advice from the Chatbot would not be a defense to violating any export rules or regulations.

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The Chatbot supports a wide range of languages. Because the Chatbot is trained in English and responses are translated, you should verify the translation. For example, the Chatbot may have difficulty with acronyms, abbreviations, and nuances in a language other than English.

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