Zim’s Top Brands Honoured as Leaders Push ‘Buy Local’ Drive

Zimbabwe’s leading companies were recognised at the 2026 ZimBrands Awards with government and business leaders urging stronger support for locally produced goods to drive economic growth, create jobs and reduce reliance on imports. The awards ceremony, held on 22 May and hosted by Buy Zimbabwe brought together policymakers and industry leaders who said strengthening domestic industries was key to the country’s economic transformation. Speaking at the event, Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce Raj Modi said local industries remained critical to job creation and economic activity.

“Industries play a very vital role in our economy because industries create jobs. When people get jobs, they get money, they spend money and that cycle starts improving the economy and livelihoods for the people,” Modi said. He added that buying local products could help Zimbabwe conserve foreign currency while supporting domestic manufacturers.

“Everybody says they must support local products so that we can save our much-needed foreign currency and create jobs. That helps our economy,” he said. Hwengwere suggested attaching Zimbabwean insignia to locally manufactured goods to improve competitiveness in regional markets, while using QR-coded systems to combat counterfeit products. “The Zimbabwean product must multiply from the farmer all the way to the retailer so that we can also break into the African economy,” he said.