Tinotenda Hove – Zimbabwe’s latest attempt to strengthen trade ties with Ghana is already raising serious questions, with critics warning that the initiative may amount to little more than diplomatic posturing without meaningful economic impact.

The much-publicised Ghana-Zimbabwe Business Roundtable, held in Accra during President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s recent State visit, has been portrayed as a major step forward.

However, economic observers argue that Zimbabwe’s long-standing structural challenges could undermine any potential gains from the engagement.

Despite claims of growing interest in sectors such as manufacturing, agriculture, mining, and services, skepticism remains high over whether Zimbabwe can realistically compete or deliver on these opportunities given its economic instability, policy inconsistencies, and limited industrial capacity.
Officials have attempted to paint a positive picture.

ZimTrade chief executive officer Allan Majuru said, “The Ghana-Zimbabwe Business Roundtable provides space for companies to engage directly, exchange information and identify areas of cooperation. What is emerging is increasing interest from the Ghanaian private sector to partner with Zimbabwean businesses.”

But critics argue that such statements have been repeated many times before, with little to show in terms of tangible results. Previous trade missions and agreements have often failed to translate into real exports or sustained partnerships.

Majuru further insisted, “Our focus is to support Zimbabwean companies in converting these engagements into exports and sustainable business partnerships that contribute to economic development.” However, analysts say this ambition may be unrealistic without first addressing deep-rooted issues affecting Zimbabwe’s business environment, including currency volatility, high production costs, and regulatory uncertainty.

The signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between ZimTrade and the Ghana Export Promotion Authority has also been met with cautious pessimism. While officials claim it will strengthen cooperation and facilitate market access, similar agreements in the past have yielded limited outcomes.

“The MoU establishes a structured mechanism for our cooperation with GEPA and it will address information gaps, while creating pathways for businesses to access each other’s markets,” Majuru said.

Yet, economic commentators warn that “information gaps” are not the primary obstacle. Instead, they point to Zimbabwe’s weakening competitiveness and lack of investor confidence as the real barriers to meaningful trade expansion.

While the Government continues to promote economic diplomacy as a cornerstone of its development strategy, many remain unconvinced. Without concrete reforms and a stable economic environment, the Zimbabwe-Ghana trade initiative risks becoming another symbolic gesture with little real benefit for ordinary citizens or businesses.