Accommodation 

Accommodation is plentiful in all towns and cities. Further out the quality deteriorates but as the road networks are fair the ability to get from A-B is possible within a day. It is quite easy for an organisation to set up and get both office and residential accommodation in all towns. The housing sector in Zimbabwe is jointly owned by the government and the private sector as individuals or as cooperatives. There is a wide array of accommodations that an investor can get. This includes Hotels and Lodges around Zimbabwe, Occupancy of private property, Purchase or lease of property in the urban and rural areas depending on the individual’s choice. An investor or organization can approach reputable real estate companies and will be advised on the various options on offer. 

Electricity and Power  

Zimbabwe faces consistent power shortages as indicated by an estimated deficit of approximately 60%. The Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority’s (ZESA) generation capacity was measured in February 2019 as producing at only 845 MW, against a projected national demand of 2,200 MW and an installed capacity of approximately 1,940 MW. The country is importing about 40% of its electric power from South Africa, Mozambique, and the DRC, however recent announcements indicate substantial potential changes meant to strengthen the national energy mix through new hydro-, solar- and coal-based generation. Zimbabwe is heavily reliant on its coal and water resources to produce electricity. The bulk supply is produced at the Kariba Dam Hydroelectric Power Station (750MW), at Hwange Thermal Power Station (920MW) at three smaller coal-fired power stations, all of which are managed by the ZESA subsidiary, the Zimbabwe Power Company.  

Zimbabwe plunged into an unprecedented crisis causing the electricity supply to drop to less than half of the country’s demand. The crisis was caused by declining water levels at the Kariba Dam as well as technical faults at the Hwange Power Station. Daily lake levels for 2015- 2016 in the Kariba Reservoir were recently noted to be at their lowest biannual average in twenty years, according to Zambezi River Authority data. 

Only about 18% of Zimbabwe's total energy consumption is accounted for by oil, all of which is imported. Zimbabwe imports about 1.2 billion liters of oil per year. Dependence on petroleum is managed through the price controls for vehicle fuels, the use of gasohol, and the substitution of diesel-electric locomotives on the railway system. Zimbabwe also has substantial coal reserves that are utilized for power generation, and recently discovered in Matabeleland province are coal bed methane deposits greater than any known natural gas field in Southern or Eastern Africa. In recent years, however, economic management challenges and low foreign currency reserves have led to fuel shortages. The electric power supply has become erratic and blackouts are common due to low generator availability at the Kariba hydroelectric power plant and unreliable or non-existent coal supplies to the country's large thermal plants. 

The power supplies underpin all other services, and there is undeniable evidence that the development of reliable, adequate, low-priced power can contribute significantly to the efficient and effective functioning of the Zimbabwe economy and the maintenance of Zimbabweans’ standard of living, as well as to stimulating the expansion of existing businesses and the establishment of new ones. However, to operate efficiently, businesses and factories need electricity supplies that are free of interruptions and shortages.  

Financial Services 

In Zimbabwe there are five principal agencies charged with the responsibility of financial regulation and supervision. These are the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ), The Ministry of Finance, The Deposit Protection Corporation, The Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) and The Insurance and Pensions commission. The financial services industry is fairly well-developed. The financial services industry in Zimbabwe comprises a wide range of activities, including banking, insurance, investment services, managed funds (unit trusts) and other financial services. Financial services are broad and include banking, mortgage lending, mobile money transfers, remittances, funds investment, trading in securities, insurance services, pension funds management, asset management, medical aid insurance and so on. 

The rise in mobile money transfers also poses regulatory challenges (often nervousness) as mobile money transfer operators now handle more money transfers (estimated at US$6 billion annually) than banks, yet these operators are not regulated as tightly as banks are. The debate on reform in financial services regulatory framework in Zimbabwe is aimed at seeking for solutions that create efficient, reliable, and stable financial services and markets, which will boost investor confidence in the financial system and also protect investor assets and savings. 

An organization can reasonably expect to find economic services such as banks, credit card unions, bureau de change, mobile money transactions and accountancy companies. Mobile money transfer operators: Econet, NetOne and Telecel are regulated on the aspect of mobile money transfers by the Postal Telecommunication Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) and RBZ. The financial services provided in Zimbabwe include: 

• Asset and Portfolio Management 

• Banking and Financing 

• Development Corporations 

• Financial Services (General) 

• Insurance Agencies and Brokerages 

• Investments 

• Management of Companies and Enterprises 

• Stock Broking 

The table below shows the banking institutions in Zimbabwe. 

Freight Forwarding Agents 

Zimbabwe imports and exports various food and non-food items from/to different countries around the globe. This means the need for a wide range of clearing and forwarding agents to meet the demand. Today a number of these companies are operating and registered with Shipping and Forwarding Agents' Association of Zimbabwe (SFAAZ).  

Handling Equipment Rentals 

There are a number of handling equipment companies available. However, for the majority of companies they use manual system to handle. Most of the companies that provides warehousing and storage do provide handling services as well. In addition, people can easily group themselves and offer the series at competitive rates. 

Postal and Courier Services 

The country has the overnight courier system as well as the normal post office document movement system working well. In addition DHL, FEDEX, SWIFT and Courier Connect provides efficient document movement within and outside the country. The services are widely available and fairly reliable. The postal and courier services falls under the postal and telecommunications ministry, which controls the postal and courier services of the country, and their overall capabilities. 

Publishing/Printing Service Providers 

The publishing and printing services is a well-established service industry in Zimbabwe dominated by both medium and small-scale firms. Most towns and cities have facilities and companies offering the services at competitive rates. The services are readily available and easily accessible.  

Taxi Companies 

There are numerous taxi related services in and around the country. 

Vehicle Rental 

There are numerous rental companies within Zimbabwe who provide a good service at affordable prices. 

Disclaimer: Inclusion of company information in the LCA does not imply any business relationship between the supplier and WFP / Logistics Cluster, and is used solely as a determinant of services, and capacities.  

Please note: WFP / Logistics Cluster maintain complete impartiality and are not in a position to endorse, comment on any company's suitability as a reputable