Zim feels the heat as climate crisis deepens

SAMUEL NJINGA IN MASVINGO

The deepening climate crisis is no longer a distant threat for Zimbabwe — it is a daily economic reality, disrupting key industries, driving up costs, and forcing businesses to rethink how they operate.

What began as an agricultural challenge has now morphed into a national economic emergency. Rising temperatures, recurring droughts, erratic rainfall, and water shortages are battering every major sector — from farming and energy to tourism, manufacturing, and retail — leaving companies scrambling for survival and adaptation.

Agriculture, long the backbone of Zimbabwe’s economy, remains on the frontlines. The sector accounts for more than 60% of employment and is central to exports and rural livelihoods. Yet, regions such as Masvingo and Matabeleland are grappling with repeated crop failures and collapsing livestock numbers as droughts and heatwaves become more frequent.

“We are operating in survival mode,” says Robert Makadho, Chairperson of the Masvingo Farmers’ Beef Producers Association. “Our livestock numbers have halved in some areas. If rains delay or flood, we lose crops. If they don’t come at all, we lose everything.”

The impact is cascading across the entire agri-business ecosystem. Demand for farming inputs has plummeted in drought-stricken areas, while suppliers offering drought-resistant seeds, irrigation technologies, and climate-smart solutions are gaining ground.

Financial institutions, meanwhile, are tightening lending conditions for smallholder farmers, with many unable to provide the collateral now required. Although weather-indexed insurance schemes are emerging to cushion farmers, limited uptake underscores the challenges of affordability and access.

Beyond agriculture, Zimbabwe’s energy sector is also buckling under the weight of climate change. Reduced rainfall and shrinking water levels at Lake Kariba, the nation’s primary source of hydroelectric power, have slashed electricity output, triggering renewed load-shedding and disrupting industrial production.

“Energy insecurity is now a key business risk,” warns Harare-based industrial consultant Lovemore Baloyi. “Firms are pivoting to solar power, not just for environmental reasons, but to stay operational. The return on investment for renewable energy has never been clearer.”

Solar energy providers are reporting surging demand, with commercial farms, mining operations, and cold storage facilities turning to off-grid solutions to escape the instability of the national grid. But high upfront costs remain a barrier, highlighting the urgent need for concessional financing and stronger private-sector partnerships.

The tourism sector, a critical source of foreign currency, is also under pressure. In Hwange National Park, one of Zimbabwe’s premier safari destinations, prolonged droughts are disrupting wildlife patterns, escalating human-wildlife conflict, and threatening the viability of eco-tourism operations.

“With elephants dying from dehydration and villagers losing crops to buffalo herds, the viability of tourism in some regions is under threat,” says a senior official from the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority, who declined to be named.

Private operators have begun drilling boreholes and creating artificial watering points, but these interventions are costly and require government collaboration to succeed.

Urban centres are not spared from the crisis. Cities like Harare and Bulawayo are grappling with chronic water shortages, crippling businesses across industries. Hotels are spending heavily to truck in water, while beverage manufacturers face production delays as municipal supplies dry up.

Fast-moving consumer goods companies and retailers are struggling with supply chain disruptions as extreme weather events damage transport routes and make it harder to move goods, particularly perishables, across flood-prone and drought-stricken regions.

Yet amid the turmoil, new opportunities are emerging. Businesses offering climate-resilient technologies — from rainwater harvesting systems to clean cooking solutions and solar innovations — are finding new markets.

In Chivi District, a women-led cooperative supported by local NGOs is building a successful agribusiness around drought-resistant crops such as millet and sorghum.

“These are not just survival crops; they’re turning into viable agribusinesses with growing demand in health-conscious and export markets,” says Elliot Tavaziva, Vice Chairperson of the Rubweruchena Micro Irrigation Scheme.

Young Zimbabwean entrepreneurs are also stepping up, developing climate-focused mobile apps, affordable solar products, and biodegradable packaging. But they face persistent obstacles: limited access to finance, skills shortages, and patchy policy support.

The Zimbabwean government has made climate change a policy priority on paper, ratifying the Paris Climate Accord and introducing a National Climate Policy. But implementation remains slow and inconsistent, and many in the private sector say stronger incentives and reliable climate finance mechanisms are urgently needed.

“The global north must put real money on the table,” says Modrick Taruvinga, Chairperson of the Aquaculture Artillery Project at Njovo Wetlands in Masvingo. “We are not the biggest polluters, but we are paying the highest price. If global partners want economic stability in the region, they must invest in our resilience.”

As the crisis deepens, the message is clear: Zimbabwe’s business sector must adapt or risk collapse. The path forward will require unprecedented collaboration between government, industry, and development partners to build resilience and unlock new sources of growth.

“We must act now,” Environment Minister Evelyn Ndlovu warned in a recent address. “For the sake of our economy, our ecosystems, and the generations to come.