Zimbabwe wants to ramp up its high‑value timber production, pivoting from a predominantly raw‑materials exporter to a competitive manufacturer under its new National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), which will guide the timber and forestry sector over the next five years.
The Government plans a significant expansion of domestic processing capacity for timber, pulp and paper products — a shift aimed at reducing import dependence and building an export‑oriented manufacturing base. Local value addition is expected to rise from about 25 per cent in 2024 to more than 60 per cent by 2030, while domestic production of paper and wood‑based goods is projected to meet at least 80 per cent of national demand.
Wood Central understands that the country’s commercial forestry industry — concentrated primarily in Manicaland — is worth several hundred million dollars annually and supplies both domestic markets and regional exports, underscoring the scale of the opportunity the Government seeks to unlock.
According to the NDS2 framework, Zimbabwe wants to reposition the sector as a driver of industrialisation, job creation and export growth by deepening value addition and strengthening downstream manufacturing.
The government focuses on furniture, paper and wood-based industrial goods.
Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube said the new policy direction marks a decisive shift in how forestry contributes to national development: “During NDS2, the Government will revitalise the timber and paper industry from a primarily raw material exporter to a producer of high-value timber products, including furniture, paper and wood-based industrial goods.”
The strategy succeeds the first National Development Strategy (2021–2025) and aligns with Vision 2030, which aims to transition the country into an upper‑middle‑income economy. It places strong emphasis on value addition, export‑led growth and green industrialisation across agriculture, mining and manufacturing.
To meet its targets, Minister Ncube said the Government will support investment in modern sawmills, pulp and paper mills and downstream wood‑processing industries through affordable financing and public‑private partnerships. He said priority will be given to retooling existing facilities, establishing new timber‑processing clusters and adopting environmentally sustainable production technologies.
Zimbabwe’s timber industry is anchored in Manicaland, home to 70,000 hectares of plantations managed by state‑owned Allied Timbers, Wattle Company, Border Timbers, Mutare Board and Paper Mills, alongside several private operators. Allied Timbers — the most significant player — operates more than 10 estates across Manicaland, the Midlands and Matabeleland.
Minister Ncube said micro, small and medium enterprises will also be integrated into the timber and paper value chains to support inclusive growth. “The Government plans to support furniture manufacturing, woodcraft and other downstream wood-based industries, while common facility centres and shared processing infrastructure will be developed to enhance efficiency, technology access and skills upgrading.”
Economic analyst Mr Walter Mapfumo said the NDS2’s focus on modernising the timber value chain could strengthen competitiveness and boost exports. “Facilitating investment in modern sawmills and pulp and paper mills, supported by affordable financing and public-private partnerships, addresses long-standing capacity and efficiency gaps,” he said, adding that “retooling existing facilities and establishing timber‑processing clusters could lower production costs, improve product quality and create stronger linkages with downstream industries.”
