Zimbabweans, in general, have adapted to the U.S. style of business, and Americans will not have to adjust their sales techniques signficantly. Sales materials are written in English, which is the official language for business.
Trade Promotion and Advertising
Zimbabwe is a relatively small market in which a few trade shows are held annually. The Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) is the premier expo where local and international companies exhibit their products. The number of foreign exhibitors at the 2023 ZITF rose significantly from the 2022 edition which was dominated by local firms and government agencies.
There are also several smaller specialized trade shows such as the Zimbabwe Agricultural Show, MINE ENTRA for the mining sector, and the Zimbabwe International Travel Expo for the tourism sector. It is also possible to advertise products through the local press or use local Internet providers to host web sites.
Pricing
Nearly all prices are now market-determined and sellers may list prices in both U.S. and Zimbabwe dollars at the interbank exchange rate, though physical U.S. cash sometimes elicits deeper discounts. Most products are subject to a value added tax (VAT) of 15 percent, except for some basic commodities that are zero-rated.
Sales Service/Customer Support
Several local companies provide adequate after-sales service for locally assembled equipment and imported machinery. However, currency shortages negatively affect the availability of spare parts. The high level of technical skills in the country enables relatively good customer support from the private sector.
Local Professional Services
There are several well-established and international accounting firms in Zimbabwe, and legal standards remain reasonably high.
Principal Business Associations
The main business associations are the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) which looks after the interests of manufacturers, the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC), which looks after the interests of retailers, the Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe which looks after the interest of miners, the Bankers Association of Zimbabwe (BAZ) which looks after the interests of the financial sector, and the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) which was formed to advance the interests of American and American-affiliated companies, but includes local companies doing business with American firms. The associations lobby the government for policies that benefit their members.
Limitations on Selling U.S. Products and Services
According to the amended Indigenization and Economic Empowerment Act of 2018 there are still sectors reserved exclusively for Zimbabwean citizens including public transport, retail and wholesale trade, barber shops, hairdressing and beauty salons, employment agencies, valet services, grain milling, bakeries, tobacco processing, advertising agencies, and provision of local arts and crafts. There are no limitations on selling U.S. products and services if they meet with the country’s packaging and labeling standards.