Bulawayo Manufacturing Grows 51.3% but Energy Costs Bite

Bulawayo’s manufacturing sector recorded a 51.3% growth surge, Southern Eye reported, signaling a robust industrial recovery from years of decline. However, energy-intensive industries continued struggling with high production costs, particularly electricity tariffs that remain among the highest in the region. The growth is uneven, with many firms unable to capitalize due to frequent power outages and uncompetitive pricing. Industry bodies clashed with the power utility over tariff hikes, warning that the cost burden could reverse recent gains and accelerate de-industrialization. Bulawayo’s industrial renaissance hinges on affordable and reliable energy; without tariff reform, the sector’s competitiveness will erode, trapping the city in a cycle of boom and bust.