Need For Incentives to Stimulate 24-Hour Economy, Boost Offshore Services-

By Senior Business Reporter

Government is looking at incentives to stimulate a 24 hour economy as well as support offshore service providers that export services globally from a domestic base, a Cabinet Minister said.

Finance and Investment Promotion Minister Prof Mthuli Ncube said this while addressing delegates who attended the recently held Zimbabwe Economic Development Conference(ZEDCON 2025) held in Bulawayo.

The Minister highlighted the ICT sector as a vital source of innovation, emphasizing the need for government support.

“We are noticing a lot of innovators in the ICT sector, but they need support. We will engage with them to design targeted incentives,” he said.

The minister highlighted the sector’s global potential, noting that these professionals can service global clients without having to leave the country.

As a benchmark for success, he cited ZimWorX, a Harare-based company that now employs nearly 1,500 people in the city’s Central Business District(CBD).

“It employs 1,000 professionals from accountants to insurance experts who provide services to clients in the UK, Australia, and the United States, all from Harare,” said minister Ncube.

The minister further said this offshoring creates incredible opportunities for local professionals to build their careers locally without joining the diaspora.

A 24-hour economy is one in which economic activities, such as manufacturing, retail, transport, healthcare, banking, entertainment, and hospitality, are designed to operate without interruption. It’s driven by flexible work schedules, advanced technology, energy availability, and consumer demand that extends beyond daytime hours.

“I even met someone who works as a personal assistant to an executive in the U.S. health insurance sector, all from an office in Harare.

“They are able to do this work online virtually without difficulty. We are now considering what kind of incentives we can put in place to support the growth of this industry.

“This initiative is a direct extension of our support for the ICT sector,” the minister added.

Prof Ncube also said government was exploring incentives to establish a 24-hour economy, following the example of other nations.

“We are looking at incentives to re-ignite a 24-hour economy. Other countries are doing this, why not us?”. Currently, I believe we have an eight-hour economy. We arrive at 9:30 AM, take a two-hour lunch break, and by 4:30 PM, everyone is gone,” he challenged.

He advocated for a fundamental shift to a three-shift system, including overnight work.

“We need a 24-hour economy with three shifts. Working overnight also has the advantage of using more electricity when household demand is low, reducing the strain on the grid, ”said Prof Ncube.