A study reported by Herald.co.zw has identified geopolitics as the biggest threat to businesses. The finding was published on Thursday, 15 October 2026, according to the outlet.
The same reporting notes that the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency, known as ZIMSTAT, is urging action in response to the results of a competitiveness survey. Herald.co.zw frames the two items together, linking the geopolitical risk finding with the agency's call for businesses and policymakers to respond to what the survey shows.
The available reporting does not set out the size of the study, the sectors covered, or the specific geopolitical events respondents had in mind. It also does not detail the measures ZIMSTAT is recommending. What the outlet does make clear is that the survey places geopolitical factors at the top of the list of concerns for firms, ahead of other risks the research examined.
Geopolitical risk generally refers to the potential for political events, tensions between countries, or shifts in international relations to disrupt trade, supply chains, and investment. For an economy tied into global markets, such developments can affect costs, access to finance, and the ability to move goods across borders. The Herald.co.zw report does not specify which of these channels the survey respondents ranked most highly.
The pairing of the study result with ZIMSTAT's call for action suggests the agency sees competitiveness as an area requiring attention rather than a settled matter.
Watch for ZIMSTAT to publish the full competitiveness survey findings and any specific recommendations for businesses and policymakers.
