Lupane, the provincial capital of Matabeleland North, hosts a bustling array of businesses ranging from supermarkets and butcheries to restaurants and small-scale enterprises. The economic landscape is overwhelmingly driven by private ownership, with minimal state intervention. While these enterprises provide much-needed employment and amenities, their contribution to sustainable economic growth remains limited.

Supermarkets such as Mega Supermarket, Zapalala, Gain, Ma Pepsi, and All Colours dominate Lupane’s retail scene. These are mainly privately owned, often founded by individual investors like Ma Pepsi’s proprietor, who created local job opportunities. However, despite reducing unemployment temporarily, these supermarkets have yet to catalyze long-term economic development. The fragmented nature of Lupane’s retail sector, lacking central coordination, prevents it from becoming a strong engine of growth.

Beyond supermarkets, Lupane’s economy thrives on small and medium enterprises (SMEs), especially informal trade. Vendors sell second-hand clothes (bales) or run China shops with imported goods. While these ventures bring quick income to many, their proliferation leads to oversaturation. “When one shop thrives, everyone tries the same; soon competition kills the business,” explains entrepreneur Ntombizodwa Sibanda(not her real name), a China shop owner. This pattern undermines the potential of SMEs to drive sustainable growth.

The meat industry remains nascent. Lupane lacks large wholesalers and has few butcheries. Special Meat Butchery, owned by Mr. Tshabalala, is renowned locally for its roasted meat, kugocha or ukuosa, but it is still a family-run business benefiting only a limited circle. “Investment in modern meat supply chains is urgently needed to unlock the economic potential here,” Tshabalala notes.

Hospitality is another modest sector. Bottle stores are common, but restaurants are few and underfunded. Take Me Out Restaurant stands out for its cleanliness and spaciousness but has not reached its full potential due to limited promotion and investment. With Lupane State University expanding and government offices increasing, there is a growing demand for more diverse and modern dining options.

Lupane’s businesses, while private, interact indirectly with Zimbabwe’s national economy. Supermarkets and banks source goods from companies listed on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange (ZSE), and fuel and retail companies connect to broader national corporations. Crucially, Lupane sits atop substantial coal-bed methane natural gas reserves—a natural advantage that, if tapped, could attract investment and potentially listings on ZSE or the Victoria Falls Stock Exchange. Recognizing and investing in this resource could transform Lupane from a consumer town into a dynamic economic hub.

The overall economic picture in Lupane reflects the resilience of private enterprise but also the constraints of duplication in informal businesses, weak infrastructure, and scarce state investment. In Zimbabwe at large, 75 to 80 percent of businesses operate informally, largely in wholesale and retail trade, illustrating why locals rely on informal entrepreneurship to survive amid scarce formal jobs. SMEs constitute 90 percent of all businesses nationally and contribute about 60 percent of GDP while employing over half the workforce—a statistic mirrored in Lupane’s economy. Women, in particular, play a vital role. Daisy Ncube, a detergent producer from Lupane, says, “Competition and fluctuating prices challenge my business, but I remain committed because this is how we survive here.”

Competition and fluctuating prices challenge my business, but I remain committed because this is how we survive here.

For Lupane to move beyond survival trading and build lasting wealth, it must capitalize on its natural gas resource while encouraging diversification and innovation. Policies supporting formalization and investment in infrastructure could break the cycle of collapsing businesses and stunted growth.

Lupane’s private hands keep the business doors open against tough odds, but without a clear vision and recognition of the town’s natural wealth, public prosperity will remain elusive.

This narrative underscores a broader truth for Zimbabwe: informal and small-scale enterprises sustain livelihoods and offer hope, yet strategic support and resource mobilization are essential for turning these efforts into inclusive, lasting economic progress.

If Lupane can harness its private sector energy and embed it within a strategic growth framework focused on its unique resources, it could emerge as a pivotal player in Zimbabwe’s economic future