Our Shared Wealth.
Empowering Indigenous Zimbabweans to Own, Build and Prosper Across Every Sector of the Economy.
Advancing Indigenous Economic Empowerment through Advocacy, Policy Influence, and Lawful Participation in the Various Sectors of the Zimbabwean Economy.
Section 01
Who We Are and What We Do
The Hupfumi Hwedu Indigenous Resources Association is an affirmative action and advocacy organization established in 2026 to champion the economic empowerment of indigenous Zimbabweans. We advocate for systemic change, influence policy, and facilitate the lawful, organised, and commercially viable participation of indigenous Zimbabweans in the reserved sectors and other various sectors of the economy.
Learn more about who we areHHIRA at a Glance
13
Reserved Economic Sectors
250+
Registered Members
6
Strategic Projects
10
Provinces Represented
Section 02
The Challenge We’re Addressing
Indigenous Zimbabweans continue to face significant barriers to economic participation.
Although opportunities exist across Zimbabwe’s reserved sectors and the broader economy, many indigenous Zimbabweans remain unable to participate meaningfully or benefit fully from them.
For many, the greatest barrier is access to capital. In the reserved sectors of the economy, the lack of access to capital leaves many indigenous Zimbabweans EXCLUDED from meaningful participation or exposed to FRONTING arrangements that offer token shareholding without genuine ownership, control or long-term economic benefit.
However, the challenge extends beyond finance. Many aspiring entrepreneurs also lack access to strategic partnerships, technical expertise, commercial networks, markets and information that are essential for building sustainable businesses and competing effectively.
These barriers have left many indigenous Zimbabweans excluded from investment opportunities, government procurement, private-sector contracts and other economic activities. In some cases, individuals enter arrangements that offer only nominal shareholding without genuine ownership, decision-making authority or long-term economic benefit.
At the community level, capable entrepreneurs, contractors, traders and small businesses frequently find themselves unable to access opportunities that exist within their own local economies.
The result is that significant economic potential remains unrealized, despite the availability of opportunities designed to promote indigenous participation.
Section 03
Our Proposal
Reserved-Sector Participation: Earn-In Equity
Under earn-in equity, indigenous participants earn equity progressively from a project’s future profits rather than purchasing it upfront, removing the capital barrier while ensuring genuine, not nominal, ownership.
“Umnotho wethu.”
See the full explanationBroad Based Local Economic Empowerment
At local level, HHIRA advocates for the prioritization of local, indigenous businesspeople in the award of work, jobs, contracts and tenders by local authorities, organizations and companies.
Access to Opportunities
Connecting members with investment, business and partnership opportunities.
Collective Participation
Pooling resources, expertise and networks to overcome barriers to entry.
Advocacy & Policy
Promoting practical policies that expand indigenous participation while supporting sustainable economic growth.
Contribute
An indigenous participant contributes skills, networks or effort to a reserved-sector project.
Earn
Equity is earned progressively from the project's future profits rather than purchased upfront.
Own
Equity vests as profit distributions are made, real, beneficial ownership, not a token stake.
We bring together individuals, communities, investors, government and strategic partners to develop lawful, transparent and commercially sustainable pathways that enable indigenous Zimbabweans to own, participate in and benefit from opportunities across the reserved sectors and the wider economy.
Current Projects
HHIRA is delivering tangible work, not just advocacy.
Local Economic Empowerment & Procurement Advocacy
HHIRA successfully engaged the local City Council to advocate for greater participation of local businesses, entrepreneurs and residents in public procurement, tenders and other economic opportunities. The engagement promotes inclusive local economic development by ensuring that communities benefit from opportunities created within their own municipality.
Informal Traders Engagement & Business Dialogue
HHIRA successfully represented informal traders in engagements with the local City Council, facilitating constructive dialogue that resulted in a collaborative working relationship and practical solutions at a time when traders faced the demolition of their market stalls. The initiative demonstrated HHIRA's commitment to protecting livelihoods through engagement, mediation and mutually beneficial solutions.
Policy Advocacy for Earn-In Equity Framework(Ongoing)
HHIRA is actively engaging Government and key stakeholders to advocate for the inclusion of an Earn-In Equity Framework within Zimbabwe's indigenization and reserved sectors regulatory framework. The proposed model seeks to provide indigenous Zimbabweans with a practical and commercially sustainable pathway to acquiring equity through future business cash flows and enterprise performance, rather than relying solely on substantial upfront capital.
Reserved Sectors Engagement Program(Ongoing)
HHIRA is currently engaging local companies, entrepreneurs and investors operating within Zimbabwe's reserved sectors to promote lawful indigenous participation, facilitate strategic partnerships and develop commercially sustainable investment and ownership opportunities for indigenous Zimbabweans.
Reserved Sectors
Sectors Reserved for Indigenous Zimbabweans
Under Statutory Instrument 215 of 2025 and allied empowerment policy, the following sectors are reserved for indigenous Zimbabweans. HHIRA facilitates lawful, commercially viable participation — ensuring genuine ownership, not token or fronted arrangements.
Legal basis: Statutory Instrument 215 of 2025 & Ministry of Mines reservation policy. Foreign businesses already operating in exclusively reserved sectors must divest 75% to indigenous Zimbabweans within three years (minimum 25% per year). Threshold sectors allow foreign entry only above gazetted investment thresholds.
Exclusively Reserved
13 SectorsReserved exclusively for indigenous Zimbabweans. No foreign participation permitted. Foreign businesses already operating in these sectors must divest in terms of SI 215 of 2025.
- Transportation: passenger buses, taxis and car hire services
- Barber shops, hairdressing and beauty salons
- Employment agencies
- Estate agencies
- Valet services
- Bakeries
- Tobacco grading and packaging
- Advertising agencies
- Provision of local arts and craft — marketing and distribution
- Artisanal mining
- Borehole drilling
- Clearing and customs
- Pharmaceutical retailing
To Be Exclusively Reserved
4 SectorsSectors proposed to become exclusively reserved for indigenous Zimbabweans under forthcoming regulations.
- Quarry mining
- Granite mining
- Brick moulding
- Travel agency
Threshold Sectors
4 SectorsForeign participation permitted only above prescribed investment / capital thresholds and with majority indigenous shareholding. Below the threshold, reserved for indigenous Zimbabweans.
- Retail and wholesale trade
- Grain milling
- Haulage and logistics industry
- Shipping and forwarding
How HHIRA helps
HHIRA advocates for the earn-in equity framework, facilitates joint ventures and SPVs, and connects members to due diligence, legal and commercial support so participation is lawful, transparent and genuinely beneficial.
Section 04
Latest News
01
July 2026
Announcements
Locals form organ for economic empowerment and advocacy
HHIRA is formed in Kadoma to champion the economic empowerment of indigenous Zimbabweans through advocacy, policy influence and lawful participation in reserved sectors.
07
June 2026
Policy & Advocacy
As reserved sector policy takes effect, be ready to step in, youth miners told
Zimbabwe's Ministry of Mines and Mining Development is calling on young miners to prepare for opportunities as the reserved sector policy restricts small-scale gold mining to indigenous Zimbabweans.
17
December 2025
Policy & Advocacy
Government gazettes rules to reserve key economic sectors for locals
Statutory Instrument 215 of 2025 reserves numerous economic sectors exclusively for indigenous citizens, requiring foreign businesses already operating in them to divest 75% of their equity to Zimbabwean citizens within three years.
Membership
Why Join HHIRA?
Members receive:
- Advocacy and representation
- Business networking
- Investment opportunities
- Mining partnerships
- Tender opportunities
- Policy updates
- Training workshops
- Access to strategic projects
Testimonials
What Our Members Say
“Before HHIRA, accessing markets and fair contracts as a small-scale farmer felt impossible on my own. Being part of this association has opened doors to support and opportunities I couldn't reach alone.”
“The reserved sector policy means little if you can't raise capital. HHIRA's advocacy is the first time I've seen a real, practical path for indigenous miners like me to earn genuine ownership, not just a token stake.”