According to World Bank, Zimbabwe’s economy grew by 6.6% in 2025, primarily due to strong growth of 24% in the agriculture sector – an impressive recovery after the 18.1% fall in the country’s agricultural sector due to the drought which is considered to have been one of the worst in four decades. In the near future, it is anticipated that the weather conditions will be more favorable for agriculture, allowing the sector to continue to grow sustainably.

Hemp Legalization

Zimbabwe legalized medical cannabis in 2018 through the Dangerous Drugs (Production of Cannabis for Medicinal and Scientific Use) Regulations, and in February 2019, harvested their first crop of legally grown industrial hemp. The industry regulations were released in October 2020.

Africa Hemp CBD Industry

In 2022, the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) announced that it is accepting applications to place hemp CBD products on the domestic market as herbal “complementary medicines”, expanding on previous laws that only allowed production for export. Zimbabwe’s domestic production currently makes up only 2% of herbal “complementary medicines”, leaving vast untapped potential for locally produced, high-quality hemp CBD products to fill the gap.

The Criminal Law Amendment Bill 2022 removed industrial hemp from the country’s list of dangerous drugs and set the defining limit between marijuana and hemp at 1.0%.

Hemp Licensing

The Agriculture Marketing Authority (AMA) is responsible for overseeing and licensing industrial hemp production. Regarding the import/export permit, the Medicines Regulatory Authority is responsible for issuing it.

Requirements for obtaining a hemp permit:

• Security clearance from the Zimbabwe Republic Police of the authorized person in charge, the responsible person in charge and if applicable, the alternate responsible person in charge as well as:
  • Of the individual, if the applicant is an individual.
  • Of each officer and director of the company, if the applicant is a company.
• Three copies of the plan of proposed cultivation area, including geo-coordinates to be licensed and security measures that will be put in place to prevent unauthorized access.
• A detailed description of the method that the applicant plans to use for recordkeeping.
• Submit a Certificate of Incorporation, Valid Tax Clearance Certificate, CR14, CR6 Forms.
• Proof of citizenship or proof of being ordinarily resident in Zimbabwe or proof of exemption by the Minister for the individual applicant or the majority of the company directors, if the applicant is a company.
• A declaration, signed and dated by the proposed authorized person in charge, stating that they are familiar with the provisions of the regulations.
• Have authority in accordance with the Plant Pests and Diseases Act for import and export of industrial hemp.
• Certificate from Seed Services Institute or recognized international seed registration authority on importing or exporting hemp seed in accordance with the Seeds Act (CAP19:13).
• Payment of the relevant permit fee.

Requirements for renewing a hemp permit:

• Payment of the relevant permit fee.
• A copy of the original permit.
• A declaration, signed and dated by the proposed authorized person in charge, stating that they are familiar with the provisions of the regulations.

Hemp Industry in Zimbabwe

The Zimbabwe Industrial Hemp Trust was the first entity to receive a hemp cultivation license in Zimbabwe. According to the AMA, the number of registered hemp businesses in Zimbabwe rose from 21 in the 2020/21 farming season to 42 in the following year. As of December 31, 2023, there were 61 registered hemp businesses – 31 cultivators, 13 merchants, and 17 researches/breeders.

Most Zimbabwean hemp farmers export CBD flower through middlemen – capturing minimal value – and are also restricted from adding value to the biomass due to there being only two local CBD oil extraction facilities. An increase in the availability of extraction facilities would likely enable them to produce higher-value CBD oil and sell it at higher prices, increasing their margins.

Data from the AMA reveals that in 2021, Zimbabwean farmers cultivated hemp on 21.5 hectares, producing 20,840 kg. In 2022, hemp was cultivated on 24.3 hectares with output rising to 40,225 kg. However, in 2023, only 11,600 kg of hemp biomass was produced from 19.4 hectares.

Zimbabwe clearly intends to promote the industrial hemp industry, organizing projects such as the one at Goromonzi Agro-Industrial Park. The project’s aim is to combine advanced farming techniques, agro-processing infrastructure, and high-value crop cultivation to boost economic growth and create new jobs in the region. Some of the crops that will be cultivated and researched are medical cannabis and industrial hemp. It is expected that findings of the research will close the “knowledge gap” and increase the availability of domestically produced hemp seeds as well as identify possible operational efficiencies in hemp cultivation that could lower cultivation costs.

Since 2020, Zimbabwe has exported over 8,000 tons of hemp biomass, primarily for CBD production, to countries including Poland, Germany and Switzerland.

Africa Hemp CBD Industry Infographics

How Can HempCBDbusinessplans Templates Help Start or Grow Your Hemp CBD Business?

A business plan is essential for securing funding. It will also help you understand how much money it will take to start a hemp CBD business and how much profit it could make. A well-structured business plan can make all the difference in demonstrating your proposed hemp CBD business’ compliance with regulations and its operational viability.

Our complete hemp CBD business plan template package is everything you need to create a professional business plan for a hemp CBD business with expert financials and projections. A complete hemp CBD business plan template package includes:

• Excel Financial Model: change variables and immediately see the impact, break down operational and capital costs, know how much it will take to get into the business and the potential profits.
• Word Business Plan: value proposition, market analysis, marketing strategy, operating plan, organizational structure, financial plan and more.
• PowerPoint Pitch Deck: provide a quick overview of your hemp CBD business plan.

Pitch Deck Sample for a Hemp Cultivation and Processing Business Plan, Zimbabwe

Cannabis business plan templates are available at cannabusinessplans.com.

Africa Cannabis Market