UNLOCKING A SUSTAINABLE GREEN GROWTH FRONTIER OF MANUFACTURING SMALL
TO MEDIUM ENTERPRISES IN THE FOURTH INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION IN CHINHOYI
URBAN, ZIMBABWE
EN

UNLOCKING A SUSTAINABLE GREEN GROWTH FRONTIER OF MANUFACTURING SMALL
TO MEDIUM ENTERPRISES IN THE FOURTH INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION IN CHINHOYI
URBAN, ZIMBABWE
EN

COLLEN KAJONGWE

OSCAR IRIMAI TSVUURA

AIDHA KAMUPINI

ALL MUTUMWA

Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) contribute significantly to economic growth and
sustainable development globally. However, their contribution to sustainable green growth in
the fourth industrial revolution has been largely not addressed by literature in Zimbabwe, which
this qualitative study sought to unveil. The mantra of green growth strategies is ensuring a
practical and flexible approach for achieving concrete, measurable progress across its
economic and environmental pillars. Green growth strategies are not limited to the provision
of critical support services, clean water, air and food production but to deliver full economic
potential on a sustainable basis. This lacuna has not been addressed by literature on SMEs in
Chinhoyi which this study sought to fill. The study purposively selected 15 registered
manufacturing SMEs where an interview guide was used to solicit data from SMEs owners,
which then was analysed and presented thematically. Study results showed that the availability
of certain types of natural capital (sun, water, wind, among others) offer new opportunities for
greening growth for SMEs in the manufacturing sector. The results confirm that technological
change has been the main driver of green growth and efficiency for manufacturing SMEs. The
results also pointed out that vital parts of the SMEs’ green growth journey is developing
business plans for new, sustainable products and services, implementing greener production or
operational processes, or integrating selected standards that can enable some companies to get
access to new markets. Based on the results, SMEs require capital to realise their green growth
business plans. SMEs are encouraged to redefine their mission, vision and values and
incorporate green concepts to enhance sustainability. A longitudinal study needs to be done on
all types of SMEs going green in their business strategic orientation in Zimbabwe.

ZJBEM

2025