Financing will help Zimbabwe’s agriculture and food manufacturing exporters access long-term lending and trade finance
Harare, Zimbabwe – [24/9/2026] – British International Investment (BII), the UK’s development finance institution and impact investor, and Central Africa Building Society (CABS), one of Zimbabwe’s leading financial institutions, today announced a US$30 million financing partnership to support eligible agriculture and food manufacturing exporters in Zimbabwe.
This marks BII’s first partnership with CABS and forms part of BII’s new Zimbabwe Agriculture Finance Programme, which aims to address structural financing gaps facing the country’s agricultural sector.
The financing is intended to consist of a US$20 million Term Loan Facility, signed today, and a plannedUS$10 million Trade Finance Facility.
Zimbabwe’s agriculture and food sectors play an important role in supporting jobs, exports and food security, but businesses can face constraints in accessing long-term US dollar funding and trade finance.
By helping CABS to expand its lending capacity and trade finance support, the partnership will strengthen access for businesses looking to expand production, invest in productive capacity and participate in export markets. Eligible goods include fertiliser, food commodities, agricultural commodities, agricultural machinery and inputs, and other approved productive equipment.
Mehluli Mpofu, CABS Managing Director, said:
“We are delighted to partner with British International Investment to strengthen financing for businesses across Zimbabwe’s agriculture and food manufacturing sectors. These sectors are important to Zimbabwe’s productive economy and have significant potential to support growth and exports.
“This partnership will strengthen our capacity to provide businesses with the financing and trade solutions they need to expand their operations, increase production and access markets. It reinforces our commitment to supporting our customers and contributing to sustainable economic development in Zimbabwe.”
Jo Abbot, Acting British Ambassador to Zimbabwe, said:
"We are delighted to see British International Investment partnering with CABS for the first time. This new partnership highlights the growing role that UK-backed investment can play in supporting economic growth, strengthening Zimbabwe's financial sector, and increasing access to finance for the businesses that underpin trade and agricultural development.
“As the UK's development finance institution, BII is helping to advance a broader shift towards investment as a catalyst for growth and long-term prosperity. Such investments highlight the opportunities that exist in Zimbabwe's economy and can help to attract further investment that create jobs and support sustainable growth."
Maria Smith, Chief Investment Officer and Acting Chief Impact Officer, British International Investment, said:
“Agriculture is central to Zimbabwe’s economy, but businesses need access to both long-term capital and trade finance if they are to invest, grow and reach new markets. Our first partnership with CABS brings these forms of financing together to address barriers across the investment and trading cycle.
“We are delighted to work with CABS to serve agricultural and food-sector businesses and support more sustainable and climate-resilient lending. This is an important part of our broader programme to deepen access to finance and support productive sectors in frontier markets like Zimbabwe.”
The partnership builds on CABS’s longstanding role in supporting Zimbabwe’s productive sectors, including agriculture, energy, manufacturing, retail, e-commerce, distribution and tourism. In agriculture, CABS has financed the production of horticulture, sugarcane, macadamia nuts and grain.
ENDS
About CABS
Central Africa Building Society (CABS) is one of Zimbabwe’s leading financial institutions, with over 75 years of doing business in Zimbabwe. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Old Mutual Zimbabwe Limited (OMZIL), which forms part of the Old Mutual Group. CABS provides a broad range of financial solutions to individuals, SMEs, corporates, government entities and other organisations.
CABS plays a key role in supporting economic activity across Zimbabwe, with financial services spanning sectors including agriculture, mining, energy, manufacturing, retail, e-commerce, distribution and tourism. In agriculture, CABS has financed the production of horticulture, sugarcane, macadamia nuts and grain, reflecting its longstanding support for Zimbabwe’s productive sectors.
For more information, visit: www.cabs.co.zw
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About British International Investment
British International Investment is the UK’s development finance institution and impact investor. The organisation invests in businesses in developing countries to improve people’s lives and help protect the planet. BII’s work targets the underlying causes of poverty and the climate crisis, helping countries break free from aid dependency for good.
Between 2026-2031, at least 40 per cent of BII’s total new commitments by value will be in climate finance. BII is also a founding member of the 2X Challenge which raised over $33 billion between 2018-2023 to empower women’s economic development. The company has investments in nearly 1,700 businesses and total net assets of £9.88 billion. For more information, visit: www.bii.co.uk | watch here. Follow British International Investment on LinkedIn,Bluesky and X.
Media enquiries
CABS
Lindiwe Thebethebe
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marketing@cabs.co.zw
British International Investment
Nia Tam
Corporate Communications Associate
press@bii.co.uk