While South Africa and Morocco get most of the international attention, two of Africa’s most promising hemp economies are developing quietly in the south-central region: Zimbabwe and Zambia.
Zimbabwe: An Early Mover Under Pressure
Zimbabwe legalized medical cannabis cultivation and export back in 2018, positioning itself as one of the continent’s first movers. Licensed operations have grown steadily, focused primarily on export to pharmaceutical markets in Europe and North America, though economic instability has slowed the pace of infrastructure investment.
Zambia: The Fast-Follower
Zambia followed with its own licensing framework for cannabis cultivation aimed at export and medicinal markets, attracting international agricultural investors drawn to its farmland availability and relatively stable regulatory environment.
Why These Two Countries Matter
Both nations offer large tracts of arable land, established agricultural export infrastructure from tobacco and other crops, and government interest in diversifying away from traditional commodities. This makes them attractive to hemp and cannabis investors looking for scale outside more saturated markets like South Africa.
The Challenges
Currency instability, inconsistent enforcement of licensing rules, and underdeveloped processing infrastructure remain real obstacles. Much of the current investment is still in early cultivation stages rather than full value-chain processing.
What to Watch
As both countries build out processing capacity and refine their export relationships, Zimbabwe and Zambia are worth watching as potential mid-tier players in Africa’s broader hemp and cannabis economy — not yet at Lesotho’s scale, but with real long-term potential.