Editing Harare (section)

== Economy ==
{{Unbalanced section|date=July 2024}}
Harare is Zimbabwe's leading financial, commercial, and communications centre, as well as an international trade centre for [[tobacco]], [[maize]], [[cotton]], and [[citrus]] fruits.{{citation needed|date=July 2024}} Manufacturing of products including [[textile]]s, [[steel]], and [[Chemical substance|chemicals]] is also economically significant, as is the trade of precious minerals such as [[gold]], [[diamonds]] and [[platinum]].{{citation needed|date=July 2024}} Early investor optimism following the inauguration of the Mnangagwa government in 2017 has since largely subsided due to the slow pace of reforms aimed at making Harare and Zimbabwe more business-friendly.<ref name="auto4">{{cite web|title=Zimbabwe|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-investment-climate-statements/zimbabwe/|access-date=2021-01-21|website=United States Department of State|language=en-US}}</ref>  The economy suffered high inflation and frequent power outages in 2019, which further hampered investment, and the poor implementation of adequate monetary reforms alongside deficit reduction attempts had a similar effect.{{citation needed|date=July 2024}} Although the government has repeatedly stressed its commitments to improving transparency, increasing the ease of doing business, and fighting corruption, progress remains limited under the Mnangagwa administration.<ref name="auto4"/>

Harare experienced a real estate boom in the 2000s and early 2010s, particularly in the wealthy northern suburbs, with prices rising dramatically over the last decade despite challenges in other sectors of the economy.<ref name="auto16">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/15/business/worldbusiness/15iht-zecon.html|title=Zimbabweans ask, who can afford houses? (Published 2006)|first=MacDonald|last=Dzirutwe|newspaper=The New York Times |date=15 May 2006}}</ref> This boom was largely fueled by members of the [[Zimbabwean diaspora]] and by speculation, with investors hedging against the local currency.<ref name="auto16"/><ref name=McGregor2014/> However, the once-growing market began to cool off due to a 2019 hike in interest rates and the economic fallout from the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], leaving a number of projects unfinished.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theindependent.co.zw/2020/06/05/policy-flip-flopping-crippling-real-estate/ |title='Policy flip-flopping crippling real estate' - the Zimbabwe Independent |access-date=19 November 2020 |archive-date=27 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127080355/https://www.theindependent.co.zw/2020/06/05/policy-flip-flopping-crippling-real-estate/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Another challenge to Harare's economy is the persistent emigration of highly educated and skilled residents to the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Ireland, South Africa and New Zealand, largely due to the economic downturn and political unrest.<ref name="auto3">{{cite web |url=https://samponline.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Acrobat55.pdf |title=The Engagement of the Zimbabwean Medical Diaspora |website=samponline.org |access-date=2021-01-21}}</ref> The city's [[brain drain]], almost unprecedented compared to other [[emerging markets]],{{citation needed|date=July 2024}} has led to declining numbers of local entrepreneurs, an overstretched and declining middle class, and a dearth of employment opportunities outside the informal and [[public sector]].<ref name="auto3"/> In addition, the city's working-class residents are increasingly moving to nearby South Africa and [[Botswana]], though they are readily replaced by less well-off rural migrants.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://samponline.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Acrobat61.pdf |title=Unfriendly Neighbours|website=samponline.org |access-date=2021-01-21}}</ref> However, despite over a decade of neglect, the city's infrastructure and [[human capital]] still compares favourably with cities in other parts of Africa and Latin America.{{citation needed|date=July 2024}} It remains to be seen whether the current government can entice its diverse and well-educated [[Zimbabwean diaspora]], numbering some 4 to 7 million people, to invest in the economy, let alone consider returning.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://samponline.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/brief30.pdf |title= Zimbabwe's exodus to australia |date=2015 |website= samponline.org|access-date=2021-01-21}}</ref><ref name="auto3"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/303388998|title=Zimbabwe: Migration and Brain Drain|website=ResearchGate}}</ref>

===Shopping and retail===
Locally produced art, handicrafts and souvenirs can be purchased at locations including Doon Estate, Uwminsdale, Avondale Market and Mbare Musika. Msasa Park and Umwinsdale in particular host a number of galleries that produce high-quality Shona soapstone sculptures and textiles, such as Patrick Mavros Studios, which has another gallery in [[Knightsbridge]], [[London]].<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/25065149|jstor = 25065149|title = The Kingdom, the Power and Forevermore: Zimbabwe Culture in Contemporary Art and Architecture|last1 = Pikirayi|first1 = Innocent|journal = Journal of Southern African Studies|year = 2006|volume = 32|issue = 4|pages = 755–770|doi = 10.1080/03057070600995681|s2cid = 145351878}}</ref> International brands are generally less common in Harare than in European cities. However, conventional and luxury shopping can be found on Fife Avenue, Sam Nujoma (Union) Avenue, Arundel Village, Avondale, Borrowdale, Eastgate, Westgate and Sam Levy's Village.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://zimfieldguide.com/harare/harare-capital-zimbabwe|title=Harare, capital of Zimbabwe &#124; Zimbabwe Field Guide|website=zimfieldguide.com}}</ref> Virtually all luxury shopping is concentrated in the wealthier northern suburbs, particularly Borrowdale.