This study was carried out in response to a request by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, to ZEPARU to conduct an evaluation of cost drivers affecting the competitiveness of Zimbabwe’s businesses. Factors identified in ZEPARU’s previous studies which were considered in this study included labor, power, water, finance, transportation costs, tariffs and trade taxes, taxation and information technology. The study extended the analysis to consider the following factors: lack of scale- under performance of agriculture; failure by government to pay for goods and services on time; and lack of change. These factors were raised by company executives and business associations during interviews as negatively impacting on costs and competitiveness.