Story by Josephine Mugiyo, Diplomatic Correspondent
PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa says Zimbabwe’s projected 6.6% economic growth for 2025 is anchored on strong agricultural performance, supported by increased production and expansion of irrigated land.
He was speaking during the official opening of the Third Session of the Tenth Parliament, where he also delivered the State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the Parliament Building in Mt Hampden this Tuesday.
President Mnangagwa outlined the performance of various sectors, noting significant progress in agriculture, mining, tourism, and infrastructure development.
“The national economy is projected to grow by 6.6% in 2025, anchored on the recovery in the agricultural sector, with record harvests of tobacco, maize, wheat and other crops. The area under irrigation has expanded from 151,000 hectares in 2019 to 221,000 hectares in 2024. We are well on course to reach our target of 496,000 hectares. These initiatives have gone a long way in building climate resilience, mitigation and adaptation,” said the President.
Turning to the mining sector, President Mnangagwa reiterated government’s commitment to responsible investment and environmental protection.
“The Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill has been gazetted and is expected to be finalised during the current session of Parliament. My Government is committed to weeding out irresponsible mining stakeholders who cause pollution, environmental degradation and damage to critical infrastructure. As we welcome investors, we expect them to adhere to the Constitution and laws of our country while respecting our people, customs and culture,” he said.
On tourism, the President highlighted Zimbabwe’s growing global recognition as a preferred destination.
“The sector’s solid performance has received global recognition, with Zimbabwe recently awarded the ‘Best Must Visit Destination in the World’ accolade by Forbes magazine. Accordingly, Parliament is called upon to expedite the passage of the Tourism Amendment Bill to support the sector’s growth trajectory,” he noted.
President Mnangagwa also reaffirmed government’s prioritisation of infrastructure development, saying the completion of key road projects remains a top priority.
He further noted the strengthening of Zimbabwe’s foreign currency position, with inflows reaching US$10.4 billion as of August 2025, a 26.8% increase from US$8.3 billion recorded during the same period last year.
“Consequently, foreign currency reserves increased to about US$900 million as at the end of September 2025. In recognition of this progress, the World Bank recently ranked Zimbabwe first among countries that have made significant strides in foreign currency reserves accumulation,” he revealed.
Focusing on the legislative agenda, President Mnangagwa emphasised the importance of Parliament’s role in expediting the law-making process.
“The timeous discharge of legislative duties reposed in Parliament cannot be overemphasised. Laws passed by this August House carry the hopes and aspirations of our people and constitute the central policies for implementation by the Executive. It is therefore critically important that the law-making process be expedited for the efficient operation of State apparatus,” he said.
President Mnangagwa’s State of the Nation Address sets the tone for the Third Session of the Tenth Parliament, with renewed focus on economic growth, good governance, and legislative efficiency.
