Story by Stanley James, Business Editor
ZIMBABWE has been ranked among the top 10 fastest-growing economies in Sub-Saharan Africa after recording a 7.5 percent Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth in 2025, according to the International Monetary Fund.
The latest assessment was presented during the IMF Spring Meetings in Washington DC, where Zimbabwe’s economic performance was noted for remaining resilient despite global headwinds.
The report places Zimbabwe among leading regional performers alongside Ethiopia, Rwanda, Uganda, Côte d’Ivoire, Tanzania, Togo, Senegal and Benin.
Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister, Professor Mthuli Ncube is attending the meetings, with indications that ongoing fiscal and monetary reforms are underpinning growth, supported by strong performance in key productive sectors, stable currency and exchange rate conditions, and improved revenue generation.
Economic analyst Jonathan Dube said the IMF figures reflect underlying economic resilience.
“It is for all to see that the data by the IMF is showing a strong economy, that economy which is able to withstand shocks credit to several interventions that have been put in place to scale up overall production going forward there is that need for an all stakeholder cooperation in forging ahead with policies to boost production especially when sectors such as mining and agriculture continue to drive overall economic growth,” he said.
Zimbabwe’s re-engagement efforts have also gained momentum following the IMF’s approval of a 10-month Staff Monitored Programme (SMP) aimed at consolidating economic gains.
Economist Zack Murerwa said the development strengthens confidence in the country’s growth trajectory.
“The IMF data is a true reflection that global economies are always needed in terms of trade end overall economic cooperation, now Zimbabwe needs to focus on building investor confidence, because engagements with the IMF are bearing fruit and what is needed is to take that as an advantage for the country to focus on growth this SMP is ideally vital in further sustaining the prevailing economic growth trajectory in Zimbabwe,” he said.
While Zimbabwe is projecting five percent growth by year-end, the IMF has urged authorities to safeguard the economy against global risks, particularly geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
