SONA: Mnangagwa projects 6.6% economic growth amidst national challenges

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has projected Zimbabwe’s economy to grow by 6.6% in 2025, driven by a rebound in agriculture, mining, and manufacturing, as he pledged continued investment in infrastructure and social protection to ensure that “no one and no place will be left behind.”

Delivering the State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the New Parliament Building in Mt Hampden on Tuesday, President Mnangagwa said the country’s growth was anchored on “the unity, peace and resilience of our people” despite the continued impact of international sanctions.

“The unity, peace and resilience of our people have been the pillar of economic development of our country in the face of illegal sanctions,” he said. “Let us remain focused and disciplined as we entrench economic stability and growth in our march towards Vision 2030.”

Mnangagwa highlighted major gains in agriculture, citing record harvests of tobacco, maize and wheat, supported by the Pfumvudza/Intwasa Programme, which has benefited more than three million households.

He said livestock production had also improved, with the national herd now at 5.7 million and milk output increasing from 76.7 million litres in 2019 to 115 million litres in 2024. The President added that irrigation coverage had expanded to 221,000 hectares, with a target of reaching 496,000 hectares as part of efforts to build climate resilience.

Turning to the energy sector, the President said government was scaling up the Rural Electrification Programme to improve access for communities across the country. “Independent Power Producers and industrial players have been licensed, increasing our national power supply. The Rural Electrification Programme that is electrifying both public institutions and homesteads is improving access to energy for our rural communities,” he said.

Ironically, a power outage plunged the Parliament chamber into darkness with the president forced to continue his speech by torchlight.

“We should never get tired of preaching hope, unity and peace, as one indivisible nation,” he said. “A better quality of life for all our people is at the core of the policies and projects of my administration.”

Mnangagwa said government’s monetary and fiscal policies had stabilised the economy and the local currency, the ZiG, while foreign currency inflows reached US$10.4 billion by August 2025, up from US$8.3 billion during the same period last year.

“Going into the future, the trend in macro-economic stability is expected to become the status quo in our country,” he said.

He announced that foreign reserves had risen to US$900 million as of September, up from US$700 million in June, and highlighted the World Bank’s recognition of Zimbabwe as one of the top 10 countries globally that had made the most progress in building reserves.

The President also set out an ambitious legislative agenda for the Third Session of the Tenth Parliament, calling for greater efficiency in passing delayed Bills. “The total backlog of outstanding Bills is unacceptable,” he said. “Parliament must do more to ensure these Bills are brought before the House and finalised.”

Among the new Bills to be tabled are the National Productivity Institute Bill, Disaster Risk Management Bill, and amendments to the Competition Act, Mines and Minerals Act, and Broadcasting Services Act.

Mnangagwa said fiscal capacity had allowed government to extend social protection to vulnerable groups through programmes such as the Food Deficit Mitigation Programme and the Basic Education Assistance Module.

He also outlined progress in health and education reforms, including digital health services and the recently adopted Zimbabwe National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, aimed at fostering innovation and youth empowerment. “We must continue to drive innovation for national growth and deliver a beneficial knowledge economy,” he said.

In his closing remarks, Mnangagwa reiterated his Vision 2030 mantra, calling for collective national effort to build Zimbabwe. “We, the people of this great nation, are building our motherland, Zimbabwe, step by step, brick by brick and stone upon stone,” he said. “There is no turning back. Victory, success and prosperity are certain. Forward ever, backward never.”