Zimbabwe has recorded an 84 percent increase in gross national income (GNI) per capita since the implementation of the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1).
Presenting the 2027 Mid-Term Budget Review yesterday, the Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion, Professor Mthuli Ncube, said Zimbabwe remains firmly on course towards attaining upper-middle-income status, although accelerated implementation of economic strategies and policy reforms will be critical in the years ahead.
“Since the implementation of the National Development Strategy 1, Zimbabwe’s gross national income per capita has grown by 84 percent, from over US$1,700 in 2021 to about US$3,200 in 2025.
This remarkable progress reflects the positive impact of the economic reforms and development programmes being implemented by the Second Republic,” he said.
He noted that despite the gains recorded over the past four years, Zimbabwe still has ground to cover in its quest to achieve upper-middle-income status by 2030.
“To attain upper-middle-income status, which requires a gross national income per capita of between US$4,636 and US$14,375, Zimbabwe requires an additional minimum increase of about US$1,400 between 2026 and 2028.
This target is attainable, but it demands that we accelerate the implementation of our strategies and policy reforms in the medium term,” said Professor Ncube.
He said Government remains committed to ensuring that economic growth translates into tangible improvements in the lives of citizens through continued investment in productive sectors of the economy.
“We have made commendable progress under the National Development Strategy 1, but we cannot afford complacency.
The focus going forward is to deepen reforms, strengthen productivity across key sectors and create an enabling environment that supports investment, industrialisation and inclusive economic growth. Every intervention must contribute towards achieving Vision 2030,” he said.
Professor Ncube emphasised that accelerating economic transformation will require sustained efforts across all sectors, including agriculture, mining, manufacturing and infrastructure development.
Meanwhile the medium-term policy agenda will prioritise strategies aimed at enhancing economic competitiveness and improving incomes as Zimbabwe moves closer to realising its Vision 2030 goal of becoming an empowered and prosperous upper-middle-income economy.
