Online Reporter
Joseph Madzimure-Zimpapers Politics Hub
THE year 2025 emerged as a defining chapter in Zimbabwe’s national development journey, a year in which the Second Republic, under the transformative leadership of President Mnangagwa, shifted decisively from stabilisation to full-scale implementation, productivity and enterprise-driven economic growth.
Building on a solid foundation established in 2025, analysts project that 2026 will mark a significant leap forward in Zimbabwe’s development journey.
This momentum will be amplified by the recent launch of the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS 2), the country’s flagship five-year economic blueprint for the period 2026-2030.
President Mnangagwa launched NDS2 in November last year as the blueprint succeeded NDS1, which ran from 2021 to 2025.
NDS2 is designed as an accelerator, targeting transformative progress towards Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030 goal of becoming an upper middle-income society.
The strategy outlines 10 key national priorities to drive holistic, cross-sectoral growth, providing a clear and actionable framework to guide Government policy, direct investment and align strategic initiatives.
The strategic priorities are:
(i) macro-economic stability and financial sector deepening;
(ii) inclusive economic growth and structural transformation;
(iii) infrastructural development and housing;
(iv) agriculture, food security, climate resilience, and environmental protection;
(v) science, technology, innovation, digitalisation, and human capital development;
(vi) job creation, youth development, creative industry, and culture; (vii) social development, gender, and social protection;
(viii) regional development and inclusivity through devolution and decentralisation;
(ix) image building, international relations, and trade and
(x) good governance, institution building, peace and security.
Through building upon and consolidating the gains of its predecessor, NDS1, this new phase of structured planning positions Zimbabwe for a period of sustained and inclusive advancement.
Political scientist, Mr Kudzai Mutisi, explained that Vision 2030 aims to elevate Zimbabwe into an upper-middle-income country by significantly increasing its GDP per capita.
He highlighted that in 2025, the nation achieved record outputs in wheat, tobacco, lithium and gold production, while also noting positive trends in diaspora remittances and tourism arrivals.
According to Mr Mutisi, these gains have laid a strong foundation for sustainable economic growth in 2026.
With analysts firmly convinced that the momentum can accelerate progress, there is growing optimism that Vision 2030 will be attained ahead of schedule.
Another political analyst, Mr Dereck Goto, highlighted that 2025 has become an economic inflection point, signalling the Government has struck a credible chord in its pursuit of Vision 2030, with a tangible shift from policy intentions to implementation.
He hailed “the Government’s commitment to infrastructure development, which is increasingly being approached as an economic multiplier rather than a political headline.”
“Upgrades to key transport corridors and ongoing energy expansion reduce the cost of moving goods and powering industry, which is how national competitiveness is actually created.
“An economy grows when it can reliably produce, move, power and sell. Roads, water, energy and digital systems are not merely decorative achievements, but the fundamental production system of a modern state,” Mr Goto said.
According to another political analyst, Mr Tongai Dana, the year 2025 has been a defining chapter in Zimbabwe’s national journey and 2026 will only get better.
The Second Republic, he said, has demonstrated that development is not a distant aspiration, but a tangible reality.
“Landmark infrastructure projects such as the Trabablas Interchange, the widening of national highways, and the construction of strategic dams including Kunzvi, Gwayi-Shangani and Tuli-Manyange some still underway, signalling a deliberate push towards food security, industrial growth, and climate resilience.
“These projects are not just concrete and steel; they are the arteries of a modern economy,” said Mr Dana.
On education, he said the sector has been repositioned as the backbone of a knowledge-driven economy.
“The rollout of innovation hubs and industrial parks at universities reflects a vision where research and entrepreneurship converge to power Zimbabwe’s march towards an upper-middle-income status by 2030.
“Legislative reforms in higher education and updated statutory instruments have reinforced accountability and inclusivity, ensuring that institutions are aligned with national development goals.”
Also commendable has been the Government’s commitment in revamping the health sector. This includes renovation of public hospitals, purchasing and unveiling of new ambulances, including helicopters that have saved many lives. All these achievements attest to the holistic improvement of the country’s health delivery system.
In 2026, more cancer machines, additional ambulances and new clinics are going to be provided.
The Government’s emphasis on universal health coverage demonstrates a commitment to the well-being of citizens, aligning national policy with global Sustainable Development Goals.
On the global stage, Zimbabwe’s recognition as the Best Tourism Destination of 2025 reaffirmed its natural and cultural wealth, while its leadership as SADC Chair in the DRC and Mozambique underscored its role as a stabiliser in regional peace and security.
Zimbabwe’s campaign for a seat on the United Nations Security Council has gained substantial momentum.
With elections scheduled for June, the nation stands on the cusp of a major diplomatic achievement – a victory that would further underscore the promise of 2026 as a pivotal year for Zimbabwe.
