Online Reporter
IN an era where Africa is vigorously charting its own course, the visit of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Panel of Eminent Persons to Zimbabwe is far more than a diplomatic formality.
It is a profound national moment — a voluntary act of courage that holds a mirror to the nation’s governance structures and offers a unique opportunity to recalibrate its trajectory towards sustainable development.
For Zimbabwe, this process, focused squarely on “Economic Governance and Management”, is not just aligned with national goals; it is a critical catalyst needed to accelerate the journey towards Vision 2030.
The significance of Zimbabwe’s accession to the APRM in 2020 cannot be overstated.
By voluntarily submitting to this mutually agreed self-monitoring mechanism, Zimbabwe sent a powerful message to its citizens and the international community: It is ready to be held accountable.
This move marked a strategic departure from isolation and a commitment to reintegrate into the continental fabric of peer learning and shared governance standards.
The APRM is not an audit imposed by external creditors; it is a family conversation among African nations, rooted in a shared desire for progress.
This African-owned and African-led framework lends the process a legitimacy and cultural resonance that external assessments often lack.
The core of this review’s importance lies in its chosen theme: Economic Governance and Management. This is the very bedrock upon which the dream of an empowered and prosperous upper middle-income society by 2030 will either be built or will falter.
Economic governance encompasses the systems, rules and institutions that shape a country’s economic life.
It dictates how public funds are managed, how contracts are awarded, how the private sector is regulated and how transparently national resources are utilised.
Weaknesses in this area — as history in many resource-rich nations has shown — lead to capital flight, stunted investment and a loss of public trust.
This is where the APRM’s potential to improve transparency and governance becomes tangible. The mechanism’s methodology is inherently designed to shed light.
The planned focus group discussions (FGDs), which bring together an impressively diverse range of stakeholders — from Government ministries and private sector leaders to traditional chiefs, youth organisations and persons with disabilities — create a platform for unfiltered, multi-perspective dialogue.
This process forces a national conversation that might not otherwise happen with such structure and purpose.
For instance, when the APRM delegation engages with the private sector, it can gather firsthand accounts of the challenges faced in obtaining licences, securing foreign currency or navigating regulatory hurdles.
This feedback, when compiled into the final report, provides an evidence-based foundation for recommending specific reforms to streamline business operations and attract investment. Similarly, conversations with civil society organisations and the media can illuminate issues of fiscal transparency and public procurement.
Are the details of major Government contracts publicly accessible? Is the national budget formulated and executed in a way that citizens can track?
The APRM process can champion the adoption of digital platforms for budget transparency, much like those being implemented in other APRM-member states, to enhance public oversight.
Furthermore, the delegation’s planned visits to all the 10 provinces are crucial.
National economic data often masks regional disparities.
By engaging with provincial leaders and local economic players in Bulawayo, Mutare or Binga, the review can capture the unique economic governance challenges and opportunities outside Harare.
This ensures that the resulting National Programme of Action is not a one-size-fits-all document but a nuanced plan that addresses the specific needs of the entire country, reinforcing the Government’s commitment to “leaving no one and no place behind”.
The ultimate value of the APRM, however, lies not in the review itself, but in the implementation of its recommendations.
The Cabinet’s approval of the National Institutional Framework for the Zimbabwe APRM in March 2024 is a promising first step.
This creates a permanent, Government-backed structure responsible for shepherding the APRM’s findings into concrete policy actions. For example, if the review identifies gaps in public debt management, the framework can drive the adoption of a more transparent debt reporting system.
If it highlights inefficiencies in State-owned enterprises, it can inform a structured reform agenda to curb fiscal drains and improve service delivery.
Zimbabwe stands at a pivotal juncture.
The nation possesses immense human and natural capital, but unlocking its full potential requires a governance ecosystem defined by predictability, accountability and inclusivity.
The APRM process offers a structured, credible pathway to build this ecosystem.
It is an opportunity to validate the reforms that are working and to courageously confront those that are not, guided by continental best practices.
By opening its doors to the Panel of Eminent Persons, Zimbabwe is demonstrating a maturity that investors and development partners watch closely.
A credible and constructive peer review will not only provide a road map for internal reform but will also significantly enhance the country’s international standing, signalling that Zimbabwe is serious about building a transparent and well-governed economy.
This journey of self-reflection, though challenging, is a vital investment in the nation’s future.
It is the kind of bold, sovereign decision that can transform Vision 2030 into a lived reality for every Zimbabwean.
