IMF team in Zimbabwe for Staff-Monitored Programme talks

AN International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation is in Zimbabwe for key engagements with authorities under the Staff-Monitored Programme (SMP), as the country continues efforts to stabilise the economy and advance its international re-engagement agenda.

In an update, the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion confirmed the visit by the Fund’s team.

“The IMF Mission Chief for Zimbabwe, Mr Wojceich Maliszewski and his team are in the country for a one-week Mission which started yesterday, the 28th of January, to the 4th of February 2026.

“The Mission is here to discuss the Staff-Monitored Programme (SMP), its macro-fiscal framework, policy commitments underpinning the Programme, quantitative targets and structural benchmarks,” the Ministry said.

The Ministry said the engagements will be broad-based, bringing together various stakeholders to give the IMF team a comprehensive picture of the economy.

“The Zimbabwean team, comprising the Government, the private sector, development partners, and civil society representatives, will update the Mission on recent economic developments and the broader outlook.”

The SMP is designed to buttress macroeconomic stability and rebuild Zimbabwe’s international re-engagement momentum at a time when authorities are pursuing reforms aimed at restoring confidence, fiscal discipline and policy credibility.

Over the last few years, Zimbabwe has re-engaged with a wide range of multilateral financial institutions, bilateral creditor nations and development partners through a Structured Dialogue Platform (SDP) to resolve its external debt.

The SMP is seen as a critical technical cooperation framework that helps countries establish a track record of sound policies and reform implementation, even though it does not come with direct IMF financing.

Successful implementation of the programme could pave the way for further discussions and agreements that may unlock bridging finance for debt clearance and eventual restoration of access to affordable long-term global capital.

Zimbabwe is currently unable to access multilateral funding primarily due to long-standing external debt arrears to institutions such as the African Development Bank, International Monetary Fund and World Bank, making reform programmes such as the SMP central to the country’s re-engagement and arrears clearance strategy.