Online Reporter
Africa Moyo, Deputy National Editor
THE Second Republic is proud of the milestones achieved this year across key sectors of the economy, including agriculture, infrastructure development, economic stability, health improvements and education reforms, Acting President Dr Kembo Mohadi has said.
In an exclusive interview yesterday, he said Government was particularly impressed by progress in the agricultural sector, especially the wheat sub-sector, and urged other sectors to emulate its model to transform people’s lives.
“In 2025, the Government of Zimbabwe has made noteworthy strides towards becoming an upper-middle-income society, with significant achievements in infrastructure, agriculture, mining, health and fiscal stability,” said Acting President Mohadi.
He highlighted key successes such as major investments in transport and energy infrastructure, which improved connectivity between rural and urban areas, boosted trade and mobility, and enhanced access to essential services.
“The commissioning of the Trabablas Interchange is one of the major highlights in the transport sector,” he said.
In agriculture, Acting President Mohadi said Government implemented programmes aimed at boosting food security through modern technology and climate-smart farming, notably the Pfumvudza/Intwasa model.
The growth in agricultural output, particularly wheat production which exceeded 640 000 tonnes this year, was not by chance but the result of deliberate planning, strong Government support, mechanisation, irrigation and strategic partnerships, he said.
“Anchored on NDS1, the Government set forward-looking targets and policies. The country aimed for self-sufficiency in wheat, prioritising local production over imports to guarantee markets and price stability.
“Investments in mechanisation and technology, through strategic partnerships with Belarus and Iran, ensured farmers had efficient tractors and combine harvesters, boosting production.
“This, combined with good agronomic practices, maximised yields and minimised losses. These strategies collectively revitalised the agricultural sector, particularly wheat production, marking a significant turnaround,” said the Acting President.
Only Zimbabwe and Ethiopia are wheat self-sufficient in Africa.
The year also saw the launch of Artificial Intelligence-powered grain silos across the country, expected to significantly reduce post-harvest losses. AI-powered silos have already been commissioned in Kwekwe and Mutare, with more planned for 2026.
In health, efforts focused on expanding access, especially in rural communities, through the construction of rural health centres and digitisation of health records.
“There is a marked improvement in the deployment of road and air ambulances within the emergency medical sector in response to road traffic accidents and other emergencies,” said Acting President Mohadi.
Fiscal stability, exchange rate moderation and reduced inflation boosted investor confidence and improved household purchasing power, he added.
In education, investments were made in infrastructure and curriculum updates to equip youths with market-relevant skills. The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education launched digital learning platforms to expand access, particularly in rural areas.
Acting President Mohadi cited the launch of Luzibo FM, an educational radio station by ZBC and the Ministry, as another milestone.
“Also, our universities are thriving in producing goods and services for the community; for example, Bindura University of Science Education is finalising the Chiringa M\&E Dashboard adopted by Government to monitor projects,” he said.
The dashboard enables officials to track project progress from anywhere in the world.
On road infrastructure, the Second Republic continued major projects, notably the Harare-Masvingo-Beitbridge Highway, where only 37km remain outstanding and are expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2026.
This means 548km of the 585km highway have been completed and opened to traffic.
Despite successes, Acting President Mohadi acknowledged challenges, including missed deadlines on some projects due to limited credit lines and reliance on local resources.
“As a country, we are financing most projects through local resources, which requires great fiscal discipline to attract the few public-private partnerships driving growth. Given the economic importance of the road to the country and region, completion remains a priority. Over 500km of the 580km highway are already open, and the final stretches should be finished by early 2026,” he said.
He urged citizens to appreciate that road rehabilitation is funded locally, reflecting the Government’s balancing act in allocating resources among competing priorities.
Apart from financial constraints, construction was affected by heavy rains in parts of Masvingo and Mwenezi, which damaged temporary works and slowed progress, forcing rescheduling of certain phases.
Next year, Government plans to continue infrastructure development and social protection measures to ensure no one and no place is left behind.
