Online Reporter
Nqobile Bhebhe
Zimpapers Business Hub
The Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion has started stakeholder consultations to gather input towards the crafting of the 2026 Mid-Term Budget and Economic Review and the 2027 Budget Strategy Paper (BSP).
The Treasury has invited businesses, labour groups, development partners, civil society organisations and members of the public to submit their proposals and recommendations.
The consultation comes as the Treasury assesses economic performance during the first half of 2026 and begins shaping policy priorities for the 2027 National Budget.
The ministry said that contributions from key stakeholders would help shape policy interventions and expenditure priorities for the remainder of the year and beyond.
“The Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion is inviting all stakeholders to submit inputs into the 2026 Mid-Term Budget and Economic Review and the 2027 Budget Strategy Paper.
“The 2026 Mid-Term Budget and Economic Review assesses economic performance and budget implementation during the first half of the year and identifies priorities for the remainder of 2026,” said the ministry.
The Mid-Term Budget Review is expected to evaluate progress on the 2026 National Budget, assess the performance of key economic sectors and identify measures required to address emerging challenges and accelerate growth during the second half of the year.
The review comes against the backdrop of gains in macroeconomic management, with authorities maintaining a disciplined fiscal stance and strengthening coordination between fiscal and monetary policies.
Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube presented a ZiG290 billion (approximately US$9.5 billion) 2026 National Budget in November last year against planned revenue of ZiG288 billion (about US$9.4 billion). The budget sought to anchor macroeconomic stability and support economic growth as the country transitions into the National Development Strategy 2 period.
The budget emphasises fiscal discipline and aligns with economic reforms and development goals.
Economic analysts say the policy framework implemented under the 2026 National Budget so far has reinforced economic stability through inflation containment, improved foreign currency availability and greater exchange rate predictability.
The budget also prioritised productive sectors of the economy, infrastructure development, social service delivery and investment promotion, in line with the Government’s objective of achieving sustainable economic transformation under Vision 2030.
Key focus areas of the 2026 National Budget include enhancing domestic revenue mobilisation, supporting agriculture and food security, promoting industrialisation and value addition, improving energy generation, expanding transport and logistics infrastructure, strengthening social protection programmes and attracting both domestic and foreign investment.
The Government has also continued implementing reforms aimed at improving the ease of doing business, enhancing public financial management systems and fostering private sector-led growth.
The Treasury said the Budget Strategy Paper would play a critical role in laying the groundwork for the 2027 National Budget.
“The Budget Strategy Paper, or BSP, is a foundational document that guides the preparation of 2027 National Budgets.
“It outlines a proposed revenue mobiliSation strategy, highlights proposed key expenditure priorities and provides a platform for public consultation.
“Importantly, the BSP sets the stage for informed public debate on national policy and development priorities,” said the ministry.
The BSP is expected to provide a medium-term outlook for the economy while outlining the Government’s strategic priorities, fiscal framework and policy direction for the coming year.
Economists have noted that stakeholder participation is increasingly becoming an important component of the budget formulation process, enabling the Government to capture views from various sectors and ensure that fiscal policies respond to prevailing economic realities.
Business organisations are expected to make submissions on taxation, industrial competitiveness, infrastructure financing, access to capital and measures to stimulate production, while labour groups are likely to focus on employment creation, wages and social protection issues.
Agriculture, mining, tourism and manufacturing stakeholders are also expected to provide recommendations on sector-specific interventions required to unlock growth and improve productivity.
The consultative process is in line with the government’s commitment to inclusive budgeting and evidence-based policymaking, which seeks to ensure that national budgets reflect the aspirations and priorities of citizens and economic actors.
The mid-term budget, economic review and 2027 Budget Strategy Paper will provide an important platform for refining policy measures that support growth, job creation and economic development.
Stakeholder submissions will help the Treasury to come up with responsive policies that strengthen economic performance while advancing national development objectives.
Economic analyst Ms Alice Chikonzi said consultations demonstrate the Government’s commitment to inclusive policy formulation and fiscal transparency.
“The consultation process is critical because it allows stakeholders to contribute to the formulation of national economic policies.
“Budgets affect every sector of the economy, so businesses, labour, industry bodies and ordinary citizens must participate in shaping the priorities that will guide resource allocation.”
She noted that broad-based consultations help improve the quality of policy decisions by incorporating diverse perspectives and experiences from different sectors of the economy.
“Such engagements enhance transparency and accountability in public finance management. When stakeholders are consulted, they develop a better understanding of Government priorities and the rationale behind policy choices, which ultimately strengthens confidence in the budget process,” she said.
Business strategist with ConsultWorld Enterprise, Mr Busani Malaba, said he expected the Treasury to ensure that contributions from the private sector, economists and civil society are fully considered during the budget formulation process.
“We expect the consultation process to be broad-based and inclusive, with stakeholders given adequate opportunity to present their recommendations. Such engagement improves policy predictability and promotes ownership of national development programmes by all economic players,” he said.
“Labour organisations are expected to focus on wages, employment creation and social protection measures, while civil society groups are likely to advocate for increased spending on health, education and community development programmes.”
