Online Reporter
Richard Muponde ,Zimpapers Politics Hub
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa’s 2025 State of the Nation Address (SONA), delivered at the New Parliament Building in Mount Hampden on Tuesday, was a compelling reaffirmation of his economic vision anchored on productivity, inclusion and resilience.
This strategy has seen Zimbabwe emerge as the fastest-growing economy in the region.
The address not only reviewed the significant progress achieved under the Second Republic but also articulated a coherent and ambitious roadmap toward achieving Vision 2030, the national objective of attaining upper-middle-income status by the end of the decade.
What stood out most was the President’s insistence that economic growth must be participatory, with every citizen actively contributing to and benefitting from national prosperity, encapsulated in his powerful declaration, “No one and no place will be left behind.”
At the heart of the SONA were the thematic pillars of economic development, agriculture, mining, manufacturing, infrastructure, energy and social welfare, each designed to reinforce the other in an integrated strategy for inclusive growth.
President Mnangagwa’s projection of a 6.6 percent economic growth rate in 2025, despite residual sanctions and global uncertainties, was a testament to the deep structural transformation that has taken place since the dawn of the Second Republic in 2017.
His tone combined optimism with accountability, acknowledging challenges such as climate change, illicit financial flows, and regulatory bottlenecks, while underscoring how institutional reforms and macroeconomic discipline have restored confidence in Zimbabwe’s economic trajectory.
The agricultural renaissance remains the crown jewel of the economic blueprint. Through the Pfumvudza/Intwasa Programme, over three million households have been empowered, achieving record harvests of maize, wheat and tobacco.
The President presented agriculture not merely as a survival strategy but as a foundation for industrialisation, rural transformation and food sovereignty.
“The unity, peace and resilience of our people have been the pillar of economic development in the face of illegal sanctions,” President Mnangagwa said, encapsulating the spirit of self-reliance that defines his economic philosophy.
By expanding irrigation from 151,000 hectares in 2019 to 221,000 hectares in 2024, and targeting 496,000 hectares, the Government is building climate resilience while ensuring year-round productivity, a vital step toward insulating the economy from drought-induced shocks.
Equally transformative is the mining sector, which continues to drive foreign currency generation and job creation.
President Mnangagwa highlighted increased investments in gold, lithium, iron and steel, which are now central to the global green economy.
The Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill, he noted, will tighten environmental regulations and enforce corporate accountability, signalling a shift toward responsible resource governance.
His assertion that “We welcome investors who respect our Constitution, our people, customs and culture” was both an invitation and a warning, affirming Zimbabwe’s sovereignty in shaping investor relations.
The manufacturing and industrial recovery under the Zimbabwe Industrial Reconstruction and Growth Plan reflects the President’s push for value addition and import substitution. Manufacturing’s contribution of 15.3 percent to GDP, driven by investments in steel, cement and pharmaceuticals, marks a historic rebound.
The introduction of Community Economic Empowerment Trusts and Reserved Sectors seeks to decentralise wealth creation and ensure that local communities have stakes in their resources, in line with his guiding philosophy, “Nyika inovakwa, igotongwa, igonamatirwa nevene vayo” (the nation is built and governed by its own people).
Perhaps the most symbolic achievement of the Second Republic has been the stabilisation of the national currency and financial system.
The introduction of the ZiG (Zimbabwe Gold-backed currency) in 2024 represented a decisive break from decades of monetary instability.
The SONA celebrated the currency’s resilience, backed by gold reserves and disciplined fiscal management. Inflation remained contained, foreign reserves rose from US$700 million in June 2025 to US$900 million by September, and total inflows reached US$10.4 billion, a 26.8 percent increase from 2024.
These figures vindicate the monetary reforms, which have restored purchasing power and business confidence.
The President proudly noted that the World Bank ranked Zimbabwe first globally among countries that made significant progress in foreign currency reserve accumulation — a remarkable turnaround.
Infrastructure development remains the most visible expression of the “no one and no place left behind” philosophy.
From the Harare–Chirundu and Bulawayo–Victoria Falls highways to new border posts, fuel pipelines and power plants, the infrastructural transformation is redefining Zimbabwe’s physical and economic geography.
Through innovative funding models, the state is modernising transport, energy and water systems.
Electrification of rural communities under the Rural Development 8.0 initiative is closing the urban-rural divide, enabling small-scale enterprises, schools and clinics to thrive in previously marginalised areas.
As the President stated: “Electrifying both public institutions and homesteads throughout the country is improving energy access in our rural communities. No one and no place will be left behind.”
The social dimension of the development agenda —healthcare modernisation, digital education, social protection and youth empowerment—reinforces the inclusivity of the economic strategy.
The expansion of social safety nets and the National Youth Empowerment Strategy 2026–2030 seek to harness the potential of young people in the knowledge economy.
The adoption of a National Artificial Intelligence Strategy signals forward-thinking leadership that is aligning Zimbabwe with global technological trends.
Politically, His Excellency’s SONA subtly linked economic recovery to political stability, unity, and peace.
The SADC Anti-Sanctions Day commemorations preceding the SONA symbolised regional solidarity against Western restrictions.
The President’s inward-looking policies, promoting self-sufficiency, have not only blunted the impact of sanctions but turned adversity into opportunity.
This strong economic performance, coupled with the unfinished business of Vision 2030, formed the logical basis for the extension of President Mnangagwa’s term.
The 22nd Zanu-PF National People’s Conference in Mutare’s decision was a pragmatic recognition that the architect of the Second Republic must be allowed to complete the economic transformation he began.
President Mnangagwa’s closing remarks captured both the spirit of the nation and his personal conviction:
“We, the people of this great nation, are building our motherland, Zimbabwe, step by step, brick by brick, and stone upon stone.
There is no turning back. Victory, success, and prosperity are certain. Forward ever, backward never.”
In sum, the 2025 SONA was more than a policy statement; it was a declaration of faith in Zimbabwe’s potential.
By fusing economic pragmatism with patriotic idealism, President Mnangagwa has charted a path toward a resilient, inclusive, and self-reliant nation.
As Vision 2030 draws nearer, the message remains clear: Zimbabwe’s rebirth is irreversible, and its success will be defined by the participation of all, with “No one and no place left behind.”
