Zimbabwe’s government, led by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, faced numerous challenges in 2024, particularly in navigating economic development, and social progress amidst different struggles, including the El Niño-induced drought. As 2025 starts it is crucial to evaluate the government’s performance in 2024 and its implications for the future. This article reviews Zimbabwe’s government performance in 2024, focusing on four critical themes: the economy, governance, social service delivery, and corruption. By examining these key areas, the article seeks to provide insights into the government’s successes and challenges, as well as the potential opportunities and pitfalls that lie ahead in 2025.
This short narrative examines the Zimbabwe government’s performance in 2024 and presents possible scenarios around the country’s trajectory in 2025. As the government seeks to address the challenges facing the nation, it is important to understand the complexities of these four themes and their interconnections. The successes recorded in 2024 are captured on our Zimcitizenswatch tracker, which tracks the performance of the government, based on the promises /pledges made in the National Development Strategy for the country (NDS) and the policy actions that have been taken so far.
Economy
Zimbabwe’s economy has been through a rollercoaster of challenges and developments. The introduction of the new currency, Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG), in April 2024 was a significant move to address price and exchange rate instability. This effort initially paid off, with inflation rates decreasing from 55.5% in March to 33.6% by June. Additionally, cash reserves backing the ZiG increased from USD285 million to USD370 million between April and June. The ZiG initially showed promise, but according to the Zim Price Check (a price monitoring website) its performance declined significantly by the end of 2024. The currency started trading at ZiG13.56 to USD1.00 in April but fell to USD1: ZiG28.6829 by November 1, 2024, reflecting a substantial week-on-week decrease. This downward trend was further exacerbated by the 43% devaluation enacted by the Central Bank in late September 2024. As a result, the ZiG was trading between ZiG45.00 and ZiG50.00 to USD1.00 in the parallel market, creating a substantial premium of 57% post-devaluation.
Infrastructure development continued to be a key focus area in 2024, particularly around roads and dams. Updates from the Zimbabwe Situation newspaper revealed that the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Project (ERRP), launched in 2021, has rehabilitated and rebuilt over 50,000 km of roads and rehabilitated and reconstructed about 2,000 structures such as bridges, drainage systems, and dams by 2024. The ERRP2 is a government initiative aimed at restoring Zimbabwe’s road network, which had deteriorated due to years of neglect and lack of maintenance. The program is crucial for improving road safety, facilitating economic growth, and enhancing the overall quality of life for Zimbabweans.
The 2024 Budget statement set revenue collections estimation at Z$53.9 trillion1(US$9.3 billion) while the Midyear budget review revealed that tax and non-tax revenue collections amounted to ZiG36.5 billion 2(US$2.6 billion) The revenue collection fell short, with about half the targeted amount being collected. This revenue shortfall raises concerns about the government’s ability to fund its development programs and meet its financial obligations. Towards the end of the year, the Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion predicted a budget deficit of 1.3% of the gross domestic product (GDP).
The outworking of the 2025 Budget presents a critical litmus test for the government’s commitment to fiscal discipline and effective economic management. Coming on the heels of a significant revenue shortfall in 2024, the 2025 Budget must demonstrate a clear strategy for addressing this disparity. To restore investor confidence and promote economic growth, the government must exercise prudent fiscal management, ensure realistic revenue projections, and allocate resources efficiently. The 2025 Budget’s success will hinge on the government’s ability to strike a delicate balance between supporting economic recovery and maintaining fiscal sustainability.
Zimbabwe has undergone four (4) phases of land reform all bearing positive and negative impacts on overall agricultural performance and livelihoods. Even after the fast-track land reform, there are still issues of multiple farm ownerships, boundary disputes due to unclear land demarcations, and the unjust role of political power in altering farm sizes. Security of tenure is an important aspect of development affecting a country’s economic, political, and social status. Secure land tenure can catalyse multiple benefits in poverty eradication, food security, and external trade. In 2024 the Government of Zimbabwe announced its plans to issue a new form of title on farms acquired through fast-track land reform which is bankable.
With agriculture and land playing a pivotal role in Zimbabwe’s economy, this development will be a game changer. The new title, which is bankable, will allow farmers to use their land as collateral to access loans and credit facilities. This will increase their ability to invest in their farms, boosting agricultural productivity and output. As a result, Zimbabwe’s agricultural sector is likely to experience significant growth, driving economic development and improving food security.
Despite some positive developments in 2024, Zimbabwe’s economy still faces significant challenges. The real GDP declined due to El Niño-induced drought, lower mining prices, and macroeconomic instability. The national debt stands at around $22 billion, with over $14 billion owed to international creditors, including the World Bank. Unemployment remains high, particularly in the formal sector, with the informal economy absorbing a significant portion of the labour force.
In 2024, the World Bank approved a new Country Engagement Note (CEN) for Zimbabwe to address some of these challenges, focusing on supporting the country’s immediate development priorities. The CEN aims to reduce macroeconomic distortions, strengthen fiscal policies, and improve economic governance while fostering a more conducive environment for private sector-led growth.
Governance
Zimbabwe’s governance structure and institutions have indeed faced numerous challenges in recent years. The appointment of 11 new judges to the High Court bench in 2024 was a positive step towards strengthening the judiciary and enhancing its capacity to deliver justice efficiently. This move has the potential to tackle the backlog of cases and provide faster justice to citizens, which is particularly important given the country’s history of judicial challenges.
However, in interviews with ZimLive, several lawyers raised concerns about the quality and integrity of some of the appointed judges, as well as the lack of transparency and accountability in the appointment process. The Judicial Service Commission’s failure to provide clear criteria for the selection of judges has led to speculation about the factors that influenced the appointments.
Despite the government’s promise to be citizen-centric, its actions have raised concerns. The arrest of over 160 people, including elected officials, opposition members, union leaders, students, and journalists, has been criticized as a human rights violation. Our 2024 Barometer report explains this further saying there has been an increase in the number of arrests of political actors (activists and politicians). Whilst the police have the right to arrest anyone suspected of having committed a crime the courts are obligated to ensure that the suspects are treated fairly. One of the conditions for the fairness rule is to ensure that suspects are provided with bail whilst awaiting trial. However, by the end of the year, many applauded Zimbabwe’s decision to abolish the death penalty for all crimes. The move was regarded not just as “great progress” for Zimbabwe but also as a “major milestone” in international efforts to end this ultimate cruel, inhuman, and degrading punishment (Amnesty International)
Corruption
Transparency International’s latest survey indicates that corruption is worsening in Zimbabwe. The country’s score of 21/100 in 2024, down from 24/100 in 2023, on the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) indicates a decline in the country’s fight against corruption. Out of 180 countries, this ranking reflects Zimbabwe’s ongoing struggle with graft issues, highlighting a critical need for more effective anti-corruption measures. Although corruption remains a significant issue in Zimbabwe’s governance structures, efforts have been made to address this. The government has initiated consultations to add corruption studies to the school curriculum, which could provide a foundation for anti-corruption efforts from a young age.
While there have been some positive developments in Zimbabwe’s governance structure, significant challenges remain. Addressing corruption, ensuring transparency and accountability, and upholding human rights will be crucial in promoting good governance and the rule of law in the country.
Social Service Delivery
Zimbabwe’s social service delivery is indeed facing significant challenges, with citizens citing a collapse of services at both local and national levels. Access to clean water and sanitation remains a major issue, contributing to disease outbreaks like cholera. Despite government efforts to address these challenges, such as drilling over 3000 boreholes in 2024 as reported by SundayNews under the presidential borehole scheme, and vaccinating over 2.1 million people against cholera, the system remains overwhelmed. The acquisition of a new Magnetic Resonance Imagining (MRI) scan machine at Mpilo Hospital in Bulawayo, the renovation of 40 educational school blocks with modern ICT equipment, and the support of about 1,515,047 underprivileged students with fee payments under the BEAM program countrywide are positive developments, but the uneven distribution of health and educational delivery across the country remains a concern.
Key challenges in the sector have been noted in the economic decline which has severely impacted the running of local authorities, making it difficult for them to raise adequate finances for service delivery. Another variation is around corruption and mismanagement by councillors and management which has contributed to poor service delivery in urban areas. The Lake Chivero debacle in Harare serves as a stark reminder of the perils of ineffective local council management. The estimated US$ 250 million required to rectify the situation is a testament to years of neglect, mismanagement, and lack of accountability. The frequent changes in council leadership and the absence of a cohesive, long-term vision have exacerbated the problem. This case underscores the need for robust governance structures, transparency, and continuity in local councils to ensure that critical infrastructure and services are properly maintained and managed. Effective local council management is essential to prevent such crises and deliver quality services to citizens.
Envisioning 2025, there is a need for capacity building for local government and service delivery to address the current challenges, strengthening governance structures and institutions is crucial to ensure effective service delivery, and ensuring transparency and accountability in local authorities’ financial management operations is essential to regain public trust. Ultimately, addressing the social service delivery challenges in Zimbabwe will require a multi-faceted approach that involves government, local authorities, and citizens working together to build a more equitable and sustainable system.
Conclusion
As Zimbabwe looks to the future, both positive developments and persistent challenges have marked the country’s progress in 2024. To build on the gains made and address the remaining hurdles, the government, civil society, and citizens could work together to foster a culture of transparency, accountability, and inclusivity. By prioritising economic development, strengthening governance, and improving social service delivery, Zimbabwe can unlock its full potential and create a brighter future for all its citizens. As the country embarks on this journey, it is crucial to remember that the path to progress is often complex and nonlinear, but with persistence, collaboration, and a commitment to the well-being of all Zimbabweans, a more prosperous and equitable future is within reach.
To keep up to date with the progress the government is making in fulfilling its NDS promises and other key policy pronouncements go to: ZimCitizensWatch