The new Zimbabwe Growth and Jobs Report from the World Bank argues for a major structural transformation of the economy, taking advantage of the recent period of relative macroeconomic stability and new prospects for debt and arrears clearance. However, the big unanswered question is: transformation to what for whom?
The report opens with a very welcome positive reflection on recent economic trends: “After two decades of macroeconomic instability and lacklustre growth, Zimbabwe has recently made genuine progress. Growth averaged almost 6 percent between 2021 and 2025, and local currency inflation fell to single digits in early 2026 for the first time since 1997.” But, the report argues, “Zimbabwe is growing without transforming.” What is meant by this?
This article is from Zimbabweland, a blog written by IDS Research Fellow Ian Scoones. Zimbabweland focuses on issues related to rural livelihoods and land reform in Zimbabwe.