By Chantelle Muzanenhamo
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has projected a 6.6% economic growth rate for 2025, driven by strong recovery in agriculture and sustained national stability, as he officially opened the Third Session of the Tenth Parliament of Zimbabwe at the New Parliament Building in Mt. Hampden on Tuesday.
Delivering his State of the Nation Address (SONA), Mnangagwa said the session comes at a time the nation had just commemorated SADC Anti-Sanctions Day, underscoring Zimbabwe’s continued resilience under illegal economic restrictions.
“The sanctions notwithstanding, I am extremely grateful to all our citizens, including those in the diaspora, for contributing to nation-building in a peaceful and tranquil environment,” he said.
Mnangagwa said the country’s growth prospects are anchored on record harvests of maize, wheat, and tobacco, following the success of the Agriculture, Food Systems and Rural Transformation Strategy.
The Pfumvudza/Intwasa Programme has, to date, empowered over three million households with agricultural inputs, while the livestock sector continues to expand, with the national herd now at 5.7 million.
He also reported a sharp rise in milk production, from 76.7 million litres in 2019 to 115 million litres in 2024.
He also announced the ongoing modernisation of the Grain Marketing Board (GMB), which includes the construction of 14 new AI-driven silo sites, adding 750,000 tonnes of storage capacity.
Mnangagwa said the government has accelerated the issuance of bankable and registrable title deeds for A1 and A2 farmers, as well as Deeds of Grant for former African Purchase Areas, describing the move as “transformational” for the agricultural sector.
Turning to governance and communication, Mnangagwa highlighted major strides in modernising Zimbabwe’s media landscape.
The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation’s Montrose Studios in Bulawayo have been upgraded, and Luzibo Radio, an education-focused channel, has been launched to expand learning access.
He also cited the Broadcasting Services Amendment Act as a milestone reform that integrates digital broadcasting services into Zimbabwe’s regulatory framework.
On local governance, Mnangagwa said all 92 local authorities have developed Master Plans and completed Valuation Rolls, while 91 councils have deployed Enterprise Resource Planning systems to improve service delivery.
“Substantial progress has been recorded in the implementation of the Local Government blueprint, Call to Action No Compromise to Service Delivery,” Mnangagwa said.
Mnangagwa acknowledged the growing challenge of water security and its impact on energy and food systems, announcing that government is scaling up investments in integrated water resource management.
He said the recently adopted National Climate Change Adaptation Plan and the Carbon Trading Framework and Registry (SI 48 of 2025) would unlock climate finance and strengthen mitigation efforts.
Mnangagwa reaffirmed Zimbabwe’s commitment to its Engagement and Re-engagement Policy, saying the government remains focused on strengthening political, economic, scientific, and cultural ties with the global community.
“Zimbabwe remains committed to deepening cooperation with all nations,” he said.
As Parliament begins its Third Session, the President’s address set a tone of optimism, resilience, and transformation, emphasizing Zimbabwe’s steady march toward Vision 2030 becoming an upper middle-income economy despite global and domestic challenges.