Economy

Staff Writer Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube says Zimbabwe’s economy is projected to moderate to 3.5% in 2027 from an estimated 5% in 2026, with the anticipated El Niño and associated drought risks expected to weigh on economic performance. Speaking at the 2027 Pre-Budget Seminar, Ncube highlighted the expected weather shock as a key factor behind…

Staff Reporter The Zambezi River Authority has reduced water allocations for power generation at the Kariba Dam for the upcoming year, citing intensifying El Niño conditions and forecasts for a severe dry spell. The bilateral organisation, jointly owned by the governments of Zambia and Zimbabwe, approved a combined water allocation of 23 billion cubic metres…

Bongi Khumalo Treasury says Zimbabwe is setting up a US$500 million El Niño protection fund to prepare for potential drought during the 2026/27 agricultural season. Addressing a virtual press conference at the ongoing 2026 International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank Annual Meetings, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, George Guvamatanga said the fund…

The Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) has introduced mandatory environmental, social, and governance (ESG) compliance requirements across Zimbabwe’s tobacco sector for the 2026/27 season, linking contractor and merchant licensing directly to verified sustainability metrics. The regulatory shift comes as the nation’s tobacco harvest reached a record 359.1 million kilograms in 2026 under the Tobacco…

Staff Writer The World Food Programme (WFP) has called for immediate anticipatory measures over the next three months as Zimbabwe faces potential economic and social disruptions from a forecasted El Niño event. Speaking during a media briefing in Harare, WFP Country Director for Zimbabwe Barbara Clemens warned that historically severe El Niño cycles bring below-normal…

Millions of people across Southern Africa are facing severe food insecurity, malnutrition, and water shortages as a rapidly intensifying El Niño threatens to trigger widespread drought and heat stress during the upcoming 2026/27 agricultural season, a new report shows. According to an emergency preparedness alert released by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of…

Bongi Khumalo Zimbabwe has intensified preparations for the upcoming 2026/27 agricultural season, putting climate resilience and contingency planning at the centre of its strategy to buffer the sector against forecasted El Niño climate-related risks. In his 2026 Mid-Term Budget and Economic Review, Minister of Finance, Mthuli Ncube, said the government has adopted a comprehensive preparedness…

Bongi Khumalo The Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) has called on farmers to integrate climate-resilient diversification strategies into their operations as the country prepares for a potentially challenging 2026/27 agricultural season. Forecasts from the Meteorological Services Department indicate a strong likelihood of below-normal rainfall during the upcoming season, raising severe climate risks associated with…

Bongi Khumalo The Ministry of Agriculture has called on farmers nationwide to step up drought preparations across all agricultural sectors as developing El Niño conditions heighten the risk of a dry season. In an early warning advisory, the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development called on producers to implement protective measures before conditions…

Staff Writer The International Monetary Fund says a projected El Niño weather event could slow Zimbabwe’s economic momentum, potentially reducing its baseline 2027 growth forecast from 4.2 percent to a range of 2 to 3 percent. The warning follows a mission to Harare by IMF staff to conduct the first review under the country’s 10-month…