Zimbabwe: Opposition MP Dismisses Government Economic Growth Projections As 'Fallacy'

What the report says

Opposition legislator Edwin Mushoriwa has rejected the Zimbabwean government’s latest economic growth projections, saying the figures do not reflect conditions faced by ordinary people. The remarks, reported by New Zimbabwe and distributed by AllAfrica, were made in the National Assembly in Harare and came in response to the government’s claim that the economy could grow by 8.3%, supported by agriculture. Mushoriwa said that while official indicators may suggest improvement, many Zimbabweans still judge the economy by daily costs and living standards.

According to the report, the government’s outlook is stronger than the International Monetary Fund’s forecast of 5% GDP growth for 2026. Mushoriwa argued that the State of the Nation Address presented an overly positive picture and that claims of growth have not been felt in households. The article says he framed the issue around so-called bread-and-butter concerns, including whether people’s living standards have actually improved.

A ruling ZANU PF MP, Elizabeth Masuku, defended the administration’s economic performance, saying the president’s leadership was producing results. She cited lower inflation, foreign-currency inflows of US$10.7 billion in the first half of the year, and the 8.3% growth estimate. The debate comes ahead of Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube’s expected 2027 budget presentation, with attention likely to focus on whether the government will announce relief measures for low-income households amid continued concern about the gap between growth figures and the cost of living.