IMF and Zimbabwe Reach Agreement on Economic Reforms

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) announced a staff-level agreement with Zimbabwe regarding economic reforms, following a visit by a team led by Wojciech Maliszewski from September 7 to September 17. This agreement is subject to approval by IMF management.

Maliszewski praised Zimbabwe's performance under the staff-monitored program, noting that the implementation of agreed reforms was strong up to the end of June 2026. The IMF projects Zimbabwe's economy to expand by 5% in 2026, with a moderation to 3.5% anticipated due to a super El Niño event affecting agricultural production.

Inflation is expected to remain in single digits in 2027, and the current account is projected to stay in surplus. Proposed reforms include improvements in expenditure controls, public financial management, domestic arrears management, further liberalization of the foreign exchange market, and the implementation of an anti-corruption strategy to enhance accountability and public confidence.