'World Bank officials are smoking something,' says Chinamasa

The World Bank says Zimbabwe's economy will not slip into recession but will maintain an economic growth rate of 1.5% in 2016 anchored largely by growth of the services sector, a projection however dismissed by Government.

However, Finance and Economic Development Minister Patrick Chinamasa maintained the 2.7% growth target for 2016 on the back of concerted efforts the Government was making to stimulate the productive sectors.
 
"I do not think the 1.5% growth (projection) is correct," he said, adding: "We are not sleeping trying to make the productive sectors work."
 
"The 2.7% economic growth target we set will be achieved this year. Sectors such as mining, agriculture and manufacturing will play their part in the growth matrix," he said.
 
Chinamasa said as a country there is need for concerted efforts to address the economic challenges.