Mnangagwa must tell people the truth

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has claimed that Zimbabwe has cut poverty by nearly half since 1995, describing the achievement as one of the most remarkable on the African continent in recent decades.

Addressing the Second World Summit for Social Development (WSSD2) in Doha, Qatar, the President said the country's poverty rate declined from 62 percent in 1995 to 38.3 percent in 2019, crediting government-led economic and social reforms.

"In Zimbabwe, our national commitment is informed by the Constitution, which enshrines equality, social justice and the right to development," Mnangagwa said.

"These principles are operationalised through Vision 2030 and our National Development Strategy. They are also reflected in our foreign policy of engagement and re-engagement, grounded in sovereign equality, peaceful cooperation, solidarity and mutual respect among nations."

The President added that Zimbabwe had made progress in reducing poverty and improving access to education, healthcare, and social protection, in line with its Vision 2030 goal of becoming an upper-middle-income economy within the next five years.

However, local economists and social commentators have challenged the President's assertions, saying the statistics paint a far bleaker picture.

Social commentator Tendai Mbofana, citing a 2025 report by The Borgen Project, said Mnangagwa's figures were misleading, noting that as of April 2025, about 60 percent of Zimbabweans were living on less than US$3.65 a day.

"The President's claim does not reflect the current reality. The majority of Zimbabweans are struggling to meet basic needs, and poverty has deepened due to economic instability and climate shocks," Mbofana said.

According to Zimstat, the country's most recent detailed Poverty Datum Line (PDL) figures for 2025 are available for the first quarter, but international agencies such as the World Bank have yet to release updated assessments. Nonetheless, several independent analyses estimate that between 47 and 60 percent of the population currently lives in poverty.

Zimbabwe's poverty crisis is closely linked to food insecurity, driven by persistent droughts, inflation, and a shrinking formal job market. The El Nino-induced drought of 2023/24 severely affected agricultural output, leaving more than seven million people - nearly half the population—facing food shortages during the 2024-2025 lean season.

Although harvests improved modestly in mid-2025, humanitarian agencies warn that food security remains fragile, with many households still struggling to recover from prolonged economic and climatic shocks.

Reports suggest Zimbabwe's poverty rate hovered around 47.6 percent in 2024, and roughly 49.2 percent in 2025, underscoring the ongoing challenges in meeting basic living standards despite official optimism.

While Mnangagwa's government insists its policies are bearing fruit, critics argue that sustained poverty reduction will require deeper structural reforms, currency stability, and stronger social protection mechanisms to cushion the most vulnerable.