Mthuli projects single-digit inflation through 2026

PHILLIMON MHLANGA IN VICTORIA FALLS
Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister, Professor Mthuli Ncube, says Zimbabwe is on course to maintain single-digit inflation throughout 2026, reinforcing government’s push to entrench price stability as the new economic normal.
Zimbabwe’s annual ZiG inflation edged up to 4.4% in March, from 3.8% in February, largely driven by increases in food and transport costs. While the uptick signals emerging price pressures, authorities remain confident that inflation will stay within manageable levels.
Officials, however, caution that global oil price shocks, particularly stemming from ongoing tensions in the Middle East, could exert short-term upward pressure on prices.
Despite these risks, Treasury maintains that inflation will remain firmly within single digits over the outlook period.
Professor Ncube made the remarks during a brief appearance at the Insurance and Pensions Symposium in Victoria Falls on Friday.
“Even with the Middle East crisis, we still feel that we’ll be able to maintain single-digit inflation right through the year. We want to protect it and make sure it becomes the new normal going forward,” he said.
He added that Zimbabwe had decisively turned a corner from its history of runaway inflation.
“What is abnormal is to be above 10% inflation, 30%, 100%, 500% as we used to be. That’s a thing of the past.”