Zim GDP jumps 7% in Q2, strongest growth since pre-Covid era
STAFF WRITER
Zimbabwe’s economy posted its strongest performance in years, with gross domestic product (GDP) expanding by 7.01% in the second quarter of 2025, according to new data from the Zimbabwe National Statistical Agency (ZimStat).
“The quarterly GDP figure for the second quarter of 2025 was ZiG18.8 bn, up from ZiG17.5bn reported in the first quarter,” ZimStat said in its latest report.
On an annual basis, GDP grew by 11.04%, more than double the 5.10% growth recorded in the first three months of the year.
The latest figures mark Zimbabwe’s best quarterly performance since before the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, reflecting resilience across key productive sectors.
Mining and quarrying were the single largest contributors, accounting for 14.9% of total output in the quarter, closely followed by manufacturing at 14.6%.
Agriculture added 12.2%, while wholesale and retail trade and financial services contributed 11% and 10.3%, respectively.
The mining sector benefitted from firm global commodity prices and new investments.
The steel manufacturing project by Dinson Iron and Steel Company, now ramping up production, added to growth momentum.
Gold miners delivered record quarterly output to Fidelity Gold Refinery, exceeding 11 tonnes in the quarter.
Manufacturing was lifted by higher capacity utilisation, particularly in food processing, cement, and textiles.
The Government’s import-substitution policy is also spurring demand for locally produced goods, especially in construction and retail supply chains.
Agriculture, long the backbone of Zimbabwe’s economy, gained from improved rainfall and expanded Government support for maize and wheat farmers through input schemes.
Analysts and industry leaders said the challenge now is to consolidate these gains into sustainable growth.
ZimStat’s upbeat assessment provides the Government with a much-needed boost as it prepares the 2026 National Budget. Authorities have already signalled that the next phase of reforms will focus on renewable energy expansion, a more competitive investment climate, and value addition in the platinum and lithium industries.
If implemented effectively, these policies could strengthen Zimbabwe’s recovery and help lock in growth beyond the rebound.
