The World Bank Group has officially removed Zimbabwe from its classification of fragile and conflict‑affected economies, effective 1 July this year.
Zimbabwe had for more than two decades been placed on the World Bank’s fragility lists under earlier frameworks that identified countries affected by widespread political violence or with weak institutional scores.
Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube on Friday welcomed the World Bank’s decision that the southern African country no longer meets either criterion under the 2027 fragility list.
“This marks an important milestone in the country’s ongoing economic and institutional transformation,” he said in a statement.
The minister described the reclassification as international recognition of Zimbabwe’s improving institutional resilience and economic performance.
He cited GDP growth of 8.3 percent in 2025, falling inflation and improved fiscal transparency, including a 62/100 score in the 2025 Open Budget Survey – a 39‑point rise since 2017.
The delisting is expected to enhance Zimbabwe’s global financial standing, reduce investment risk perceptions and open opportunities for project financing, infrastructure partnerships and debt restructuring.
JN/APA