HARARE, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwean Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Mthuli Ncube has welcomed the country's removal from the World Bank Group's list of fragile and conflict-affected economies.
Under the World Bank's revised classification framework for the 2027 fiscal year, Zimbabwe is no longer classified as a fragile and conflict-affected economy, effective July 1, 2026.
"The development signals international recognition of Zimbabwe's improving institutional resilience and provides further impetus to the reforms underway," Ncube said on Friday, adding that it aligns with the country's goal of attaining an upper-middle-income economy by 2030.
The delisting follows the World Bank's introduction of two separate classifications: the fragility, conflict and violence list, and the institutional fragility list. Zimbabwe no longer falls into either category, marking an important milestone in the country's ongoing economic and institutional transformation, according to the minister.
Ncube noted that the milestone coincides with strong economic performance, highlighted by an 8.3 percent growth rate in 2025, a sustained decline in inflation in 2026, as well as improved fiscal and monetary discipline and national budget transparency.
He noted that Zimbabwe's exit from the fragility classification strengthens the country's international standing and reinforces the positive narrative around its economic and institutional reform trajectory, helping strengthen investor confidence and support the mobilization of long-term domestic and foreign investment. ■