Former Finance Minister Tendai Biti has challenged Zimbabwe’s removal from the World Bank’s fragile classifications, arguing that the decision fails to reflect the country’s poverty, political tensions and economic challenges.

Zimbabwe has been removed from the World Bank’s institutional fragility classification after the country recorded 7.5% economic growth in 2025 and improvements in macroeconomic stability.

The Zimbabwe economy has been officially rebased to an estimated US$52.4 billion for 2025, positioning it as the second-largest economy in Southern Africa after South Africa. The revised figures were released by the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStat) following a comprehensive economic census conducted in 2023, which captured previously underreported sectors, particularly the informal economy.