Government Ministries Spend ZiG123.6 Billion in First Half of 2026, Most Lag Behind Budget

By Southerton Business Times Reporter | Harare

Government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) spent ZiG123.6 billion during the first half of 2026, representing 42.5% of the approved national budget, with most institutions utilising less than one-third of their annual allocations, Mthuli Ncube has revealed.

Presenting the 2026 Mid-Term Budget and Economic Review in Parliament on Thursday, Ncube said total expenditure and net lending amounted to ZiG123.59 billion against an approved budget of ZiG290.87 billion. When loan repayments are included, total Government spending reached ZiG139.1 billion, equivalent to 46% of the ZiG301.6 billion appropriated for 2026.

Budget performance figures show that three spending votes had already exceeded their full-year allocations by the end of June. The Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) recorded the highest utilisation, spending ZiG17.18 billion against an allocation of ZiG12.01 billion, representing 143% of its annual budget. The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development spent ZiG5.04 billion against a budget of ZiG4.66 billion, reaching 108% utilisation. Loan repayments also exceeded projections, with Government servicing ZiG15.5 billion against a budgeted ZiG10.73 billion, equivalent to 144% of the allocation.

Among ministries still operating within their approved budgets, the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion recorded one of the highest utilisation rates, spending 69% of its allocation. The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) also posted high expenditure, utilising 89% of its ZiG514.8 million allocation. The Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training spent 52%, while the Ministry of Defence utilised 51% of its approved budget.

Several ministries responsible for public service delivery recorded some of the lowest spending levels. The Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare utilised only 8% of its ZiG12.71 billion allocation after spending ZiG1.03 billion. The Ministry of Mines and Mining Development spent 10%, while the Ministry of Environment, Climate and Wildlife utilised 11%.

Other institutions with low budget utilisation included:

• Zimbabwe Media Commission – 11%

• Office of the Auditor General – 14%

• Zimbabwe Gender Commission – 16%

• Zimbabwe Independent Complaints Commission – 16%

• Office of the Attorney General – 17%

• Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services – 18%

• Parliament of Zimbabwe – 19%

Key social service ministries also remained below half of their approved budgets. The Ministry of Health and Child Care spent ZiG9.5 billion, representing 33% of its ZiG28.94 billion allocation. The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education utilised 35%, while the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development spent 32%.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development and the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works each utilised 47% of their allocations. Transfers earmarked for Provincial Councils and Local Authorities under Zimbabwe's devolution programme recorded one of the lowest utilisation rates, with only ZiG667.7 million—or 5% of the allocated ZiG14.38 billion—having been disbursed. Ncube said the overall expenditure by Government votes stood at ZiG109.6 billion against a total allocation of ZiG242.2 billion, representing 45% utilisation, while debt interest payments reached 30% of budget and pension expenditure stood at 43%.

Zimbabwe budget utilisation 2026