Mnangagwa Stakes SONA on Jobs, Land and Currency Stability

President Mnangagwa’s 2025 State of the Nation Address prioritised job creation, land productivity, and currency stability (image source)

President Emmerson Mnangagwa opened his State of the Nation Address with a clear message: Zimbabwe must move from policy promises to measurable economic outcomes. In a speech that blended appeals to investors with reassurances to farming communities and small businesses, Mnangagwa placed job creation, unlocking idle land, and currency stability at the centre of government action for the year ahead.

He led with the economy — the most immediate concern for most Zimbabweans — promising fresh incentives to attract foreign direct investment, streamlined approvals for major projects, and a push to harness diaspora capital. “We will reduce red tape and fast-track strategic investments,” the president said, framing the measures as essential to revive industry and restore confidence.

Behind the pledge lies a practical agenda. The government will expand public-private partnerships to finance infrastructure and industrial parks, and set up targeted windows for exporters and manufacturers to access concessional support. Officials described the move as an effort to translate investor meetings into factory floors and sustainable employment.

The SONA returned repeatedly to land, signalling a major policy thrust. President Mnangagwa announced a land activation programme aimed at converting fallow tracts into productive farms through a land bank and lease arrangements for capable commercial and emerging farmers. The plan couples access to land with inputs and services — mechanisation, seed distribution, and irrigation support — to boost maize, horticulture, and export crop output.

“This is about moving land from idleness to productivity,” the president said, underscoring the link between land use and national food security.

Currency stability was presented as the other pillar. President Mnangagwa highlighted coordinated steps with monetary authorities to rein in inflation, rebuild forex buffers, and deliver predictable pricing. He framed fiscal consolidation, improved revenue collection, and tighter monetary controls as complementary tools to protect real incomes and lower the cost of doing business.

The speech also targeted value addition in mining and manufacturing. The president called for incentives to deepen beneficiation, attract downstream processors, and localise supply chains so raw exports give way to higher-value finished goods that support jobs and export earnings.

Small businesses and youth employment received attention through promises of simplified MSME registration, expanded vocational training, and finance windows for startups. President Mnangagwa positioned these measures as essential to absorb growing labour-market entrants and to formalise the informal sector’s productive potential.

Anticorruption and governance reforms punctuated the address. The president said improved procurement transparency and accountability would underpin investor confidence and ensure public resources deliver intended results.

Analysis from independent economists welcomed the strategic alignment but warned on implementation risks: transparent land allocation, credible fiscal discipline, and visible wage gains will be necessary for public trust. Civil society groups stressed safeguards to prevent land capture and to ensure smallholder inclusion.

In closing, President Mnangagwa framed political stability and security as prerequisites for the economic agenda. Whether the SONA’s promises translate into tangible change will depend on disciplined execution, clear timelines, and demonstrable improvements in living costs and employment during the months ahead.