Zimbabwe Endorses Ambitious National Development Strategy 2…

…a Blueprint for 2030 Vision

Harare — In a decisive step toward shaping its economic future, Cabinet has officially endorsed the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), the five-year national development plan set to run from 2026 to 2030.

The strategy comes at a pivotal moment, as the current NDS1 (2021–2025) draws to a close, and the country doubles down on its goal of becoming an upper-middle-income economy by 2030.

Earlier this year, the government launched a broad-based consultative process to craft NDS2, drawing input from the private sector, civil society, academia, religious institutions, and communities across the country.

According to Deputy Chief Secretary Willard Manungo, the process has been rooted in a participatory approach — aiming to build not just a government-led strategy, but a national one: “no one and no place will be left behind.”

The Cabinet approved the strategy’s roadmap in September 2024, paving the way for the establishment of ten thematic working groups that would guide NDS2’s development and eventual implementation.

Under NDS2, Zimbabwe is zeroing in on ten national priorities, each aimed at driving transformative growth namely,
1. Macro-Economic Stability & Financial Sector Deepening
2. Inclusive Economic Growth & Structural Transformation
3. Infrastructure Development & Housing
4. Food Security, Climate Resilience & Environmental Protection
5. Science, Technology, Innovation & Human Capital
6. Job Creation, Youth Development, Culture & Creative Industries
7. Social Development & Social Protection
8. Regional Development via Devolution & Decentralization
9. Image Building, International Engagement & Trade
10. Good Governance, Institution Building, Peace & Security

These clusters are being shepherded by high-level working groups, bringing together government officials, private-sector leaders, and development partners.

Industrial growth and value addition are front and center in NDS2’s vision. President Emmerson Mnangagwa has publicly said that the plan aims to boost Zimbabwe’s manufacturing sector from a US$ 4 billion annual size to more than US$ 10 billion — a nearly threefold increase — by scaling up value chains across different sectors.

In agriculture, the plan is equally bold. The agricultural sector has already surpassed its NDS1 target, growing from US$ 8.2 billion to US$ 10.3 billion despite a severe drought in 2023–2024. Under NDS2, the newly devised Agriculture, Food Systems and Rural Transformation Strategy 2 (AFSRTS2) will emphasize climate-resilient farming, permanent food security, and a value-chain approach that links agriculture with industrialization.

On public administration and service delivery, the government is placing a big bet on digital transformation.

According to Home Affairs Minister Kazembe Kazembe, NDS2 will deepen e-governance, cut red tape, and improve efficiency in critical services — including immigration, civil registry, and national security.

Security is another major plank. The strategy proposes strengthening the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), modernizing investigative capabilities, and fostering community policing. In parallel, there is a commitment to preserve the nation’s cultural heritage — from documenting liberation history to regulating gaming industries in socially responsible ways.

A key strength of NDS2, government officials say, is that it builds on lessons from NDS1.

As part of the planning process, Zimbabwe commissioned a terminal evaluation of NDS1 to assess achievements, gaps, and lingering challenges.

These findings are now being woven into the new framework to ensure continuity, but also to sharpen areas that underperformed.

Deputy Chief Secretary Manungo emphasized that NDS2 is not simply a repeat but a consolidation: “We are taking stock of progress, but also confronting shortcomings, especially where the social safety net, infrastructure, or institutional capacity remains weak.”

Inclusivity has been more than a slogan. The government has committed to transparent, consultative processes involving actors from all sectors.

The creation of the thematic clusters is part of this effort, as is a publicly accessible platform intended to gather citizen inputs nationwide.

In a bid to drive accountability and impact, NDS2 will define minimum service standards for key public services — a move aimed at improving planning, budgeting, and tracking of public investments.

Performance indicators will monitor progress, helping ensure that promises turn into concrete outcomes.

Despite the optimism, obstacles loom. Zimbabwe’s economy has faced persistent challenges: inflation, liquidity constraints, limited foreign investment, and climate shocks — all of which could impede the smooth roll-out of NDS2’s ambitious agenda.

Critics also caution that lofty plans must be matched with fiscal discipline.

While NDS2 emphasizes macroeconomic stability, maintaining low inflation and a stable exchange rate will require tough policy choices.

Additionally, achieving inclusion — especially through devolution and decentralization — is no small feat.

Local governments will need capacity building, and regional equity must be carefully managed to avoid deepening existing disparities.

For Zimbabwe, NDS2 is more than a policy document — it is a strategic covenant with its people and the international community.

It signals commitment to transformation, not just in GDP terms, but in how citizens live, work, and participate in national development.

The strategy offers a vision of Zimbabwe where,

• Manufacturing is a powerhouse of value-added production.
• Agriculture is climate-resilient, food-secure, and industrially linked.
  • Digital governance makes public services accessible, efficient, and transparent.
  • Youth and culture are engines of innovation and identity.
  • Institutions are strengthened, and social protection is real and rights-based.

If implemented faithfully and inclusively, NDS2 holds the promise of accelerating Zimbabwe’s journey toward its Vision 2030 — a prosperous, empowered, upper-middle-income society.

With the endorsement of NDS2, Zimbabwe is charting a bold course. The real test will lie in translating this high-level strategy into tangible, equitable progress on the ground.

For many Zimbabweans, this is a moment of cautious hope: after long years of policy shifts and economic turbulence, the next five years could define the direction of the nation for decades to come.

As the working groups finalize plans and the public watches eagerly, the question remains: can Zimbabwe turn its vision into reality? If the commitment is real — on paper and in practice — then NDS2 may well become the engine of a new chapter in the country’s story.

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