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Country profile · compared with SADC

Zimbabwe

SADCCOMESACurrency ZWG

Zimbabwe is home to 17.0m people (2025) and has an economy of $51.2bn (2025), the 5th largest in SADC. Output per person of $3,021 is above the regional median of $2,539. The economy grew 8.1% in 2025, and the IMF expects 5.0% in 2026. Inflation was 104.7% in 2022, above the regional median of 3.6%. 62.0% of people have electricity (2024).

Where Zimbabwe stands out

  • Real GDP growthGrowth expands the market an investment sells into and eases debt burdens.Highest of 16 in SADC. Select for the data card.
    Highest of 16 in SADC
  • Manufacturing, value addedManufacturing creates formal jobs and export diversification.2nd highest of 16 in SADC. Select for the data card.
    2nd highest of 16 in SADC
  • Current account balancePersistent large deficits must be financed by capital inflows.3rd highest of 16 in SADC. Select for the data card.
    3rd highest of 16 in SADC

What to watch

  • Gross capital formationShows how much the economy is building for the future.Lowest of 16 in SADC. Select for the data card.
    Lowest of 16 in SADC
  • Consumer price inflationHigh inflation erodes returns in local currency, raises borrowing costs and usually comes with currency weakness.Highest of 16 in SADC. Select for the data card.
    Highest of 16 in SADC
  • Foreign reservesThe buffer against currency crises.Lowest of 16 in SADC. Select for the data card.
    Lowest of 16 in SADC

Zimbabwe scores best on market size and weakest on governance

Scores from 0 to 100 by rank within SADC, against the SADC median. 100 means best in the region on that pillar.

ZimbabweSADC median
Market sizeGrowthStabilityInfrastructureDigital,financeGovernanceUnmetdemand5855474633950
Source: Investor Lens method·dotzedw Insights Centre

The IMF expects Zimbabwe to grow 5.0% in 2026

Real GDP growth, per cent a year. Open bars are IMF forecasts.

ActualIMF forecast
0.0%2.0%4.0%6.0%8.0%10%8.1%20255.0%20263.5%20275.0%2028

Ten years of history are free with a Reader account.

Source: IMF·dotzedw Insights Centre

Farming employs 54% of workers but produces 9% of output

Share of jobs in each broad sector against its share of GDP, latest year. A sector with far more jobs than output has low productivity and room to grow.

Share of jobsShare of GDP
0%20%40%60%Agriculture54%9%45 pts apartIndustry12%37%26 pts apartServices34%48%14 pts apart
Source: World Bank, ILO·dotzedw Insights Centre

Key figures

The bar under each figure places it among the 16 countries of SADC, lowest on the left. Hover for context; select for the data card.

Zimbabwe on the map

Its 10 provinces and 91 districts, shaded by population, power, water, transport and more; circles sized by value; or power lines, roads and masts on a street map.

Open the full map
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How Zimbabwe generates electricity

Share of electricity generation by source, latest year.

CoalGasOilWindNuclearBioenergy and otherHydroSolar

No electricity data for Zimbabwe.

The history of the power mix is part of the Individual plan

US$19 a month or US$190 a year. Subscribe on dotzedw.com and you come straight back to this page with Individual access. Already a member? Sign in with your dotzedw.com account.

Source: Ember, Energy Institute· Get the data (Professional)·dotzedw Insights Centre

Politics, parliament and elections

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The President is head of state and government and commands the defence forces; there is no prime minister. ZANU-PF has governed since independence in 1980 and has held a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly since by-elections in February 2024. Emmerson Mnangagwa replaced Robert Mugabe after the November 2017 military intervention and won disputed elections in 2018 and 2023. The main opposition, the Citizens Coalition for Change, fractured after contested recalls of its MPs in 2023 and Nelson Chamisa's departure in January 2024.

Now: Term extension ('Agenda 2030'): after the ZANU-PF conference resolved in October 2025 to keep Mnangagwa in office to 2030, the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 3) Bill was gazetted on 16 February 2026, passed by the National Assembly (216 to 42) on 18 June and the Senate (75 to 4) on 24 June, and signed on 7 July 2026. It extends presidential and parliamentary terms from five to seven years, postpones the 2028 elections to 2030, replaces direct presidential elections with election by Parliament and adds ten presidentially appointed senators. No referendum was held; critics, including the Law Society of Zimbabwe, argue that section 328 requires one, and Constitutional Court challenges were struck off on procedural grounds in June 2026. Human Rights Watch reported intimidation of opponents of the amendment.
President
Emmerson Mnangagwa (ZANU-PF), since 24 Nov 2017
How the executive is chosen
Directly elected by popular vote under the 2013 Constitution, with a run-off if no candidate wins more than half of the valid votes. The Constitution Amendment (No. 3) Act, signed on 7 July 2026, provides for future presidents to be elected by a joint sitting of the National Assembly and Senate instead.
Term and limits
The 2013 Constitution set five-year terms and a limit of two terms. The Constitution Amendment (No. 3) Act 2026 lengthened presidential, parliamentary and local authority terms to seven years and applied this to the sitting President and Parliament, moving the end of Mnangagwa's second term from 2028 to 2030.
Governing
ZANU-PF
In power since
ZANU-PF, 1980 (46 years)
ZANU-PF has led the executive since independence in April 1980. It shared cabinet posts with both MDC factions in the 2009 to 2013 Government of National Unity, and the 2017 military intervention changed the leader, not the party.
Next national election
2030 (general)
Harmonised elections were due in 2028; the Constitution Amendment (No. 3) Act 2026 extended current terms to 2030. Under the amendment the President will be chosen by Parliament rather than by direct popular vote.

ZANU-PF holds 194 of 280 seats, a two-thirds majority

National Assembly, seats as of 22 Dec 2025. Parallel; 7-year term

280seatsMajority 141 · Two thirds 187 (dashed lines)
  • ZANU-PF194
  • CCC86
How seats are filled
210 members are elected in single-member constituencies by first past the post; 70 women and youth members are elected by party-list proportional representation per province. 70 members elected by closed party-list PR from the constituency votes in each province: 60 women (six per province) and 10 youth members aged 21 to 35 (one per province). The youth quota was added by the Constitution Amendment (No. 2) Act 2021 and first applied in 2023.
Powers
Passes laws and the budget and, with two thirds of members in each House, amends the Constitution; under the 2026 amendment it will sit jointly with the Senate to elect the President.
Special majority
Two thirds of the members of each House are needed to pass a constitutional amendment. The governing side has it.
Elections
Last 23 Aug 2023; next 2030
Source: 10th Parliament of Zimbabwe (Wikipedia) for seats after the 2023 to 2025 recalls and by-elections; IPU Parline for the statutory size and women members (84 of 279 sitting members, late 2024)·dotzedw Insights Centre

ZANU-PF holds 33 of 80 seats, short of a majority

Senate, seats as of December 2024. List PR; 7-year term

80seatsMajority 41 · Two thirds 54 (dashed lines)
  • ZANU-PF33
  • CCC27
  • CHF17
  • PWD2
  • VAC1
How seats are filled
60 senators, six per province, are elected by closed party-list PR from the National Assembly constituency votes in each province; lists alternate women and men and are headed by a woman. 16 chiefs elected by the provincial assemblies of chiefs, the President and Deputy President of the National Council of Chiefs, and 2 senators representing persons with disabilities. The 2026 constitutional amendment adds ten senators appointed by the President (to 90); these appointments were not confirmed as at September 2026.
Powers
Reviews and can delay bills passed by the National Assembly; constitutional amendments also need two thirds of its members, and under the 2026 amendment it will sit jointly with the National Assembly to elect the President.
Special majority
Two thirds of members are needed to pass a constitutional amendment. The governing side does not have it.
Elections
Last 23 Aug 2023; next 2030
Source: IPU Parline, Zimbabwe Senate (80 statutory, 79 sitting, 35 women); party split of elected seats from the 2023 results. Recalled CCC senators were replaced from the CCC list; one chief's seat vacant after a death in October 2023.·dotzedw Insights Centre

What the record shows

  • ZANU-PF has governed for 46 years, since 1980, without losing a national election.
  • ZANU-PF's share of the parliamentary vote has fallen from 62.9% in 2013 to 56.2% in 2023.
  • The last presidential election, in 2023, was a close race: the winner took 52.6%, 9 points ahead of the runner-up.
  • The governing side holds 194 of 280 seats in the National Assembly, enough on its own to amend the Constitution (two thirds or more).
  • Turnout was 69% in 2023, up from 53% in 1990.
  • V-Dem's clean elections score is 17 out of 100, little changed from 19 in 2015.

The largest party won 56% of the parliamentary vote in 2023, against 81% in 1990

Every lower-house election since 1990: the largest party's share of the vote and of the seats, and turnout of registered voters. Open circles mark a change of government.

Largest party: votesLargest party: seatsTurnout
0%20%40%60%80%100%1990199520002005201020152020HalfTwo thirds84.8%Turnout65.2%Largest party: seats56.2%Largest party: votes
Source: Official results, V-Dem·dotzedw Insights Centre

The winner's lead over the runner-up was 9 points in 2023

First-round share of the valid vote for the winner and the runner-up in each presidential election since 1990.

WinnerRunner-up
0%20%40%60%80%100%1990199520002005201020152020Half52.6%Winner44.0%Runner-up
Source: Official results, V-Dem·dotzedw Insights Centre

Every national election

DateElectionResultTurnoutNotes
23 Aug 2023National AssemblyNational Assembly, 2023ZANU-PF56.2%, 137 seatsCCC41.5%, 73 seatsOTH2.4%, 0 seatsZANU-PF 56.2%, 137 seats; CCC 41.5%, 73 seatsn/aDisputed
23 Aug 2023PresidentialPresidential, 2023Emmerson Mnangagwa (ZANU-PF)52.6%Nelson Chamisa (CCC)44.0%OTH3.4%Emmerson Mnangagwa (ZANU-PF) 52.6%; Nelson Chamisa (CCC) 44.0%68.9%Disputed
30 Jul 2018National AssemblyNational Assembly, 2018ZANU-PF52.4%, 145 seatsMDC Alliance34.6%, 63 seatsMDC-T3.0%, 0 seatsZANU-PF 52.4%, 145 seats; MDC Alliance 34.6%, 63 seats84.8%
30 Jul 2018PresidentialPresidential, 2018Emmerson Mnangagwa (ZANU-PF)51.5%Nelson Chamisa (MDC Alliance)45.0%Thokozani Khupe (MDC-T)0.9%Emmerson Mnangagwa (ZANU-PF) 51.5%; Nelson Chamisa (MDC Alliance) 45.0%85.2%Disputed
31 Jul 2013National AssemblyNational Assembly, 2013ZANU-PF62.9%, 160 seatsMDC-T30.2%, 49 seatsMDC-N4.7%, 0 seatsZANU-PF 62.9%, 160 seats; MDC-T 30.2%, 49 seats59.2%Disputed
31 Jul 2013PresidentialPresidential, 2013Robert Mugabe (ZANU-PF)61.9%Morgan Tsvangirai (MDC-T)34.4%Welshman Ncube (MDC-N)2.7%Robert Mugabe (ZANU-PF) 61.9%; Morgan Tsvangirai (MDC-T) 34.4%59.2%Disputed

Checked 29 Sept 2026.

Election calendar

All elections

Hover a vote for its result and what it means.

  • 2030
    General election
    Zimbabwe: General electionConstitution Amendment No. 3, signed in July 2026, extends terms from five to seven years, moves the next election from 2028 to 2030 and has Parliament, not voters, choose the president. Court challenges argue a referendum is required.Sources: The Zimbabwean, Al Jazeera
    Expected
  • 23 Aug 2023
    General electionWon by Emmerson Mnangagwa
    Zimbabwe: General electionResult: Emmerson Mnangagwa (ZANU-PF) re-elected with 52.6%; the opposition CCC rejected the result.No analysis written for this vote yet.Sources: Wikipedia
    Held

Deals and projects

Every deal in Zimbabwe

Individual Every deal record with its parties, value, stage and sources.

dotzedw analysis on Zimbabwe

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