Harare, (New Ziana)-Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube on Thursday presented a ZiG290 billion (roughly US$9.5 billion) 2026 National Budget which he said will be anchored on fiscal discipline, falling inflation, mining-led growth and projections of a normal rainfall season.
The budget forecasts revenue of ZiG288 billion (US$9.4 billion) against expenditures of ZiG290 billion (US$9.5 billion) with Prof Ncube projecting a 5 percent growth next year, following an estimated 6.6 percent expansion this year, driven by agriculture recovery, stable inflation expectations and steady mineral prices.
Education, health and social support dominate the vote allocation with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education getting ZiG47.4 billion (US$1.55 billion), Health and Child Care ZiG30.4 billion (US$997 million) and Social Protection ZiG12.7 billion (US$416 million).
The funds for the education sector are expected to support salaries, new classrooms and school equipment while the health funding targets primary care and rural access.
Agriculture will get ZiG26.8 billion (US$880 million) for irrigation, dam projects, livestock programs and procurement of grain reserves.
For infrastructure projects, Prof Ncube set aside ZiG4.6 billion (US$151 million) towards the Harare–Masvingo–Beitbridge highway and the Bulawayo–Victoria Falls road upgrades.
He allocated ZiG1.1 billion (US$36 million) for the completion of Kunzvi Dam, Gwayi-Shangani Dam and for borehole drilling while for housing, he allocated ZiG948.9 million (US$31 million) for regulatory reforms and on-site infrastructure servicing.
Prof Ncube also set aside ZiG1.7 billion for the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training towards youth empowerment initiatives and programs and capitalisation of the Empower Bank.
The security sector got an allocation of ZiG46.8 billion (US$1.53 billion) to cover recruitment, training, accommodation, vehicles, and implementation of the Military Salary Concept.
Government departments had, in total, asked for ZiG828.5 billion for the year.
Prof Ncube said the 2026 National Budget seeks to balance between expanding on the gains of NDS1, while safeguarding fiscal sustainability, underscoring government commitment to promoting durable and enduring macroeconomic stability, characterized by low and stable (ZiG) inflation.
New Ziana
