2025 Zimbabwe Budget Faces Criticism for Prioritizing Defense Over Essential Sectors
The 2025 Zimbabwe National Budget, unveiled under the theme “Building Resilience for Sustained Economic Transformation,” has faced significant criticism, particularly from opposition leaders. They argue that the budget’s focus on defense spending comes at the expense of vital sectors such as agriculture, health, and education, which are essential for the country’s development.
The budget allocates ZiG18 billion to defense, a staggering amount that surpasses the combined allocations for health (ZiG28.3 billion) and education (ZiG46.6 billion). This has raised alarm, with critics arguing that the prioritization of militarization fails to address the real challenges Zimbabweans are grappling with, such as food insecurity and deteriorating public services.
Welshman Ncube, leader of a faction of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), criticized the budget for its apparent disconnect from the daily realities faced by ordinary Zimbabweans. He emphasized that while the government forecasts a 6% GDP growth for 2025, it overlooks deep-rooted structural issues such as the unsustainable public debt of US$21.1 billion, high inflation, and governance challenges. Ncube argued that these factors undermine any optimism about the country’s economic trajectory and warned against relying on unpredictable elements like rainfall to ensure growth.
Ncube’s sentiments were echoed by Corban Madzivanyika, a Member of Parliament for Mbizo, who described the budget’s contradictory nature. He pointed out that while the government aims for economic growth, austerity measures—like fiscal and monetary tightening—are likely to hinder rather than stimulate progress. Madzivanyika decried these measures as harmful, worsening inequality and social unrest, and called for the government to reconsider the budget to focus on investment in key sectors such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure.
The budget’s new revenue measures, including a 10% withholding tax on betting winnings and a tax on fast foods, have also been met with criticism. Critics argue that these taxes burden an already struggling populace while failing to address systemic issues like corruption, which continues to drain public resources.
Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube defended the budget, claiming that it is designed to provide economic relief and support essential sectors. He pointed to measures like the tax-free income threshold adjustment and VAT deferment on energy as efforts to ease the financial burden. However, opposition leaders remain unconvinced, arguing that these steps are insufficient given the broader economic challenges Zimbabwe faces.
In conclusion, while the government has set ambitious targets for economic growth, the opposition argues that the 2025 National Budget is out of touch with the needs of the average citizen. The emphasis on defense spending and austerity measures, coupled with a failure to address fundamental issues like corruption and structural economic weaknesses, leaves many skeptical about the country’s ability to achieve sustained economic transformation.
