Tinotenda Hove- The Freedom Fighters for Change (FFC) party has strongly challenged the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe’s claim that inflation stood at 4.1 percent in January 2026, dismissing the figure as misleading and detached from the lived realities of ordinary Zimbabweans.

In a hard-hitting statement released at the weekend, the opposition party said the official inflation data “obfuscates the stark realities confronting the majority of Zimbabweans,” arguing that worsening poverty, soaring food prices and currency instability tell a very different story.

“The FFC Zimbabwe expresses profound concern over the Reserve Bank’s announcement of a 4.1% inflation rate in January 2026, a claim that obfuscates the stark realities confronting the majority of Zimbabweans,” the party said.

Citing official statistics, the FFC noted that about 70.3 percent of Zimbabweans are living in poverty, while 33.4 percent are trapped in extreme poverty. The party argued that these figures alone contradict government claims of economic stability.

The FFC further questioned how inflation could be considered low when food prices have risen sharply. “The inflation figure is a statistical anomaly, given the 76.1% year-on-year increase in food prices,” the statement said, adding that the economic strain on households has been intensified by currency weakness.