Tinotenda Hove- ZANU PF National Political Commissar Munyaradzi Machacha has sought to portray Zimbabwe’s economic performance as a triumph over sanctions, citing rising GDP, exports and international engagements, despite persistent economic hardships facing ordinary citizens.

In a statement released ahead of the SADC Anti-Sanctions Day commemorations, Machacha claimed that Zimbabwe had continued to make economic progress over the past two decades despite restrictions that he said had limited the country’s access to international finance and markets.

He also praised regional and international partners for supporting Harare’s campaign for the removal of the sanctions, which the ruling party continues to blame for the country’s economic difficulties.

“Two decades following the imposition of the devastating sanctions regime, Zimbabwe stands stronger, more confident and more united than ever before,” Machacha said.

He described the annual commemorations as a celebration of the country’s resilience, arguing that sanctions had failed to stop Zimbabweans from pursuing development through local resources and domestic investment.

However, his upbeat assessment offers little insight into how the figures he cited have translated into improved living standards for ordinary Zimbabweans, many of whom continue to grapple with the high cost of living and limited economic opportunities.

Machacha claimed that Zimbabwe’s GDP had expanded from US$16 billion in 2017 to US$66 billion in 2026, while GDP per capita had increased from US$1,200 to US$3,500 during the same period.

He further asserted that exports had surged from US$2 billion in 2017 to more than US$20 billion, presenting the figures as evidence that the country had managed to overcome external economic constraints.

The ZANU PF official attributed the purported gains to domestic investment, infrastructure projects, agricultural output and efforts to increase value addition in mining and other economic sectors.

Machacha also attempted to use infrastructure developments as evidence of the ruling party’s commitment to self-reliance, arguing that projects funded through local resources demonstrated Zimbabwe’s ability to pursue development without substantial external assistance.

“Self-reliance and hard work have ensured that the intended harm of sanctions failed,” he said.

He further defended the land reform programme, which he said had strengthened food security, while pointing to mechanisation, irrigation expansion and storage financing as measures supporting agricultural production and the growth of related industries.

Yet, the government’s repeated emphasis on economic growth figures has continued to raise questions about the gap between official claims of progress and the economic realities experienced by households and businesses.

Machacha also highlighted the creation of a Cabinet portfolio responsible for Economic Development and Investment Promotion, saying it would improve policy coordination under the National Development Strategy 2 and enhance Zimbabwe’s attractiveness to investors.

He urged foreign investors to consider opportunities in the country’s mineral resources, agricultural land and skilled workforce, repeating the government’s longstanding position that Zimbabwe remains open for business.

The ZANU PF official further cited Zimbabwe’s election to the United Nations Security Council and its chairmanship of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa as signs of growing international engagement.

He said the government would continue pursuing new partnerships and strengthening existing relations through its engagement and re-engagement policy, guided by the principle of being “a friend to all and an enemy to none”.

Despite Machacha’s confident declarations, the central question remains whether the economic gains he highlighted will translate into tangible improvements in the lives of ordinary Zimbabweans, rather than remaining statistics celebrated by the ruling party.