THE International Monetary Fund (IMF) almost doubled its economic growth forecast for Zimbabwe, citing a bumper harvest, improved power supply and an increase in manufacturing and construction.
The IMF expects the economy to expand “by about six
percent” this year, it said late Wednesday at the end of a two-week virtual
staff visit. “An economic recovery is underway in 2021,” it said in an emailed
statement.
The forecast compares with a prior prediction of 3.1
percent growth and is closer to the projection by the southern African nation’s
Treasury that gross domestic product will increase 7.4 percent this year.
In rare praise of the authorities’ policy reforms, the IMF
said attempts to contain the nation’s budget deficit, reserve money growth and
the introduction of a foreign-exchange auction system signaled Zimbabwe is
moving in the right direction.
“Further efforts are needed to solidify the stabilization
trends and accelerate reforms,” it said.
Uncertainty remains high in Zimbabwe as the country faces a
third wave of the coronavirus infections, the fund said. New measures intended
to curb the spread of the virus, including limits on public gatherings, took
effect on June 14.
“The outlook will depend on the pandemic’s evolution, the
pace of vaccination and implementation of sustainable policies,” the fund said.
-Bloomberg
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