HARARE, April 17 – The International Monetary Fund has approved a 10-month Staff-Monitored Program for Zimbabwe aimed at consolidating recent economic stabilization gains and strengthening macroeconomic management.
The program is designed to support policy discipline and rebuild confidence in Zimbabwe’s economy, as the country continues efforts to stabilise its currency, control inflation, and improve fiscal governance.
At the same time, the IMF has lowered its 2026 growth forecast for Africa to 4.3% in its latest global outlook, citing mounting external pressures. The Fund warned that energy-importing countries without strong resource buffers are particularly vulnerable to rising global costs.
The outlook reflects the broader economic fallout from the Middle East conflict, which has disrupted energy markets and driven up fuel prices, alongside a sharp decline in foreign aid flows to the continent.
These pressures are pushing more African countries toward IMF support programs as governments seek financial stability and policy guidance in an increasingly uncertain global environment.
