# Midterm Budget Review (2025): The Stats Look Good, But What’s the Real Economic Story?

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/zfn-friday-drinks-7071738/midterm-budget-review-2025-the-stats-look-good-but-what-s-the-real-economic-story
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/zfn-friday-drinks-7071738/midterm-budget-review-2025-the-stats-look-good-but-what-s-the-real-economic-story.md
Podcast: [ZFN FRIDAY DRINKS](https://stenobird.com/podcast/zfn-friday-drinks-7071738)
Published: 2026-03-04T10:28:38+00:00
Episode link: https://rss.com/podcasts/zfn-friday-drinks/2599843
Audio file: https://content.rss.com/episodes/297451/2599843/zfn-friday-drinks/2026_03_04_10_21_01_67ac75bf-e8c6-47b9-bfa4-201769471471.mp3
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Duration seconds: 3680

## Resource

📊 Budget shows projected 6% GDP growth, driven by agriculture, manufacturing, and mining. Despite positive figures, no meaningful policy shift from the previous budget—missed opportunity. 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe’s economy remains 76% informal—a major structural weakness 🏭 Manufacturing is now the largest formal sector contributor (15% of GDP) 📈 Treasury Bills (TBs) remain unpaid, raising questions about government credibility. ⚡Power constraints remain a serious threat to productivity in industry and mining ⚠️The numbers look good on paper, but the real economy tells a different story

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