Tendai Biti has challenged the World Bank’s removal of Zimbabwe from its fragility classification, accusing authorities of relying on “phantom data” to advance their Vision 2030 narrative. The post Biti dismisses World Bank’s removal of Zimbabwe from fragile states list as based on ‘phantom data’ appeared first on Nehanda Radio .
Former Finance Minister Tendai Biti has sharply criticised the World Bank’s decision to remove Zimbabwe from its fragile and conflict-affected economies classification, arguing that the reclassification does not reflect the political, economic and social realities confronting the country.
Biti alleged that Zimbabwean authorities had pushed for the change to support President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s ambition of transforming the country into an upper-middle-income economy by 2030.
“Decisions made ad hoc, anecdotally and without empirical data are dangerous and political,” Biti wrote on X.
“The regime in Harare has desperately pushed for Zimbabwe’s reclassification from the fragile state category in order to justify the hortatory illusion of an upper-middle-income state by 2030.”
Biti questions economic data
Biti accused the Government of relying on what he described as “phantom data”, particularly gross domestic product and gross national income figures used to calculate income per person.
He argued that the statistical improvements did not reflect the experiences of ordinary Zimbabweans, claiming that 68% of the population remained below the poverty line.
“The hard reality is that this is a poor, fragile state,” he said.
Biti maintained that both political and economic conditions must be considered when assessing whether a country remains fragile.
He cited political polarisation, disputed elections, restrictions on political activity, internal divisions within the ruling establishment and the campaign to extend Mnangagwa’s tenure to 2030 as continuing sources of vulnerability.
The former Treasury chief also pointed to Zimbabwe’s large diaspora, high unemployment, economic informality and social exclusion as evidence that the country had not overcome its underlying fragility.
“Politically, this remains a vulnerable state,” Biti said.
World Bank removes Zimbabwe from fragility list
Biti was responding after Zimbabwe was left off the World Bank’s Fragility, Conflict and Violence list for its 2027 financial year, with the change taking effect on July 1, 2026.
The revised framework replaces what was previously known as the Fragile and Conflict-Affected Situations list.
Zimbabwe’s macroeconomic position improved significantly during 2025, according to the World Bank, with economic growth accelerating from 1.7% in 2024 to 7.5% in 2025.
The bank attributed the recovery largely to improved agricultural production and higher international prices for minerals. It also reported improved price and exchange-rate stability, including a reduction in the gap between official and parallel-market exchange rates. World Bank
Zimbabwe’s removal also followed an improvement in its Country Policy and Institutional Assessment score, lifting it out of the “high institutional and social fragility” category.
Ncube welcomes international recognition
Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube welcomed the decision, describing it as international recognition of Zimbabwe’s economic recovery, institutional reforms and improving governance.
Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube (Picture via X – Ministry of Finance @ZimTreasury)
“The World Bank’s decision to delist Zimbabwe from its list of Fragile and Conflict-Affected Economies is a direct validation of the country’s ongoing economic turnaround, governance and institutional reforms,” Ncube said.
He pledged to translate the improved international perception into investment, employment and better living conditions. NewZimbabwe.com
The reclassification could improve perceptions of Zimbabwe among investors and development institutions, but it does not automatically change the country’s sovereign credit rating or restore access to World Bank lending.
The bank’s lending programme in Zimbabwe remains inactive because of outstanding arrears. Its current engagement is largely restricted to technical assistance, research and advisory support.
Biti says poverty remains widespread
Biti insisted that improved headline economic indicators could not outweigh continued poverty, deteriorating public services and poor health outcomes.
He described Zimbabwe’s maternal and infant mortality indicators as “medieval” and accused the Government of prioritising appearances over the material conditions facing citizens.
“Truth is, deception has no legs, short or otherwise,” Biti said.
“However, when one deals with a regime concerned with form over substance, lies over reality, spin and fake news become the reality.”
