Zim GBC News | Political Correspondent
Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube’s assertion that Zimbabweans have attained middle-income status has been met with fierce criticism from the Assembly of Minorities Party, which has labeled the claim a “deliberate deception” of the nation.
The backlash follows Minister Ncube’s address at a pre-budget seminar on November 5, where he pointed to an average daily spending of US$9, improved infrastructure, and “growing economic stability” as signs of national progress.
However, AM Party leader Mudenda Chilumbo has sharply dismissed the Minister’s narrative, arguing that it is completely detached from the harsh realities faced by millions of citizens living in poverty, with broken public hospitals and persistent water shortages.
“The Minister is misleading Zimbabweans because according to the World Bank, middle-income status refers to a country whose Gross National Income (GNI) per capita lies between US$1,136 and US$4,465,” Chilumbo stated.
He highlighted that a significant portion of the country’s workforce, including teachers, nurses, and pensioners, take home less than US$250 per month. Chilumbo questioned the foundation of the minister’s claim, asking,
“How do you claim upper middle-income status under these circumstances, Minister Ncube?”
The opposition leader further illustrated the disparity by pointing to conditions in rural areas, specifically naming marginalised provinces like Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South, and parts of Midlands.
“The situation is even worse in rural areas… Families still draw drinking water from open wells and rivers shared with wild animals and livestock, and my home area, Binga, is a case study for this matter,” Chilumbo said, underscoring the vast gap between the government’s economic pronouncements and the lived experience of survival for many.
The debate sets the stage for a contentious budget presentation, with the government and its critics holding starkly different views on the true state of the nation’s economy.
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