14/02/2026
Emmerson Mnangagwa Zimbabwe’s Lee Kuan Yew
Students of politics and students of history are no strangers to the name Lee Kwan Yew. In 1965, Lee Kuan Yew took the helm of a new nation resource‑poor, divided, and economically unstable. Yew led a transformation that would see Singapore rise to become one of the world’s most competitive economies over three uninterrupted decades that's 30 years for those who might not understand a decade.
Fast‑forward to Zimbabwe today. Since 2018, under Emmerson Mnangagwa, the nation has navigated one of its most consequential economic chapters in recent memory. Faced with currency instability, drought shocks, and decades‑long structural fragilities, the country’s economy has begun a discernible turnaround, a turnaround that demands sober recognition and strategic amplification.
When Mnangagwa assumed office, Zimbabwe’s economy was still slowly emerging from hyperinflation, currency fragmentation, and declining production in agriculture and industry. Mnangagwa had to make tough decisions that were bad for his political career but good for the economy. One such decision was removing subsidies on fuel in 2019. This was an unpopular decision which led to riots and instability but Mnangagwa made the right call as it stabilized the supply and demand of fuel. Today fuel queues are just a distant memory. Mnangagwa sacrificed his political popularity choosing what was good for the nation. Just like Lee Kwan Yew who made several unpopular but necessary decisions in favour of the nation.
IMF data indicate real GDP figures fluctuated sharply in the early post‑Mugabe era, with contraction during some years and modest rebounds in others. By the early 2020s, growth had resumed, riding on improved macroeconomic policies and nascent reforms.
Between 2021 and 2023, Zimbabwe recorded notable economic gains, with GDP rising from roughly $27.2 billion in 2021 to around $35.2 billion in 2023 a 7.45% increase from 2022 to 2023 alone according to global national accounts.
Moreover, after a deep drought‑induced slowdown that saw growth dip to approximately 1.7% in 2024, the economy rebounded in 2025, with the IMF projecting around 6.0% GDP growth, outpacing many regional peers in Sub‑Saharan Africa. These figures reflect broad improvements in agriculture, mining, and macroeconomic stability sectors that form the backbone of Zimbabwe’s growth engine.
Looking ahead, the Bretton Woods institutions hold a cautiously optimistic view. Both the IMF and World Bank project Zimbabwe’s economy will continue expanding in 2026, with forecasts indicating growth rates above 4.5%–5%, contingent on sustained reform momentum and stability measures.
These forecasts imply that Zimbabwe can maintain a growth trajectory that outperforms many of its Southern African Development Community counterparts a necessary precondition if the nation is to close development gaps and elevate living standards in the decade ahead.
Lee Kuan Yew’s Singapore was far from universally liked. Critics questioned his style, his policies, and the constraints he placed on civil liberties. Yet, few dispute that his leadership decisions unified a nation behind a developmental mission prioritising good governance, institutional discipline, and strategic global positioning over short‑term comfort. This is the same path that E D Mnangagwa is walking. He cannot balance being liked and doing what is good for the nation especially a nation walking the difficult path of de-dollarization.
Zimbabwe finds itself at a comparable crossroads. The Constitution Amendment Bill Number 3 comprehensive, contentious, and disruptive according to some represents a defining inflection point. Much like the early legislative and institutional reforms Singapore undertook, this Bill could provide the political stability and policy continuity needed to solidify investor confidence, sustain reform momentum, and unlock Zimbabwe’s potential as a hub of industrialised economic growth in Africa.
Critics argue that constitutional amendments merely entrench incumbency. But history teaches us that stability and continuity when paired with reform can yield transformative outcomes. Singapore’s three‑decade ascent was not the product of magic but of strategic policy consistency a lesson Zimbabwe cannot afford to ignore. Zimbabwe needs strategic consistency and continuity now more than ever.
Zimbabwe’s economic story from 2018 to 2025 shows a nation progressing through resilience, reform and recovery. GDP growth figures, institutional engagements with the IMF and World Bank, and future projections point to a country that is no longer stagnant, but gaining momentum precisely the phase where bold leadership can cement long‑term development gains.
Human rights business persons who make money from parroting the human rights talking points need to find new methods of making money. Human rights should not and cannot trump national interest. Zimbabwe should come first before political preferences and luxuries. We cannot dim our economic trajectory to make way for LGBTQI. Let's fix the economy , get the country on a upper middle income status first then we can start arguing about what people do with their private parts or the right to protest. We can't be protesting and trying to build a nation.
Have we not learnt from Morgan Tsvangirai's stay away and mass action which dealt a heavy blow to industries causing many industries to shut down because the labour movements had made business impossible. Yes, they tanked the economy and blamed ZANU PF so that they could get votes. Some of us fell for it and only realised that it was about power not the people years later. Are we going to make the same mistake today ? Following Biti and Madhuku into disruptive protests when we have a golden opportunity to build the nation and turn Zimbabwe into an upper middle income economy.
As the nation weighs its constitutional and political choices, it must ask itself:
Will we seize this moment to consolidate stability, attract investment, and build institutions that outlast individuals? Or will we squander the rare alignment of internal reform and external confidence that now exists?
Turning Zimbabwe into an upper middle income economy is not about Mnangagwa it is about the people and the quality of life that comes with upper middle income status. Mnangagwa is the vision bearer like Lee Kwan Yew was the vision bearer of a developed Singapore.
A Zimbabwe that truly aspires to be the Singapore of Africa must look beyond personalities and place national vision, reform continuity, and economic transformation at the centre of its agenda. The window is brief, the stakes are monumental — and history will judge the choices we make today. Constitution Ammendment Bill 3 is our moment to choose stability, it is our moment to choose the path of development and become a Singapore in our own right. Let's not be hoodwinked by human rights business persons who want to major in the minor issues. We.have a mammoth task of de-dollarization ahead of us , we have a task of moving Zimbabwe towards an upper middle income economy by 2030. Let's give Mnangagwa upto 2030 to see his vision through then we can judge him on his results not political posturing.
