Zimbabweans Spending US$9 Daily, Says Mthuli Ncube

Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister Mthuli Ncube has said Zimbabweans have now reached middle-income status, with an average daily expenditure of US$9.

Speaking at the ongoing 2026 Pre-Budget Seminar in Bulawayo on Wednesday, Ncube said the country is firmly on track to achieving Vision 2030, which aims to elevate Zimbabwe to upper middle-income status under the guidance of the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1).

The World Bank defines upper middle-income economies as those with a Gross National Income (GNI) per capita of at least US$4,500. Said Ncube:

“So the minimum GNI per capita should be US$4,500 per person, and this is an annual figure. That means that you ought to be able to spend on any given day no less than US$12 per person.

“Currently, on average, with the GNI per capita of US$3,300, that implies that we are spending US$9 per day.

“So if you are able to spend nine dollars per day, consistently through the year, you are already middle income. You are already middle-income.

“But to get to upper middle income, you should be spending US$12.”

More: Chronicle

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