The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has commended Zimbabwe’s economic resilience in spite of a challenging external environment, following the successful completion of the first review under its 10-month Staff-Monitored Programme (SMP).

The IMF, in a statement, said Zimbabwe’s economy grew by 8.

It said inflation had remained low, supported by tight monetary policy and exchange rate stability, adding that the country’s macroeconomic performance had continued to improve.

According to the IMF, Zimbabwe’s economy is projected to grow by five per cent in 2026 and 4.2 per cent over the medium term, while the current account surplus is expected to narrow but remain strong.

The Fund, however, warned that downside risks include a potential major El Niño event and persistent geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, which could affect economic performance.

The IMF noted that implementation of the programme through March 2026 remained strong, with all quantitative targets and structural benchmarks achieved, although the indicative target on protected social spending was missed.

It recalled that the non-financing Staff-Monitored Programme, agreed in February, was designed to strengthen macroeconomic stability, build policy credibility and support Zimbabwe’s efforts towards arrears clearance, debt restructuring and re-engagement with the international community.

The IMF said completion of the first review marked an important milestone in consolidating Zimbabwe’s macroeconomic stabilisation gains and advancing reforms aimed at supporting sustainable economic growth and financial stability.

By David Torough, Abuja

The Department of State Services (DSS) on Wednesday recorded fresh gains in the country’s fight against terrorism and kidnapping as operatives rescued nine abducted persons during a gun battle with suspected bandits in Kwara State, while the Federal Government arraigned five alleged Ansaru terrorist commanders over the abduction of students and teachers in Oyo State.

In Kwara, a joint security operation involving the DSS, the Kwara State Forest Guards, local hunters and vigilantes rescued nine kidnapped victims and neutralised three suspected bandits during an intelligence-led operation in the Obbo Aiyegunle, Ejiu Ora and Osi axis of Ekiti Local Government Area, a forest corridor bordering Ekiti and Niger states.

The rescued victims included farmers abducted from their farmlands and others kidnapped earlier in neighbouring Ekiti State. Security operatives intercepted the kidnappers as they attempted to move the captives through the forest, forcing the criminals into a fierce gun battle before they fled, abandoning their victims.

Chief Press Secretary to the Chairman of Ekiti Local Government, Prince Dada Sunday, said intelligence reports enabled security agencies to track the kidnappers, who had assembled victims abducted from different locations.

He disclosed that one victim sustained severe machete injuries to the head after resisting abduction but is responding to treatment.

According to him, three suspected kidnappers were killed during the exchange of gunfire, while other members of the gang escaped into the forest with gunshot wounds.

One of the rescued victims, Umaru Muazu of Obbo Aiyegunle, recounted how armed men ambushed him and his son, seized a motorcycle and marched them into the bush before security operatives intervened.

A member of the Kwara Forest Guards, Owolabi Adebayo, described the operation as intelligence-driven but appealed for additional operational equipment, including body armour, binoculars, night-vision devices, communication gadgets and ammunition to strengthen the fight against armed criminal groups.

The latest operation comes barely two weeks after another joint DSS and Forest Guards operation reportedly killed two suspected bandits and rescued two abducted siblings in forests spanning Isin and Ifelodun local government areas of the state.

Meanwhile, in Abuja, the Federal Government arraigned five suspected members of the Ansaru terrorist group before the Federal High Court over the kidnapping of students and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

The suspects, including two alleged Ansaru commanders and three other operatives arrested by the DSS, were brought before Justice Salim Ibrahim on terrorism and related charges.

The court adjourned the case until September 24 for the commencement of trial and ordered that the defendants remain in the custody of the DSS.

The latest prosecution follows the arrest of senior Ansaru figures during security operations linked to the rescue of the Oriire victims. It also comes days after a Federal High Court sentenced two other Ansaru leaders to life imprisonment after they pleaded guilty to terrorism-related offences.

The twin developments underscore intensified security operations and ongoing judicial efforts aimed at dismantling kidnapping and terrorist networks operating across parts of the country.

By Tambaya Julius, Abuja

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reaffirmed its commitment to coordinated border management, trade facilitation and regional economic integration following a high-level benchmarking mission to the Beitbridge Border Post between Zimbabwe and South Africa.

The five-day mission, supported by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), brought together the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi; the Director-General of Cameroon Customs, Fongod Nuvaga; the Director-General of Benin Customs, Colonel Raouf Malèhossou Aboudou; the Acting Commissioner of Customs and Excise at the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA), Lonto Ndlovu; and the Chairman of Bergmans Security Consultant and Supplies Limited, Alhaji Saleh Ahmadu.

The exercise forms part of ongoing efforts to strengthen intra-African trade and improve border operations under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Speaking during the adoption of the Joint Communiqué on Monday, Adeniyi described the benchmarking mission as a strategic opportunity for African customs administrations to move beyond policy discussions and embrace the practical implementation of modern border management systems.

He said the experiences gained from the Beitbridge and Chirundu Border Posts in Zimbabwe demonstrated that effective border modernisation extends beyond physical infrastructure.

“Beitbridge has demonstrated that border modernisation is not merely about infrastructure development. The most important lesson for us is that sustainable reform depends on coordinated institutions, clear accountability, digital interoperability and professional human capital,” Adeniyi said.

He added that the Nigeria Customs Service would apply the lessons learnt from the mission to strengthen trade facilitation, improve border security and promote economic growth across the region.

The mission featured technical sessions, executive briefings and extensive tours of border facilities, where officials examined the Beitbridge Modernisation and Concession Model, including its financing structure, operational framework, revenue management systems and coordinated border governance architecture.

The benchmarking team, comprising officials from the Nigeria Customs Service, Cameroon Customs Administration, Benin Customs Administration, Bergmans Security Consultant and Supplies Limited, and Bsmart Technologies, also inspected freight terminals, cargo processing facilities, scanning operations, traffic management systems and integrated ICT infrastructure supporting seamless border operations.

Participants said the exercise provided valuable insights into how technology, institutional coordination and performance management have transformed Beitbridge into one of Africa’s busiest and most efficient border crossings.

The Joint Communiqué signed at the end of the mission identified the Sèmè-Kraké corridor linking Nigeria and the Benin Republic, as well as the Mfum-Ekok corridor connecting Nigeria and Cameroon, as priority routes for implementing coordinated border management and One-Stop Border Post arrangements.

The Director-General of the Cameroon Customs Administration, Fongod Nuvaga, stressed the need for stronger collaboration among African customs administrations to eliminate procedural bottlenecks while maintaining effective border controls.

He said enhanced regional cooperation would enable African countries to maximise the opportunities presented by the AfCFTA and accelerate economic integration across the continent.

Similarly, the Director-General of the Benin Customs Administration, Colonel Raouf Malèhossou Aboudou, said the Beitbridge model offers practical lessons for improving border efficiency across West Africa through harmonised procedures, coordinated risk management systems and stronger institutional partnerships.

The Director for Trade Facilitation and Investment Promotion at Afreximbank, Dr Gainmore Zanamwe, said the benchmarking exercise was designed to expose participating administrations to the governance structures, operational models and institutional reforms that underpin the success of modern border posts across Africa.

According to him, while infrastructure remains important, sustainable border performance depends on accountability, coordination, technology and measurable service standards.

The mission concluded with the signing of a Joint Communiqué committing Nigeria, Cameroon and Benin to establish a Trilateral Strategic Steering Committee to drive the implementation of the recommendations arising from the visit.

The three customs administrations also pledged to pursue harmonised border procedures, digital interoperability, coordinated risk management systems and sustained investment in personnel development to promote seamless trade and deepen regional economic integration under the AfCFTA.