Categories: Stories

Zimbabwe is the richest country in the world-Economist

Zimbabwe is the richest country in the world on a per capita basis if its natural resource base is valued against the current population, economist Eddie Cross says.

This is likely to be trashed by most people as the country is going through one of the worst crises with nearly half the population reportedly needing food aid.

Cross, however, argues that $600 billion can easily be created if farmers in the rural areas are given title to land. A further $2 trillion can be created if those in urban areas are also given title.

“We are the richest country in the world on a per capital basis when our natural resource base is valued and set off against our population,” he writes on his personal blog.

“New information suggests we are already producing over 100 tonnes of gold per annum worth an estimated US$4.5 billion. We could produce 3 million tonnes of ferrochrome worth another US$3 billion. In the process we would put millions of our people to work – many in self-supporting small scale business.

“We could put 2 million hectares under irrigation – generating many billions in farm products and again putting millions to work.

“We could become one of the world’s largest producers of citrus, and horticultural products. We could dominate the world market for quality tobacco and fibre based crops. The list is endless.”

Full Blog:

Continued next page

(497 VIEWS)

Page: 1 2 3

Charles Rukuni

The Insider is a political and business bulletin about Zimbabwe, edited by Charles Rukuni. Founded in 1990, it was a printed 12-page subscription only newsletter until 2003 when Zimbabwe's hyper-inflation made it impossible to continue printing.

Recent Posts

Is it true that 4 million Zimbabweans went without food on several occasions last year?

At least four million people in Zimbabwe reported that they had gone without food on…

November 5, 2026

Did you know that four of the world’s largest banks are all in China?

Four of the world’s largest banks are all in China. Assets of the Industrial and…

October 15, 2026

Zimbabwe one of the 27 countries in the world where the richest 0.1% has more wealth than the bottom 80%

Zimbabwe is one of the 27 countries in the world where the richest 0.1% of…

October 2, 2026

Zimbabwe third among the least free countries in SADC

Zimbabwe has been ranked third among the least free countries in Southern Africa but it…

May 24, 2026

Why I had a girlfriend two months after my wife’s death- Take 1

I had always considered it a curse for a wife to die before her husband.…

May 18, 2026

Why I had a girlfriend two months after my wife’s death

This is a true story about the challenges and loneliness I faced when my wife…

May 17, 2026