PRESIDENT Mnangagwa yesterday said the country is on a new path towards prosperity calling for unity of purpose among Zimbabweans as a brighter future depends on every individual.
President Mnangagwa made the sentiments during his State of
the Nation Address as he opened the third session of the Ninth Parliament
virtually, in compliance with Covid-19 prevention measures.
The President’s calls come as the Government has recorded a
number of successes across sectors despite a number of setbacks including the
western imposed illegal sanctions, effects of Covid-19 and successive droughts
among other challenges.
“I wish to remind us all that first and foremost, we are
Zimbabweans. This is our only home and our motherland.
“We are on a new path. A path towards a modern, prosperous
and stronger Zimbabwe. I encourage you all to be partners in this journey. Let
us be decisive, deliberate, purposeful and thorough in all our actions,” said
President Mnangagwa.
“A brighter future depends on all of us. We are stronger
when we work together. We are stronger when we believe and work hard to achieve
our plans and vision.
“No matter the challenges and no matter the obstacles
whether natural or man-made, let us always seek to promote our national
interests, in unity and love, for the development and prosperity of our beloved
country.”
The President said the Transitional Stabilisation Programme
(TSP) which elapsed this year, after achieving desired results, was a cause for
optimism in the future.
He said the Government will soon launch the First Five-Year
National Development Strategy: 2021-2025 (NDS 1) building on the successes of
the Transitional Stabilisation Programme.
The NDS 1 will guide the formulation of the 2021 National
Budget, which will provide more detail on the state of the economy.
He said the foreign exchange auction system has resulted in
stability in the economy, the exchange rate and prices of goods and services.
President Mnangagwa said in spite of the global and local
economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, exports increased by 4,9 percent to
US$1,96 billion during the first half of 2020 from US$1,86 billion in 2019, for
the comparative period.
He said imports declined by 5,9 percent, from US$1,96
billion to US$1,84 billion, during the 2019 and 2020 first-half comparative
periods.
The President said foreign currency receipts have performed
better than anticipated, appreciating by 18 percent as at the end of August
2020.
This, he said, coupled with Diaspora remittances should
continue to anchor and drive further stability.
President Mnangagwa said the reported increased
certification of new products by the Standards Association of Zimbabwe signals
the growth of industry and employment creation.
“We expect the trend of the positive trade balance to be
sustained through increased productivity and exports, across all sectors of the
economy,” he said.
In line with the performance-oriented and results-driven
culture towards the attainment of Vision 2030, the reform of State enterprises
and parastatals remains top on the Government’s agenda, the President said.
He said strong structural and administrative frameworks
will be enforced; together with good corporate governance, accountability,
transparency, productivity and profitability in all state-owned entities.
President Mnangagwa reiterated the Second Republic’s zero
tolerance to corruption saying justice will be pursued without fear of favour.
President Mnangagwa said the historic signing of the Global
Compensation Agreement symbolised his Government’s commitment to the entrenchment
of constitutionalism, the rule of law and respect for property rights.
He called for maximum productivity following forecasts of a
normal-to-above normal 2020/2021 rainfall season.
“I commend communities throughout the country for the land
preparations made under the Presidential Climate Proofed Agriculture Programme,
Intwasa/Pfumvudza. The Presidential Input Support Scheme will see over 1,8
million households being supported with free inputs to grow maize and
traditional grains; while cotton farmers will also continue to receive support.
Input distribution under this facility has commenced in earnest,” said
President Mnangagwa.
He said the Government has resolved to roll out the
Presidential Horticulture Scheme following the opening up of the horticulture
space for rural communities as a vehicle for improved economic inclusion and
empowerment.
The President said the accelerated resuscitation and
development of irrigation schemes and construction of dams in all the country’s
provinces will help climate agriculture against the adverse effects of climate
change.
To meet funding gaps, the President said, private sector
led financing models are being rolled out for farmers to access both
mechanisation and inputs.
President Mnangagwa said the stability in power supplies
owing to improved hydro-power generation at Kariba Dam and increased energy
output at the thermal power plants has had a positive impact on productivity
across all sectors of the economy.
He said independent power producers are equally poised to
feed additional power onto the national grid, by the second quarter of 2021.
The President said ongoing coal mining projects in Hwange
District, will translate into an increased national generation capacity of more
than 6 000 Megawatts by 2025.
“This will see Zimbabwe becoming a net exporter of energy.
Works on the Hwange 7 and 8 Expansion Project will be expedited following
delays as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic,” said President Mnangagwa.
He said fuel supplies had stabilised following a raft of measures by the Government. The President said measures will be put in place to strengthen competitiveness in the fuel and energy sectors through innovations by institutions of Higher Learning such as the Harare Institute of Technology.
President Mnangagwa said ongoing road construction,
modernisation and rehabilitation projects across the country will enhance
connectivity and facilitate greater economic trade locally and in the region. Herald
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