The ZANU PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday said Zimbabwe has improved despite challenges such as covid-19 adding to his previous statement:
“…ikozvino hatichafaniri kuramba tichichema namasanctions. Nezvatinazvo, tikabatana tinosimuka. Nyika yedu inosimuka…”
“From now on we must stop crying about sanctions, delete that talk because with the little that we have have if we just unite our country will expand ”
He was speaking during his state of the nation address before Parliament.
“We are on a new path. A path towards a modern, prosperous and stronger Zimbabwe, he said.
He continued:
“I encourage you all to be partners in this journey. Let us be decisive, deliberate, purposeful and thorough in all our actions,” said Mr. 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.”
Mnangagwa 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.
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.
Mnangagwa reiterated the Second Republic’s zero tolerance to corruption saying justice will be pursued without fear of favour.
Mr 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 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.
Mnangagwa 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, Mnangagwa said, private sector led financing models are being rolled out for farmers to access both mechanisation and inputs.
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.
Mr. Mnangagwa 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 Mnangagwa.