By Own Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said the recently launched political parties dialogue is set to change the country’s economic fortunes.
Said Mnangagwa in a speech at the launch of the national dialogue in Harare Friday:
“The dialogue we are launching today will undoubtedly leave a lasting imprint on our country’s political landscape and help to contribute to the turnaround of the country’s socio-economic fortunes.
“This platform is designed to be a vibrant forum through which we proffer solutions to the challenges that confront us as a nation through peaceful, open and transparent discourse.
“The culture of dialogue we begin today must indeed be synonymous with us as a nation and as a people.
“This journey we are embarking on must ultimately lead us towards improving our democratic practices and culture. It must also lead us to a stage where we can compete and cooperate, always informed and guided by our national interests.”
“Every Zimbabwean is important from Zambezi to Limpopo and from Mutare to Plumtree. As we are enjoined by our National Anthem, let us all lift high our National Flag which is a symbol of freedom, independence and unity.
“As leaders, we must also pledge to be exemplary. Leaders of our nation at every level must say no to sanctions and say no to all conduct and speech that will bring harm to our people.
“It is when there is unity that God will command more blessings to our land.
“Through the Vision (2030), we should be able to bequeath to current and future generations, a peaceful, united and prosperous nation which lives in harmony with all the progressive nations of the world.
“Dialogue, like charity, begins at home, and will enable us to speak with one voice as the re-engagement with other nations gathers pace.
“It does not serve any purpose to continue in an election mode when citizens are yearning for social economic transformation.
“The success of the Transitional Stabilisation Programme and indeed the success of the five-year plans which will follow after 2020, requires that we harness our collective competencies and abilities for national progress and prosperity.
“We must close ranks, communicate, cooperate, build trust and instill hope among our fellow countrymen.
“In a clear testimony of our mature democracy, those among you who were in the country can attest to the unprecedented tranquillity that prevailed in all corners of our great nation ahead of the watershed elections.
“The code shall be binding on the leaders, their officials and supporters alike, in the observance of responsible conduct as we cascade the dialogue to the provinces”.
“Our committee on agenda setting has already highlighted critical issues, chief among them being the need to expedite the alignment of laws to the Constitution.
“The committee further stressed the need to resolutely stamp out corruption wherever it raises its ugly face, in the need to tackle drug and substance abuse, affecting especially affecting our youth, and deepen the inclusion of youth, women and the disabled in all national development programmes.
“The committee also called for the unconditional removal of sanctions that are sapping the energies of our resilient and resourceful citizenry as well as inhibiting unfettered economic growth.”-StateMedia