President Emmerson Mnangagwa has gone out on spree trying to defend his government’s failures claiming that he will in the end emerge victorious.

Mnangagwa blamed his failures on several hurdles in the form of natural disasters, successive droughts, divisive opposition politics and foreign economic aggression, he said.

In a surprise Address to the nation at State House on Tuesday morning, Mnangagwa noted that although the Second Republic made it crystal clear upon assumption of office that its mission was to improve the plight of the majority, through an elaborate agenda of reform, restructuring and rebuilding towards achievement of Vision 2030, hurdles have been strewn along the way.

He urged the nation to “cultivate a society of hope and not despair, of inspiration and not desperation, unity and peace and not disunity and love instead of hate”.

“The New Dispensation came with the clear goal to improve the plight of the majority of our people, through an elaborate agenda to reform, restructure and rebuild, towards the achievement of Vision 2030. Undoubtedly, my Administration has faced many hurdles and attacks since its inauguration.

“These included the divisive politics of some opposition elements, the illegal economic sanctions, cyclones, droughts and more recently, the deadly Covid-19 pandemic,” he said.

Mnangagwa said the country will overcome.

“Added to this, is economic aggression, local currency manipulation and detractors who fear the inevitable imminent success of our reforms.All this was meant to undermine our projected economic growth and stability. As a result, we have had to constantly recalibrate our compass to ensure that we remain on course, and that the standard of life of the majority in our society gets better and better. The direction we desire remains unchanged. Our goal remains clear and stable. Forward ever!

“This is the goal of peace, unity, stability, development, progress and prosperity. Although our progress has been slowed down, rest assured that we shall achieve our objectives. We will overcome.We will defeat the attack and stop the bleeding of our economy. We will overcome attempts at destabilisation of our society by a few rogue Zimbabweans acting in league with foreign detractors.

“The reforms, opening up, liberalisation and modernisation we began shall continue with accelerated pace. Those who promote hate and disharmony will never win. The bad apples that have attempted to divide our people and to weaken our systems will be flushed out. Good shall triumph over evil,” he said.

The President, in his speech, implored Zimbabweans to work together in unity and love so as to disarm the dark forces both within and outside the country’s borders that thrive on disunity.

“The dark forces, both inside and outside our borders, have tempered with our growth and prosperity for too long. They have thrived on dividing us. Let us as a people embrace the call for patriotism, hard work, transparency, accountability, love, unity and peace.

“Now is the time to embrace the opportunities before us with optimism and determination to transform and modernise our society. The door to the old manner of doing things is shut. The corrupt way is closed.

“Let us therefore pledge, individually and collectively, to defend our country, to be productive, to grow our economy and never to tear our motherland apart by dividing its people. In unison we must proclaim that “Enough is enough. This is Zimbabwe, our Motherland and we will defend her from any form of attack,” he said.