Online Reporter
Nyore Madzianike in Masvingo
Zimbabwe’s African Peer Review Mechanism process continues to demonstrate the country’s strong commitment to national ownership, transparency and inclusive governance, the National Governing Council chairperson Ambassador James Manzou has said.
Speaking at the close of the targeted review on economic governance and management draft report validation workshop in Masvingo, Ambassador Manzou said the robust discussions and consensus reached by participants underscored a shared resolve to ensure accuracy and credibility in the APRM country self-assessment report.
Acting Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Willard Manungo was the guest of the workshop.
“The robust discussions and consensus reached reflect our shared commitment to accuracy, transparency and national ownership of the APRM processes.
“I wish to particularly commend all ministries, departments and agencies, as well as stakeholders represented here, for taking collective responsibility in validating the information that falls within their respective mandates,” said Ambassador Manzou.
He indicated that the inclusive and participatory nature of the engagement was central to the APRM philosophy, saying it was essential in producing a report that genuinely reflected Zimbabwe’s progress, challenges and national priorities.
“This inclusive and participatory approach lies at the heart of the APRM process and is essential in producing a report that truly reflects our country’s progress and priorities,” he said.
He added that outcomes from the workshop, including agreed corrections and comments, would be consolidated and submitted to the APRM Continental Secretariat as part of the finalisation process.
“Allow me to assure you that the outcomes of this workshop will be submitted for consideration as we move towards the finalisation of the report.
“The work undertaken here carries significant weight and will contribute meaningfully to shaping the final product,” he said.
He urged stakeholders to sustain the spirit of collaboration beyond the workshop, emphasising that the APRM process was not an end in itself, but a strategic tool to strengthen governance systems and support national development aspirations.
“As we leave this workshop, let us maintain the same level of collaboration and commitment.
“The APRM is a tool to strengthen governance and support our national development aspirations and our partnership on this shared journey must continue,” he said.
Acting Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Willard Manungo extended gratitude to the APRM National Governing Council for steering the targeted review process and organising the draft report validation workshop.
He also expressed gratitude to various Government departments and other stakeholders who participated during the validation workshop saying their contribution was reflective of collective commitment to producing a credible and high-quality report.
Dr Manungo said the efficiency and professionalism exhibited during the week long validation process contributed to the success of the workshop.
“Your dedication, commitment, and active engagement in this important national exercise reflect a shared sense of responsibility and ownership of the APRM process,” he said.
Dr Manungo said during the course of the work, they collectively and constructively reviewed the APRM draft report.
He said they carefully examined factual accuracy, internal consistency, and aligning it with verified data, national policies and institutional mandates.
“Through open, inclusive and candid deliberations, we validated key findings, clarified statistics, harmonised terminologies and resolved outstanding issues, thereby strengthening the credibility and ownership of the report.
“This rigorous validation process has ensured that the draft report is accurately reflecting the realities of Zimbabwe’s economic governance and management framework,” he said.
Dr Manungo urged APRM team to remain focused and committed to working collectively towards the sustainable development of the country.
“The shared responsibility and cooperation demonstrated during this workshop should continue to guide our efforts as we translate the outcomes of the APRM process into tangible actions that strengthen governance, enhance service delivery, and accelerate national development in line with our Vision 2030 of achieving an Upper-Middle Income Society by 2030,” he said.
The APRM targeted review process on economic governance and management was designed to provide an objective, self-driven assessment of national policies, institutions and practices, identifying strengths, gaps and priority reform areas.
