Online Reporter
Nyore Madzianike in Masvingo
ZIMBABWE has moved to a critical stage of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) targeted review process, with stakeholders convening in Masvingo to validate the draft report on economic governance and management.
The validation workshop follows an extensive country review conducted from November 1 to November 19 last year by an African union APRM delegation led by Ambassador Aly El Hefny.
The delegation traversed all provinces, engaging locals, Government, the private sector, development partners, civil society, traditionalists, churches and other stakeholders.
The APRM targeted review is a voluntary self-monitoring tool for good governance, promoting democracy, political stability, economic growth and sustainable development.
Speaking during the validation workshop, APRM Chairperson of the National Governing Council, Commissioner James Manzou, said the exercise is essential in ensuring that the final report accurately reflects Zimbabwe’s realities, achievements and challenges in economic governance and management.
“You will recall that from November 1 to 19, we had a delegation from the African Union, the African Peer Review Mechanism, which we took around the country on a review of Zimbabwe’s economic governance and management.
“This is the topic that His Excellency the President chose for Zimbabwe’s first review. After the two weeks of engagement, the APRM produced a draft report, which was submitted to us about a week ago. We are now at the point of validating that report.”
Commissioner Manzou said the validation was not a mere formality, but a substantive process meant to safeguard the credibility and integrity of the APRM outcomes.
“When we talk of validation, we are looking at the accuracy of the report.
“Are the statistics presented correct as we presented them? Are the institutional mandates correctly quoted? Are the policies, laws and reforms cited accurately?” he said.
Commissioner Manzou said that equally important is ensuring balance and fairness in the report.
He said the validation process is crucial since the report contains recommendations that will shape Zimbabwe’s future reforms.
“We are checking whether the achievements Zimbabwe has recorded in economic governance and management are fairly presented and whether the challenges we face as a nation are correctly captured. We are also looking at issues of consistency and contextualisation,” he said.
Comm Manzou said the report comes with recommendations on what Zimbabwe can do to improve its economic governance and management. The validation outcome will be submitted to President Mnangagwa, who will then present the report at the African union summit slated for next month in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
National APRM Focal Person and Ministry of Foreign Affairs Secretary Ambassador Albert Chimbindi said the validation marked another milestone in a peer-driven process aimed at strengthening governance across the continent.
He commended President Mnangagwa for acceding to the AU-APRM, describing it as a voluntary African-led mechanism where Heads of State and Government peer-review each other to enhance democracy and improve governance systems.
“The idea is for Africans to judge each other and help each other improve where we need to improve, while also learning from best practices elsewhere so that we do not reinvent the wheel,” he said.
Ambassador Chimbindi said the choice of economic governance and management as Zimbabwe’s review theme was deliberate, allowing the country to showcase its economic management frameworks, policies and reforms, while also learning from other countries.
Ambassador Chimbindi said the Masvingo meeting, being held at Clevers Lake View Resort, is for validating whether the views expressed by citizens and stakeholders during national consultations were accurately reflected in the draft report.
“We are checking the accuracy of the statistics and ensuring that what the people said is what is reflected. We are also preparing for the presentation of the report in Addis Ababa on the sidelines of the next AU Summit in February 2026,” he said.
Also in attendance were APRM chief executive officer Rofina Chikava, National Governance Council committee member and Ministry of Information Chief Director Jonathan Gandari and Permanent Secretary for Devolution in the Office of the President and Cabinet Tafadzwa Muguti.
Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, University of Zimbabwe, Ministry of Finance and other stakeholders are also attending the workshop.
Bongani Ndlovu