Online Reporter
MacDenias Moyo
SINCE the dawn of independence in 1980, Zimbabwe has walked a path marked by sacrifice, resilience and unyielding determination to assert its sovereignty.
Our nation’s trajectory has been neither simple nor linear, but it has been a struggle against imperialism, against externally orchestrated regime change agendas and against the suffocating grip of sanctions designed to cripple our economy and spirit.
Yet, through these storms, Zimbabwe has emerged as a nation that owns its destiny, a people who have reclaimed their land and a republic that continues to march steadfastly towards Vision 2030.
The land reform programme remains the most defining milestone in our post-independence history. It was not merely an economic policy, but it was the rectification of a historical injustice, the reclamation of dignity for the black majority who had been dispossessed for generations.
President Mnangagwa has often reminded the nation that land is the economy and the economy is land. Today, the land is in the hands of its rightful owners.
Black farmers, once excluded from the commanding heights of agriculture, now dominate tobacco production, making Zimbabwe one of the world’s leading exporters.
This is proof of the ingenuity and resilience of our people.
Tobacco, maize and wheat production have surged, with plantations across the country symbolising the rebirth of Zimbabwean agriculture. We are no longer beggars at the table of global food politics, but we are self-sufficient, feeding ourselves and contributing to the world market.
Agriculture has become the backbone of our economic sovereignty. The growth of wheat and maize production, supported by irrigation schemes and mechanisation, has ensured food security even in the face of climatic challenges.
Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development Minister Dr Anxious Masuka has declared that Zimbabwe will never again be food insecure under his watch and indeed, plantations of sugar, cotton and horticultural produce have expanded, creating employment and sustaining rural economies. The black majority, once relegated to the margins, now stands at the centre of agricultural prosperity, embodying the promise of independence.
Parallel to agriculture, the mining sector has witnessed a remarkable transformation. Zimbabwe’s mineral wealth in gold, platinum, diamonds, lithium and chrome has become a pillar of national development.
Vice President Kembo Mohadi has emphasised that minerals must be a blessing, not a curse and that Zimbabweans must be the primary beneficiaries.
Crucially, the black majority has entered this sector with vigour, no longer spectators, but participants and beneficiaries. Partnerships with foreign investors are pursued not as acts of subservience, but as sovereign agreements that respect our independence and national interest.
Also, Mines and Mining Development Minister Dr Polite Kambamura has reiterated that Zimbabwe will never mortgage its resources to outsiders, but will engage in partnerships that empower Zimbabweans and ensure that our resources serve our people first.
Education, too, has been a cornerstone of our national journey. From the early years of independence, Zimbabwe invested heavily in education, building schools across rural and urban areas and expanding access to tertiary institutions. Today, our universities and colleges produce graduates who are not only skilled but also conscious of their role in nation-building.
The literacy rate, among the highest in Africa, is a badge of honour for our republic.
Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has noted that education is the sword and shield of our sovereignty.
Education has become the engine of empowerment, equipping our youth with the tools to innovate, to lead and to transform our economy in line with Vision 2030.
The health sector has equally advanced, despite the challenges imposed by sanctions and resource constraints. Hospitals and clinics have multiplied and the training of medical professionals has expanded. The new dispensation has prioritised excellence in healthcare delivery, investing in infrastructure, equipment and human capital. Our health system, though tested by pandemics and economic pressures, continues to push towards quality service, affirming the state’s commitment to the well-being of its citizens. The Ministry of Health and Child Care has underscored that health is the foundation of productivity, and that no nation can prosper without a healthy citizenry.
Under the Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP), Zimbabwe laid the groundwork for macroeconomic stability, fiscal discipline and institutional reform. TSP was not an end in itself, but a bridge towards the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1). NDS1 deepened structural reforms, focusing on infrastructure development, industrialisation and social protection.
Roads, dams and energy projects were rolled out, creating the foundation for sustainable growth. Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube has explained that fiscal discipline under TSP and NDS1 was the anchor that allowed Zimbabwe to stabilise its economy and prepare for growth.
The successes of NDS1 are visible in the expansion of electricity generation, the rehabilitation of transport networks and the strengthening of social safety nets.
Now, under NDS2, Zimbabwe has entered a new phase of transformation. Significant strides have been made in opening up the business space. Levies have been scrapped, reduced, or removed altogether, creating a more conducive environment for investment and entrepreneurship.
This bold move has unleashed the potential of the private sector, encouraging innovation and job creation. NDS2 is not merely a policy document, but a living expression of the government’s commitment to Vision 2030, a vision of an upper-middle-income economy driven by Zimbabwean ingenuity and resilience. International entities such as the African Development Bank have acknowledged Zimbabwe’s reforms, noting that the country is on a path of sustainable growth.
The promise of CAB3 carries with it the momentum of continuity and consolidation. It represents the next chapter in our national development, ensuring that the gains of TSP, NDS1 and NDS2 are not only preserved, but expanded.
CAB3 promises deeper industrialisation, greater technological adoption, and enhanced social services. Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi has assured the nation that CAB3 will be the engine that propels Zimbabwe into the ranks of prosperous nations. Business leaders have echoed this sentiment, highlighting that Zimbabwe’s youth are the greatest asset and that CAB3 must harness their energy and innovation.
As Zimbabweans, we have much to celebrate. We celebrate 46 years of independence, 46 years of sovereignty free from colonial domination. We celebrate the reclamation of our land, the empowerment of our farmers, the rise of our miners, the education of our youth and the health of our people. We celebrate the resilience that has carried us through sanctions and external pressures, the unity that has sustained us and the vision that continues to guide us.
Our journey has been arduous, but it has been purposeful. We have braved imperialism, resisted regime change and endured sanctions.
Yet, we stand today as a nation that owns its destiny, a republic that is building its future with its own hands. Vision 2030 is not a slogan; it is the culmination of our struggle, the fulfilment of our independence and the promise of prosperity for generations to come.
Zimbabwe’s story is one of triumph against adversity, of sovereignty defended and of a people determined to rise.
As we march towards Vision 2030, let us do so with pride, with unity and with the unshakable conviction that Zimbabwe is and will always remain a sovereign nation, master of its destiny and beacon of resilience in Africa.
