Online Reporter
President Mnangagwa has said his Government will not tolerate bureaucratic lethargy that frustrates progress and as such failure to make decisions and the culture of sitting on documents will not be condoned.
Addressing the first Cabinet meeting of the year on Tuesday, President Mnangagwa said unwarranted rigidity, inflated individualities and bureaucratic lethargy of Cabinet Ministers or Government Departments that frustrate developmental progress will not be tolerated under the Second Republic.
He said accountable governance is an imperative as the country implements National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2). President Mnangagwa said Cabinet must focus on achieving a single national Vision and the realisation of the objectives outlined in NDS2.
“I will not accept unwarranted rigidity, inflated individualities and misalignment or bureaucratic lethargy that frustrates progress from yourselves individually, or the ministries, departments and agencies over which you superintend,” said President Mnangagwa.
He said Government was answerable to the people and as such accountable governance must be encouraged going forward. President Mnangagwa said citizens looked up to Government to facilitate investments across all sectors as well as help deliver services and higher quality of life.
He implored Cabinet Ministers to take the onerous responsibility with the seriousness, diligence and vigour worthy of these roles within the Executive.
President Mnangagwa emphasised the importance of attending Cabinet and Cabinet Committee meetings saying attending these meetings was mandatory. He said complacency and absenteeism was unacceptable and will therefore not be condoned.
Last year President Mnangagwa had to crack the whip on some Ministers of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution who were not attending Cabinet Committee meetings. He said then that the failure of the ministers to attend Cabinet Committee meetings was tantamount to dereliction of duty.
President Mnangagwa has said Cabinet Ministers including Provincial Ministers, should demonstrate leadership capability, integrity and humility that rallies communities around the common national vision. He said hesitation, the dragging of feet and fence-sitting were not acceptable dispositions under his administration.
The task at hand is to grow the economy and Government on its part has come up with a cocktail of measures meant to attract both local and foreign investors. Cabinet Ministers and all senior Government officials should take heed of President Mnangagwa’s call for them to ensure investors are not frustrated by long and protracted procedures as has been witnessed in the past.
There is a need to continue improving the ease of doing business environment as we work to build the Zimbabwe we all want. It is incumbent upon each and every Cabinet Minister to deliver and justify his or her appointment to that post.
