adminNgoni Dapira Business Correspondent
DEVELOPMENT partners have been urged to re-direct funding through central Government and extend assistance beyond the current ‘humanitarian plus’ scope to cover developmental projects and programmes. This was highlighted by the chief secretary to the President and Cabinet, Dr Misheck Sibanda, in his keynote address at a two-day ZimAsset mid-term review retreat last Friday in Nyanga.
The workshop was meant to zero-in on the achievements of the blueprint so far, map a way forward to accelerate programmes and get input from development partners and stakeholders on other ways to improve on the ZimAsset roadmap. The observations and resolutions from the retreat will be factored in a final draft to be titled the Accelerated Implementation of ZimAsset: Recovery and Growth of the National Economy 2016-2018.
Dr Sibanda said there was duplication of efforts and possible abuse of funds by some agencies. He urged development partners to redirect resources to needy areas through central Government structures. “We indeed are pleased that the development partners have agreed to align their support programmes with the ZimAsset clusters.
“Of concern, however, is the fact that much of the funding is still being channeled through structures outside central Government. “This unfortunately leads to duplication of efforts, skewed deployment of resources and difficulties in accounting of such assistance by Government not to mention the possible abuse of such funds by some agencies,” said Dr Sibanda.
He said since the launch of ZimAsset in 2013 the process has not been fast as desired owing to lack of skills to formulate bankable projects. He said this was the reason behind roping in Chinese experts from the National Development and Reform Commission to train some officials.
Dr Sibanda said drawbacks in implementing the blueprint were further compounded by misalignment between ZimAsset priority plans and the National Budget, which reflected weak coordination among relevant line ministries.
He said because of such loopholes Government would next year launch the ZimAsset Communication and Engagement Strategy to ensure knowledge sharing and collaboration among stakeholders.
In that light, the chief secretary also called on the Ministry of Macro-Economic Planning and Investment Promotion to guide the crafting of five-year development plans as well as implementable annual plans which guide the formulation of national budgets.
“We need to focus on the promotion of an inclusive, multi-stakeholder approach development and, above all, craft a shared national vision to guide the implementation of the ZimAsset socio-economic blueprint. This is the purpose of the mid-term review,” he said.
The United Nations resident coordinator and United Nations Development Programme resident representative, Mr Bishow Parajuli commended Government for the ongoing and enhanced engagement with development partners and other stakeholders on key development issues and priorities such as the ZimAsset, the Sustainable Development Goals as well as on the collective response to the prevailing food insecurity.
He said the engagements were important as the country moves to a new phase of development cooperation with renewed efforts on re-engagement with the international financial institutions on debt arrears clearance.
“While in many instances funding has been the main constraint to the implementation of key activities under the ZimAsset, in others it is due to lack of initiative, clear policy direction and coordination.
“There is need to make a critical assessment of policies which did not bring the desired results and change as required, institutional efficiency and improve on implementation,” he said.
On addressing resource constraints, he said there was need for an intensive and consistent advocacy to dispel the ongoing negative perceptions about the country through clarifying policy positions and investment packages. “This way we will not only be able to compete for foreign direct investment but also encourage the Zimbabwean diaspora to invest back home,” he said.
He also called on fiscal reform measures and concerted efforts in widening the fiscal space during the remaining period of the ZimAsset cycle. “Some of the critical planned activities have not been able to be undertaken due to limited fiscal space,” said Mr Parajuli. He added that as the United Nations, they would remain committed to supporting national development priorities as well as the country’s efforts to achieve its international commitments.
“As the United Nations, and in partnership with Government and development partners, we will continue to complement the implementation of ZimAsset through the 2016-2020 Zimbabwe United Nations Development Assistance Framework. Accordingly, the outcomes of this ZimAsset mid-term review will indeed provide an impetus to the ongoing ZUNDAF review and crafting of action plans for 2016,” he said.
Senior principal director in the Office of the President and Cabinet Ambassador Mary Mubi in a side interview on Sunday said the workshop was a resounding success.
She concurred that the potential to achieve the targets of ZimAsset were feasible if there is rapport of the blueprint and the National Budget. “A clear cut strategy is what we need to work on as a nation focusing on debt clearance and developmental issues on the other hand. This mid-term review was a good starting point,” said Ambassador Mubi.
The two-day workshop, which ran until last Saturday, drew Government officials, the private sector, financial sector, academics, civil society, representatives of youth and women groups and development partners.
Online Reporter