Online Reporter
Nick Mangwana
Government Up Close
AS the vibrant city of Mutare hosts the 22nd National People’s Conference, there is a palpable sense of anticipation in the air.
Delegates, supporters, and the nation at large gather not merely to chart a new course, but to take stock of a journey already in motion. This gathering is more than a ritual of political assembly; it is a moment of accountability, a testament to a party and a Government that does not just make promises, but builds the tangible foundations to fulfil them.
The resolutions emanating from these Conferences are often described as a blueprint. But a blueprint is only as good as the structure it inspires. As the nation converges on the sidelines of this 22nd Conference, the most compelling story to be told is not solely about the new resolutions that will be adopted, but about the concrete actions, relentless effort, and strategic implementation that have characterised the year since the last conference that was held in the City of Kings and Queens.
The narrative is one of steadfast progress, where the bold vision articulated in the halls of previous conferences has been methodically translated into programmes, projects, and policies that are transforming lives and shaping the nation’s destiny.
Under the visionary leadership of His Excellency President Mnangagwa, the Government has operated with a singular focus: to deliver on the social contract embodied in the 21st National People’s Conference resolutions.
This op-ed is a report on that delivery. It is a detailed account that moves beyond political rhetoric to chronicle the facts on the ground — the roads paved, the dams built, the currencies stabilised, the communities empowered.
In the following sections, we will journey through the key thematic areas of our national resolve, from entrenching economic sovereignty through the ZiG to achieving food self-sufficiency, from building world-class infrastructure to extending the social safety net to the most vulnerable. We will unpack some of the actions taken by the Government in the delivery of few selected resolutions for want of space.
This will demonstrate how the Government is not just listening, but acting; not just planning, but delivering. As we stand in Mutare, we do so with the confidence that the foundations laid in the past year are propelling Zimbabwe inexorably forward on its journey towards an empowered and prosperous upper-middle-income society by 2030.
The promise was made; now, we are witnessing its fulfilment. Let us now explore how the following highlighted resolutions are being and have been fulfilled:
Resolution: That Government take robust measures to strengthen the purchasing power of the Zimbabwe Gold currency (ZiG) and entrench its usage.”
The Government, through the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ), has undertaken a multi-pronged strategy to defend the currency and make it the preferred medium of exchange. Key actions include:
Fiscal and Monetary Policy Harmony:
A deliberate and sustained synchronisation of fiscal and monetary policies has been implemented to ensure that Government spending and money supply growth do not undermine the currency’s value.
Structural backing with gold and forex:
The ZiG was introduced as a structural reform, explicitly backed by a composite basket of foreign currencies and gold reserves held by the RBZ, providing a tangible foundation for value.
Mandatory use for tax obligations:
A key measure to entrench usage was mandating that businesses settle at least 50 percent of their quarterly tax obligations in ZiG. This creates built-in demand and reinforces its status as legal tender.
Crackdown on illicit markets:
The Government has actively criminalised activities of economic saboteurs, with law enforcement agencies targeting illegal foreign currency traders and the parallel market to stabilise the official exchange rate.
These robust measures have yielded significant positive outcomes, establishing the ZiG as a pillar of macroeconomic stability. The currency’s stability over the last 15 months has brought a much-needed respite for businesses and consumers, allowing for reliable long-term planning and contracting.
Resolution: Speed up the completion of Gwayi-Shangani dam
The Gwayi-Shangani Dam is more than just a reservoir; it is the long-envisioned solution to Bulawayo’s perennial water challenges and a catalyst for the agricultural transformation of the entire Matabeleland North region. This is a project that has transcended 10 prime ministers and two presidents. Today, that narrative has been changed by the Second Republic under President Mnangagwa.
The directive to “speed up” has been operationalised with precision. With the project now over 70 percent complete, the Government has instituted a decisive funding model: a dedicated monthly disbursement to ensure the contractor has the resources to maintain relentless momentum. The result is visible on the ground, with 24-hour construction shifts now a reality. Each new metre of the rising dam wall is a physical testament to a promise being kept. The anticipation is now building towards the final stage: impoundment, which is expected within the next year, finally bringing the dream of water security for the region within touching distance.
Similarly, the Kunzvi Dam project, critical for ending Harare’s decades-long water woes, has been injected with a new sense of urgency. The recent successful closure of the Nyagui riverbed in September 2025 was not just a technical milestone; it was a powerful symbolic act. It marked the definitive shift from the phase of building the dam to the phase of filling the dam.
This achievement is a direct outcome of the accelerated pace. The implementation of double shifts and weekend work demonstrates a project management culture that is aligned with the national priority. The contractor’s focus on completing the project before the next rainy season to begin impoundment underscores the understanding that every day counts. This project is poised to be the permanent solution to the water rationing that has plagued the capital, while also supporting the development of a new city and surrounding rural communities.
The accelerated progress on these two fronts is a clear fulfilment of the party’s resolution. It demonstrates a governance model that moves from setting targets to actively unblocking the obstacles that stand in their way.
The primary hurdle for infrastructure projects of this magnitude has always been sustainable funding, and by directly addressing this through targeted Treasury support, the Government has shown its commitment to seeing these projects through to completion.
Resolution: Ensure that ZIMRA working with law enforcement agencies, develop and implement a robust system that curb s leakages of unprocessed natural resources and smuggling of goods out of the country
This resolution stands as a critical pillar of our national economic security. We are pleased to report that, through a concerted and collaborative Whole-Of-Government approach, we are delivering on this mandate with tangible and encouraging results.
This is not the effort of a single Ministry or agency, but a synchronized national strategy. We have moved decisively to construct a multi-layered defence system against economic sabotage, built on the pillars of legislative reform, inter-agency operational cohesion, and strategic support for our domestic industries.
In fulfilment of the party resolution, the Government has deployed a comprehensive and integrated strategy built upon three core pillars. The first is legislative reinforcement, spearheaded by the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA). This has been actualised through the enactment of Statutory Instrument 7 of 2025, a pivotal legal instrument that creates a presumption against smuggling for key goods. The strategic objective of this measure is to secure our domestic market and provide durable protection for our local industries from illicit competition.
The second pillar is coordinated enforcement, which operationalises the collaboration between ZIMRA, the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), and dedicated multi-agency taskforces. Through joint operations encompassing highway inspections, retail oversight, and targeted anti-smuggling sweeps, this unified front is decisively disrupting illicit supply chains. The strategic objective here is twofold: to dismantle the networks of economic sabotage and to project a visible and unwavering demonstration of state security.
Underpinning these efforts is the third pillar: Industrial Protection and Growth, led by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce. This involves the proactive implementation of the Zimbabwe Industrial Reconstruction and Growth Plan (ZIRGP), complemented by public awareness campaigns. The overarching strategic objective of this pillar is to build a resilient and self-sufficient national economy, thereby addressing the root causes of demand for smuggled goods and fostering sustainable domestic production.
Now to the mineral leakages;
Zimbabwe’s mineral wealth is the bedrock upon which our future prosperity is meant to be built. Yet, this national inheritance is being systematically plundered. The pervasive smuggling of gold, diamonds, and lithium is not merely a crime; it is an act of economic sabotage that bleeds the nation dry. Billions in potential revenue vanish across porous borders, starving our fiscus of funds needed for hospitals, schools, and infrastructure, while enriching a shadowy few. This illicit trade undermines legitimate miners, distorts our currency, and funds corrupt networks that threaten our national security. The environmental scars left by illegal mining operations — poisoned rivers and denuded landscapes — are a toxic legacy for our children. The Party said we must curb this.
The spectre of smuggling poses a dual threat to Zimbabwe’s economic health. While the illegal inflow of goods undermines local industry and deprives the state of rightful revenue, the illicit outflow of our precious minerals represents a far more profound haemorrhage of our national wealth. This twin challenge demands a robust and strategic response.
Government’s first priority was to strengthen the legal tools at our disposal. The introduction of Statutory Instrument 7 of 2025 has been a game-changer, strategically placing the responsibility on traders to demonstrate the lawful importation of goods, thereby fortifying our compliance framework. This same rigour is now being directed inwards to confront the pilfering of our minerals — an act of economic sabotage that bleeds the nation of billions and mortgages our future.
Heeding the directive of Resolution 30 from the 21st National People’s Conference, the Government is mounting a decisive counter-offensive. The synergy between the Zimra and our law enforcement agencies has been operationalised into a dynamic and effective force. The establishment of multi-agency task forces has enabled a seamless integration of capabilities, from border control to inland enforcement.
This coordinated presence on our highways and at mine sites sends an unequivocal message: the illegal movement of goods and the theft of our minerals will be met with the full and united force of the state.
The Government has established and is continuously enhancing a comprehensive system to secure our economic frontiers. The progress made in fulfilling this resolution is a testament to what we can achieve when we work in unison towards a common national goal. We remain steadfast in our resolve to protect our nation’s resources, ensure the health and safety of our citizens, and foster a stable economic environment conducive to growth and investment. The work continues, but the foundation is strong, and our collective commitment is unwavering.
Resolution: Expedite the localisation of the production of fertilisers and other agricultural inputs so as to reduce the cost of production
In line with the clear directive to “Expedite the localisation of the production of fertilisers and other agricultural inputs so as to reduce the cost of production,” the Government has undertaken a strategic and multi-faceted intervention to achieve self-sufficiency and insulate our farmers from volatile global supply chains and pricing. This is not merely an import substitution program; it is a fundamental restructuring of our agricultural input value chain.
Through targeted partnerships and investment, we have prioritised the local manufacturing of key fertilisers, most notably through the expansion of the Sable Chemicals ammonium nitrate plant and the support for local blenders producing Compound D, which has drastically reduced our reliance on imported varieties. This drive for localisation is further bolstered by initiatives to ramp up the domestic production of critical raw materials, such as limestone and ammonium nitrate, and to empower local companies in the assembly and manufacturing of irrigation equipment, tractors, and other farm implements. The result is a definitive reduction in the cost base for our agricultural sector, ensuring that our farmers are equipped with affordable, home-grown inputs, thereby securing national food sovereignty and propelling us toward the prosperous, resilient economy envisioned in our national development agenda.
The tangible progress chronicled here — from the stable ZiG and rising dam walls to secured borders and a thriving local inputs industry — is not merely a list of achievements. It is demonstrable proof of a governing ethos in action. The resolutions that emerged from Bulawayo were not taken as suggestions, but as directives; and this account represents just a sample of their systematic implementation. It is this sacred synergy — where the Party provides the strategic compass and the Government, under the steadfast leadership of His Excellency President Mnangagwa, executes with unwavering focus — that propels our nation forward.
As party members and Government technocrats convene in Mutare, it’s all done on a foundation of proven delivery. The 22nd National People’s Conference will undoubtedly produce a new, bold set of resolutions to accelerate our journey. Let there be no doubt: the same machinery of state that has turned the promises of Bulawayo into reality is poised, ready, and eager to receive the new mandate from Mutare.
The roadmap to an empowered and prosperous upper-middle income society by 2030 is being trudged, and with each fulfilled resolution, we move with confidence from blueprint to brick and mortar.
The promise is being delivered, and the best is yet to come.
Nick Mangwana is the Permanent Secretary for Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services
