Online Reporter
Rutendo Nyeve
Victoria Falls Reporter
THE Government has intensified efforts to strengthen local economies, ensuring they align with contemporary foreign and domestic investment expectations.
This comes as the Second Republic, under President Mnangagwa’s leadership, accelerates the devolution agenda to foster inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
Speaking during the official opening of the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) Annual Congress in Victoria Falls this morning, Secretary for Presidential Affairs and Devolution in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Engineer Tafadzwa Muguti outlined key measures being implemented to empower provinces and local authorities.
Engineer Muguti said the Government is reconfiguring State structures to support the devolution agenda.
“The Government is seized with the task of reconfiguring State architecture to support the constitution-driven devolution agenda. To this effect, measures have been put in place in the last five years to ensure that we have a clear devolved structure of Central Government, Provincial Government, and Local Government,” he said.
He highlighted the role of Provincial Development Committees, Local Development Committees, and legislative bodies such as Provincial Councils in driving development.
However, he stressed that a paradigm shift is needed for Zimbabwe to fully realise provincial economic growth.
“This includes fiscal discipline, ensuring that the three tiers of Government adhere to the plans and trajectory of national development blueprints,” he said.
To address economic challenges and enhance investment readiness, the Government has introduced several initiatives, including provincial and local economic development plans, decentralised stakeholder consultations, fiscal devolution, provincial development agencies, and community share ownership trusts.
He said the Government is developing Provincial Fiscal Performance Analysis Frameworks to track economic progress.
“From this year, we will look at the provincial Gross Domestic Products, including per capita, provincial production index, ensuring that each province is responsible for its productivity,” he said.
Other indices include food security, tourism, infrastructure, employment, and poverty reduction.
Engineer Muguti urged businesses to adopt transformative thinking and shun speculative practices.
“Government policies are meant to guide and regulate how your businesses operate and compete. Government is also there to create a conducive investment and economic climate, which allows you to prosper,” he said.
He called for an end to economic sabotage, smuggling, and arbitrage, urging businesses to engage constructively in policy formulation.
“Let us work together. You can submit your suggestions on how we can make the economy better to Parliament or the Presidency,” he said.
dyton mupawaenda