admininformation on progress on implementation of the Medium Term Plan.
The Planning Bulletin, whose first edition was released in the second quarter of this year, will be published on a quarterly basis.
“The goal is to provide to all stakeholders with up-to-date and reliable information on key socio-economic activities and developments as they relate to Zimbabwe at national, regional and international levels for policy guidance purposes,” he said.
“It is sad to note that most external players are unaware of Zimbabwe’s developments in respect of its macro-economic fundamentals, which is one reason why investment inflows are still very limited.
Speaking at the launch, Women’s University in Africa Vice Chancellor Professor Hope Sadza said Zimbabwe needed to improve on research for economic planning, but also lamented lack of effective implementation strategies.
“Poor implementation of plans and policies has been the tragedy of Zimbabwe, a lot of good plans have been developed but these have not been accompanied by effective implementation due to a lack of monitoring frameworks, especially in ministries and parastatals,” she said. Prof Sadza also urged the ministry to engage the country’s tertiary education and research institutions.
According to the ministry, the Planning Bulletin will also be used to report on the progress made in the implementation of the MTP.
Prof Sadza said the Planning Bulletin for the current quarter will contain a report on efforts that have been made to date towards the implementation of the MTP.
The MTP targets the following: an average growth rate of 7,1 percent per annum, single- digit annual inflation, interest rate that promotes savings and fosters investment. Current account deficit of not more than 5 percent of Gross Domestic Product by 2015, sustained poverty reduction in line with the Millennium Development Goals targets and double-digit savings and investment ratios of around 20 percent of GDP by 2015.
It also targets reduction of the sovereign debt to at least 60 percent of GDP by 2015
Other priorities in the MTP include infrastructure development, employment creation, human-centred development, macro-economic stability, good governance, investment promotion, poverty reduction and gender mainstreaming.
Online Reporter