admineconomic blueprint gathers momentum, a Cabinet minister said yesterday..
Economic Planning and Investment Promotion Minister Tapiwa Mashakada said in an interview the main objective of rolling out the MTP to all provinces was to seek stakeholder buy-in.
The two-week rollout programme will begin in the Matabeleland North capital of Lupane on Thursday.
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, Vice Presidents Joice Mujuru and John Nkomo, Deputy Prime Ministers Professor Arthur Mutambara and Thokozani Khupe will launch the plan in Matabeleland and Masvingo.
“Development is about people,” said Minister Mashakada. “The objective of rolling out the MTP plan (to the provinces countrywide) is to ensure that national policies are cascaded to provinces where most of the
developmental programmes are implemented.”
The US$9,3 billion blueprint builds on the foundation laid by the Short-Term Economic Recovery Programme and the Three-Year Macro-Economic Policy Framework launched in 2009 and last year respectively.
The plan is a summary of the policy framework, projects, investment opportunities and programmes to grow the economy and create jobs.
It seeks to achieve broad-based economic growth, increase empowerment, create jobs and improve the economic and social welfare of the people.
The MTP targets an average annual economic growth rate of 7,1 percent in the next five years and average annual employment creation of 6 percent.
It envisages a current account deficit of 5 percent of Gross Domestic Product by 2015, foreign exchange reserves of at least three months import cover and double-digit savings and investment ratios of 20 percent of GDP.
In addition, the blueprint targets a budget deficit of less than 5 percent, reducing sovereign debt to 60 percent of GDP by 2015, poverty reduction to meet Millennium Development Goals and a good interest rate regime.
Government has already undertaken some foreign business missions to Brazil and China within the context of the implementation of the MTP.
Business organisations such as the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries, Zimbabwe National of Chamber of Commerce and the Chamber of Mines are expected to be part of the provincial launches.
The economy is now recovering from a decade of recession characterised by hyperinflation, unemployment and the collapse of critical sectors.
The formation of the coalition Government between the main political parties coupled with the introduction of the multi-currency regime has helped to bring back macro-economic stability and predictability.
Online Reporter