Online Reporter
Tendai Gukutikwa
Mutare Bureau
ALL stakeholders must unite and take immediate, coordinated action to accelerate progress towards attaining Vision 2030, Permanent Secretary for Monitoring and Evaluation in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Ms Nditwani Muleya, has said.
Addressing stakeholders in Makoni District yesterday, Ms Muleya underscored the importance of collaborative efforts in transforming the nation into an upper-middle-income economy by 2030.
“Let us work together because, without teamwork, we will reach 2030 without improving the lives of our people. If we are to achieve Vision 2030, we must be highly coordinated under the district development committees. We should be highly organised, and united as one. That is the only way we can achieve our national objectives,” said Ms Muleya.
The meeting sought to sensitise stakeholders to effectively strategise to attain Vision 2030.
“It is possible to achieve Vision 2030 ahead of schedule. We envision districts that will set a precedent by accomplishing this goal before others. We strive for model districts that embody the ‘leave no one and no place behind’ principle.
Let us put the President’s vision into action, as we are the foot soldiers driving this agenda,” said Ms Muleya.
She underscored the importance of collaborative efforts between local authorities, central government, agencies, development partners, and traditional leaders.
“Inaction yields no progress. We must converge our efforts towards district development and the attainment of Vision 2030,” said Ms Muleya, stressing that proactive community involvement is crucial in achieving national development objectives.
Speaking on devolution, Ms Muleya pointed out that most challenges confronting districts could be resolved locally.
“The President has activated devolution, which is enshrined in our national constitution. Powers have been devolved from central government to the provincial level and, subsequently, to the district level, where the local authority holds sway. Consequently, as councils, you are responsible for the district’s development. I urge you to act accordingly and work together.
“Ninety percent of the challenges you face as a district can be resolved at the district level under devolution. Only 10 percent require escalation to the provincial office or the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution’s office. The solutions and resources to address these problems are readily available within your district, and you will find that collaborative effort yields positive results,” she said.
Ms Muleya also emphasised the importance of aligning stakeholder projects with council master plans to ensure a unified development framework.
“Everyone should be familiar with the council’s master plan as we work towards Vision 2030. Development efforts must be coordinated to avoid duplication and wastage of resources. All departments, private players, non-governmental organisations, and community initiatives must align their plans and activities with local authority blueprints,” she said.
Ms Muleya’s visit is part of a nationwide monitoring tour aimed at assessing progress and bolstering momentum towards the national vision. Similar meetings have been held across districts in Manicaland, following which she will visit the Midlands, Matabeleland North and South, Bulawayo and Harare Metropolitan.
Local leaders expressed their support for her call to unity, with Makoni Rural District Council chairperson, Councillor Ellah Hlanguyo, saying the district was ready to embrace the guidance.
“We have been urged to foster collaboration and leverage teamwork to attain Vision 2030. Devolution is now a reality, and we must work with it. The emphasis on using existing district-level resources and capacities aligns with the National Development Strategy 1’s (NDS1) objectives, which advocate for decentralised governance and community-driven development,” she said.
Traditional leaders also endorsed the drive for enhanced coordination.
“The district has previously struggled with project implementation due to a lack of interdepartmental collaboration. However, we anticipate that this will now change, leading to improved livelihoods for our people,” said Chief Tandi, further citing the Government’s ongoing engagements as evidence of its commitment to inclusive development.
“By empowering local authorities and communities to take ownership of their development agendas, Zimbabwe is moving closer to achieving its vision of becoming an upper-middle-income economy by 2030,” said Chief Tandi
