Online Reporter
Zvamaida Murwira, [email protected]
EMPOWERMENT and wealth-creation initiatives launched in recent years are rooted in the conviction that political independence is incomplete without economic emancipation, President Mnangagwa has said.
The Zanu-PF leadership, he said, would continue to craft policy recommendations aimed at driving development and fostering economic prosperity for the millions of Zimbabweans who rely on them to enhance their living standards.
The President, who is also Zanu-PF First Secretary, made the remarks while addressing the 131st Ordinary Session of the revolutionary party’s Central Committee meeting in Harare yesterday.
“As we deliberate at this 131st Ordinary Session, let us remember the millions of Zimbabweans who are looking to us for leadership. Communities look forward to impactful results to improve their livelihoods. Economic prosperity for all must motivate and inform our discussions,” said President Mnangagwa.
“I, therefore, urge us to make policy recommendations and decisions that advance development and prosperity for household by household, village by village; ward by ward; branch by branch; and district by district. This is what rural development, revitalisation and industrialisation entail. Roads, clinics, schools, dip tanks, water and sanitation, including other critical aspects of social services and broader human development, remain our Party’s key deliverables.”
He said the several economic empowerment initiatives that have transformed lives were predicated on the desire to leap forward from political sovereignty to economic independence.
“Under the Second Republic, our empowerment and wealth creation programmes are premised on the principle that ‘political independence without economic independence is incomplete’. We are grateful to friends who partner with us in various fields.
However, the burden of development rests on our shoulders; this must be the truth known by every Zimbabwean, from the young to the old. ‘Nyika inovakwa, inotongwa inonamatirwa nevene vayo/ Ilizwe lakhiwa, libuswe, likhu-le-ke-lwe ngabanikazi balo,” said President Mnangagwa.
“The ongoing journey towards Vision 2030 to become an Upper Middle-Income Society is irreversible. We are building our roads using Zimbabwean companies, achieving food security and sovereignty through tilling our land, increasing production and productivity. Record-breaking growth in the agriculture, mining, manufacturing, energy, tourism, and ICT sectors, among others, is being witnessed. This is how we create employment and modernise our economy.”
The party’s new empowerment models, programmes for women, youth and war veterans, President Mnangagwa said, were having transformational impacts.
“The Women’s League is driving programmes that have increased women’s self-reliance. Many are now involved in a wide range of areas of the economy; these include agriculture, aquaculture, horticulture, mining, the construction industry, as well as manufacturing value chains, agro-processing and logistics, among others,” said President Mnangagwa.
“This is over and above the traditional empowerment programmes such as Arts, crafts, tailoring and baking. Financial inclusion for women, youth and war veterans is also being scaled up. Under the Presidential Youth Fund, youth now run projects generating revolving funds, which are able to self-generate additional resources for deployment right down to the district and ward levels. Likewise, Programmes are underway within the War Veterans’ Leagues to enhance their livelihoods and the quality of life of those who helped to liberate our country from colonial bondage.”
He said that with several such programmes leaving a lasting impact on ordinary persons, the future of the country is bright.
“As we move on with the next cycle of our national development agenda, our Party-led Government is re-invigorating all development projects while also giving impetus and momentum to policy implementation across all Ministries, Departments and Agencies. Additionally, initiatives for robust and responsive social safety nets are being scaled up. Our elderly, people with disabilities, the vulnerable and child-headed households must continue to feel the compassion of our Zanu-PF-led Government,” said President Mnangagwa.
“Quality living standards, housing, water and sanitation are critical aspects of the society we all want by 2030. Hence, results from the local governance systems and service delivery by the Local Authority are non-negotiable. We must be accountable to the people. It is in this spirit and with these issues in mind that I challenge the Party to re-calibrate and re-focus.”
He said under Zanu PF, people always came first.
“I am encouraged by the formidable resilient spirit shown by Zanu-PF. Detractors spend their time in the wilderness of social media, with its illusory false community. Zanu-PF, on the other hand, is on the ground, in villages and wards, winning the hearts and minds of the people,” he said.
