Sundaymail Editor
Richard Muponde
Permanent secretaries of all Government Ministries will undergo a performance evaluation exercise at the end of the year, to assess their effectiveness and efficiency during 2021, President Mnangagwa has said.
In his State of the Nation Address (SONA) and the official opening of the fourth session of the ninth Parliament, President Mnangagwa said all heads of State-owned enterprises and local authorities will also be given performance-based contracts this year.
“To entrench the work ethic of the Second Republic and the culture of accountability, all our permanent secretaries signed performance contracts in December 2020,” said the President.
“At the end of 2021, the inaugural evaluation of the contracts will be conducted.
“In January 2022, all heads of State-owned enterprises, parastatals as well as local authorities will be required to sign similar contracts in order to guarantee that our citizens enjoy value for money.”
The contracts oblige those managing public services to perform to defined expectations, in line with the key demands of the public sector.
President Mnangagwa said the emergent economic rebound that Zimbabwe is undergoing, will be sustained through genuine reforms and hard work.
“My administration is buoyed by the upward growth trajectory of our economy.
“This year’s projections indicate an over 7,8 percent economic growth.
“The higher predictions are premised on the good 2020/21 agriculture season, firm international mineral commodity prices, stable inflation and exchange rate, as well as the containment of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The financial sector is stable, with the foreign currency auction performing well and accessed by both large and small-to-medium size businesses.
“Going forward, my Government will ensure that the platform is adequately resourced and that the relevant authorities enhance efficiencies within the system.”
He said the continued imposition of economic sanctions on the country continues to affect Government’s efforts to engineer an economic turnaround.
“These successes are being recorded against a backdrop of the continuing illegal economic sanctions.
“The sanctions have a deleterious impact on our economy. We, therefore, reiterate our calls for their urgent and unconditional removal.”
The timely implementation of interventions in the agriculture sector by Government, he said, has resulted in immense benefits for the sector.
President Mnangagwa said the focus of the multi-pronged programmes is to increase rural per capita incomes, while also improving household food security and nutrition.
“The increased number of young people undertaking thriving farming businesses throughout the country is applauded,” he said.
“This new crop of young farmers assures us that the land which we fought for, will remain in safe hands, for posterity.
“Recognising the far-reaching impacts of climate change and the need to build resilience, while ensuring adaptation remain essential.”
He added:
“In addition, my Government is consistently availing adequate resources to expedite payments to our farmers for crop deliveries. This strategy is envisaged to guarantee enhanced productivity and profitability of farm operations along the ‘farming as a business’ philosophy.
“I once again exhort all farmers to ensure the timely preparation for the 2021/2022 agriculture season.”
Meanwhile, Parliament adjourned its sitting to Tuesday next week.
Online Reporter