Online Reporter
Ivan Zhakata
Herald Correspondent
THE new National Development Strategy 2, a five-year economic blueprint, will guide Zimbabwe’s development agenda from 2026 to 2030 as the country intensifies efforts to attain upper-middle-income status.
Speaking during the inaugural National Policy Expo in Harare yesterday, acting Chief Director for Policy Analysis and Coordination in the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC), Mr Charles Mujajati, said the strategy was designed to accelerate economic transformation, promote inclusive growth and improve livelihoods in line with Vision 2030.
Mr Mujajati said NDS2 was developed through extensive consultations involving Government institutions, the private sector, civil society organisations, development partners and communities across the country.
“The strategy was formulated through a Whole-of-Government and Society approach to ensure that it reflects the aspirations of all Zimbabweans,” he said.
Mr Mujajati said the framework is anchored on Integrated Results-Based Management and guided by the principle of leaving no one and no place behind.
He said the strategy is structured around 10 national priorities, including macroeconomic stability, inclusive economic growth, infrastructure development, environmental sustainability, social development and good governance.
The priorities are aligned with regional and international development frameworks, including the SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan, the African Union Agenda 2063 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Under NDS2, the Government is targeting a Gross National Income per capita of more than US$4 900 by 2030, while formal employment is expected to rise to 45,3 percent.
Value added manufacturing is projected to increase to 18 percent of Gross Domestic Product, while the share of manufactured exports to total exports is expected to reach 18,4 percent.
Mr Mujajati said economic diversification would be driven by value addition and beneficiation in agriculture, mining, manufacturing and tourism.
“We seek to consolidate macroeconomic stability through prudent fiscal and monetary policies, while creating an enabling environment for investment and sustainable growth,” he said.
Infrastructure development has been identified as a key pillar of the strategy, with the Government planning to expand renewable energy generation, rehabilitate road and rail networks, improve water supply systems and accelerate housing delivery through public-private partnerships.
Mr Mujajati said efforts to enhance Zimbabwe’s international re-engagement would continue through debt resolution, arrears clearance and strategic branding aimed at positioning the country as an attractive investment destination.
“The objective is to position Zimbabwe as a preferred destination for tourism, trade, and investment in line with the ‘Zimbabwe is Open for Business’ policy thrust,” he said.
To ensure effective implementation, the Government has established an extensive coordination and monitoring framework involving ministries, departments, agencies, local authorities and other stakeholders.
Mr Mujajati said implementation would be driven through Thematic Working Groups supported by Cabinet Coordinating Committees at the national level, as well as provincial, district and ward structures.
The Policy Hub board chairperson, Dr Edson Badarai, said strong policy frameworks were central to effective governance and service delivery.
“Policy is at the centre of all functions of any modern institution. A weak institutional policy architecture translates to inefficient and poor service delivery, while good policy planning creates enduring success for organisations and society at large,” he said.
Dr Badarai said the Policy Hub has created a platform for inclusive dialogue among the Government, the private sector, academia and civil society to strengthen governance systems and policy formulation.
He said NDS2 reflected the Government’s commitment to sustainable development and urged all sectors of society to contribute to national development.
Dr Badarai also commended farmers, innovators, academics, traders, transport operators and the diaspora community for their contribution to economic growth.
NetOne chief executive Engineer Raphael Mushanawani said the National Policy Expo marked a milestone in Zimbabwe’s governance and policy discourse by bringing together stakeholders for evidence-based engagement.
“This Expo is a national reckoning. For the first time, we have brought together the private sector, public institutions, academia and civil society to engage in deliberate, evidence-based policy advocacy,” he said.
Eng Mushanawani said Zimbabwe has an opportunity to position itself as a continental leader in governance innovation under the African Continental Free Trade Area, which requires policy harmonisation and digital transformation.
He said policy stability remained critical for attracting investment and enabling long-term planning.
“When governance frameworks provide predictability, private sector actors can make long-term investments that transform nations,” Eng Mushanawani said.
He said NetOne contributed to digital transformation, and its network expansion now accounts for more than 46 percent of Zimbabwe’s rural base stations.
“Our Digital Schools Connect initiative aims to provide network coverage and digital literacy to every school by 2030”.
Engineer Mushanawani said NetOne was also investing in financial inclusion through OneMoney, as well as digital agriculture, healthcare innovation, green energy solutions and skills development partnerships with tertiary institutions.
“We are custodians of connectivity. We are enablers of the digital economy. We are ensuring that no Zimbabwean is left behind,” he said.
Engineer Mushanawani said NetOne viewed itself as a “co-author” of Zimbabwe’s development story, supporting inclusive and sustainable growth.
Government reiterated that transparency, accountability and the fight against corruption would remain central to the implementation of NDS 2.
The strategy succeeds the National Development Strategy 1 (2021-2025), which laid the foundation for economic recovery and sets the framework for achieving Vision 2030, Zimbabwe’s long-term goal of attaining an empowered upper-middle-income economy.
