President commits to attaining Vision 2030 ahead of time

PRESIDENT Mnangagwa has said his administration is targeting to achieve his vision of an upper middle-income economy before the end of his second term through implementing inclusive development programmes that leave no one and no place behind.

He said his current term is decisive in actualising the broad goals of Vision 2030.

Upon assuming power in 2018, President Mnangagwa set out his developmental agenda, Vision 2030 to uplift the country into an upper middle-income economy.

In his weekly column published in Sunday News and Sunday Mail, the President said the past five years have been foundational towards the country’s developmental agenda.

“Vision 2030 straddles three political terms, the first of which began in 2018 and ended this year, just before our Harmonised Elections. We have just begun the second term, which ends two years shy of 2030, the year our vision is scheduled to run its full, programmed course,” he said.

“This makes the current term decisive in actualising the broad goals of our vision. My commitment is to ensure that our vision is realised two years ahead of its due date.”

President Mnangagwa said all hands should be on the deck for the country to achieve its transformation agenda.

He said the uplifting of rural lives will be key for the attainment of Vision 2030 as they were deliberately under developed by the colonialists.

“Our nation must change course by taking responsibility over these rural backwaters which we now must challenge through a new model of development. Time has now come to go beyond community development for a comprehensive programme of rural capacitation and empowerment,” said President Mnangagwa.

“Towards the tail-end of the just-ended term, I broached the idea of rural transformation and empowerment through rural industrialisation. This is our panacea to rural underdevelopment. That idea’s time has now come and, going forward, rural industrialisation must now become the centrepiece of our development plans.”

The President said the Second Republic is striving to lift millions living in rural areas out of poverty, as envisaged by Vision 2030.

He said the People’s Republic of China provides an inspiring example and salutary lessons to that effect.

President Mnangagwa said rural development, through vibrant agriculture and rural industrialisation, must now take its course through provision of water, electricity, irrigation systems, input support schemes, extension services, road network, and access to markets including social services infrastructure.

“These vital enablers should be in place in all our rural communities so that we begin our broad and encompassing programme of sustainable rural industrialisation, informed by factor endowments and activities possible in each community. Government will be a lead actor in this process, including in chaperoning community value chains which we now envisage under this policy,” he said.

President Mnangagwa said building a competitive manufacturing sector is also key towards the attainment of Vision 2030.

He said in ensuring that urbanites do not starve, Government will soon be launching an input distribution scheme for urban and peri-urban farmers so that they can be involved in agriculture productivity.

President Mnangagwa said a multi-sectoral approach is important towards building a firm foundation of a viable manufacturing sector.

“Tomorrow (today) I shall be addressing captains of industry and leaders of business in our resort city, Victoria Falls. Together, we should be able to agree on a common programme of economic action designed to take our nation forward, building on the gains recorded in the past five years. A lot was achieved, creating a firm pedestal for sustained economic growth,” he said.

“I will emphasise production and productivity in industry and across sectors, including vigorous pursuit of clear and efficient value chains, which make our economy a competitive manufacturer and exporter.”

President Mnangagwa said growth in mining and tourism sectors were critical for the country’s growth.

He said Government will also tap into the skills of diaspora-based citizens in pushing the developmental agenda.

“Particularly, exhilarating were my contacts with leading Zimbabwean experts now working for key industries abroad. As groups and as individuals, they expressed their readiness to come back home and to share experiences and expertise which they have garnered over the years they have been abroad,” said President Mnangagwa.

“One project deserves particular mention. A group of Zimbabwean scientists are very keen to establish a Biotechnological Hub back home. This is to be applauded and I promised them full support, including free land for the project.”

The President said there is a need to show faith, confidence and belief in the country’s citizens, many of whom drive key research and development projects in several multinational organisations.

“We must make them feel welcome back home so they contribute to Zimbabwe’s development,” he said. —@nqotshili