Online Reporter
Daimon Phiri
History rarely gives a country a chance to reset in one generation. Zimbabwe has that chance now. At the centre of this reset is His Excellency President Cde Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa.
A liberation fighter, lawyer, and statesman, he is the chief architect of Vision 2030. In November 2017, he said, “the people’s welfare must be paramount.” Eight years later, that promise is being turned into dams, roads, factories, and a new place for Zimbabwe in the world. This is the story of a leader and a nation choosing to rebuild.
From liberation to leadership
President Mnangagwa was born in 1942 in Zvishavane. His politics were shaped in the liberation war. He was among the first to cross into Rhodesia, was captured, sentenced to death, and had his sentence commuted. That experience taught him resilience and the true cost of sovereignty. After independence, he served in Security, Justice, Defence and Finance. In each role he earned a reputation for detail and for solving problems. He is an administrator first, not a slogan-maker. He believes institutions build nations. When he took office on 24 November 2017, he inherited a broken economy and isolation. His first message was direct: “Our country is open for business.” The focus was clear: rebuild.
The 8 foundation bricks: building Vision 2030
In 2018, the Government set a clear goal: an upper-middle-income economy by 2030. To get there, 8 pillars were laid. These are the foundation bricks of the new Zimbabwe.
Brick 1: Governance and Accountability: The fight against corruption was stepped up. ZACC was strengthened. The Public Entities Corporate Governance Act was passed. Devolution was deepened so that provinces get a direct share of development. The message: impunity must end.
Brick 2: Economic Stability: Tough decisions were made. The Zimbabwe Dollar was reintroduced. Inflation, which was in triple digits in 2019, fell to single digits by 2024. Fiscal discipline returned. The economy grew by 6 percent in 2023, led by farming and mining. Stability came first, growth followed.
Brick 3: Infrastructure that you can see: This is where policy becomes real. Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport was expanded, Trabablas Interchange eased traffic in Harare, Hwange
Units 7 and 8 added 600MW to the grid, Lake Gwayi-Shangani Dam started to secure water for Matabeleland, and the roads across the country are being rehabilitated. These projects are the arteries of a reviving economy.
Brick 4: Productive sectors back to work: Agriculture was revived through Pfumvudza/Intwasa and the Presidential Input Scheme. Tobacco hit a record 296 million kg in 2023. In mining, the US$12 billion target is in sight. Lithium, gold and platinum are driving exports. “Value addition” moved from talk to law. We are no longer just exporting raw materials.
Brick 5: People first – education and health: Education 5.0 now pushes universities to do research that creates jobs. New clinics and hospitals were built. More health workers were recruited. The President’s words are simple: “No child must be left behind.”
Brick 6: Protecting the Vulnerable: Social protection was expanded. Drought relief, food aid, and housing projects targeted the poorest. “Development must leave no one behind” became a policy, not just a phrase.
Brick 7: Re-engaging the World: From isolation to partnership. The President led the “Zimbabwe is Open for Business” drive. He attended UNGA, EU-AU summits, and hosted the SADC Summit in 2024. Investment pledges worth over US$20 billion have come in for energy, mining and agriculture since 2018.
Brick 8: Peace and Unity: Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo – A country is built by its owners. Through POLAD and a zero-tolerance stance on violence, the government pushed peace as the base for development. Unity was put at the centre.
The Mnangagwa approach: Results matter
The Second Republic is not driven by ideology. It is driven by results. Three principles stand out. First, Deliver or Explain: The President is known for impatience with excuses.
“I don’t want problems. I want solutions,” he told the Cabinet. Ministers are now judged by what they deliver. Second, Economic Diplomacy: The President personally leads trade missions to
China, Russia, the UAE and Turkey. The goal is investment, not aid. Third, Include Everyone: SMEs, women and youth were put at the centre through funds and quotas. In Bulawayo in 2025, he
said, “The SME sector is the backbone of our economy.” A middle-income economy cannot be built by big companies alone.
Challenges remain
This is not a perfect story. And it should not be. Critics rightly point to currency volatility, high cost of living, and the need for faster political reforms. Civil society calls for more democratic space.
The President’s answer has been consistent: “Rome was not built in a day. But we are building.” He admits the pain but points to the foundation now in place. The next four years to 2030 will decide if the bricks hold.
A legacy of institutions
Leaders are judged by what they leave behind. President Mnangagwa is focused on institutions: a professional civil service, a diversified economy, and a foreign policy based on respect. In 2024, he was asked what he wants to be remembered for. He said: “That I served my people faithfully. That when I was given the responsibility, I did not squander it.” That sense of duty – forged in the war, tested in prison, refined in Cabinet – runs through his leadership.
Epilogue: The task ahead
As we move toward 2030, we must document this journey. Not for praise, but for truth. Our children must know what was done, how it was done, and who did it.
The new dams, roads, power plants and farms tell one story. The renewed hope tells another. Brick by brick, the tone has been set for a better, transformed Zimbabwe. The vision is clear. The work is hard. But as the President often says: “Aluta continua.” The struggle continues.
Daimon Phiri is Managing Editor of Tepp Publishers and former Assistant Inspector, ZRP Press and Public Relations.
