Online Reporter
Zvamaida Murwira, Senior Zimpapers Reporter
THE successful implementation of the Government’s economic blueprint, National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), is anchored on transparency and accountability in the utilisation of public resources, as well as addressing the needs of vulnerable groups such as women, youth and persons living with disabilities, President Mnangagwa has said.
He said the economic blueprint will build on previous plans such as the Transitional Stabilisation Programme and NDS1.
President Mnangagwa made these remarks in the foreword of the NDS2 document, which he launched last week.
“Successful implementation of NDS2 requires that we embrace the tenets of good governance and uphold transparency and accountability over the utilisation of scarce public resources.
This shall be underpinned by inculcating a culture of discipline, responsiveness, hard and honest work, zero tolerance to corruption and rent-seeking behaviours,” said the President.
“NDS2 will further strengthen social cohesion through a renewed social contract anchored on trust, dialogue and shared national values.
Guided by the Tripartite Negotiating Forum, Government will deepen collaboration among the State, business and labour to foster mutual accountability and collective action towards inclusive and sustainable national development.”
He said NDS2 signifies the Second Republic’s resolve to transition towards a prosperous and empowered upper-middle-income society as enunciated in Vision 2030.
“This National Development Strategy builds on the solid foundation laid by the Transitional Stabilisation Programme (2018-2020) and the National Development Strategy 1 (2021-2025), consolidating the gains achieved over the last five years in macroeconomic stability, infrastructure development, climate-proofing agriculture, structural transformation underpinned by value addition and beneficiation and the ease of doing business,” he said.
“The Strategy is premised on our national priorities that span across all dimensions of development and is fully aligned with regional, continental and global development frameworks, including the SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (2020-2030), the African union Agenda 2063 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (2015-2030).”
In pursuit of equitable development, President Mnangagwa said NDS2 embraces devolution and decentralisation and promotes empowerment programmes that address the needs of women, youth, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.
“Its implementation is anchored on stakeholder participation, value for money and timely delivery and benchmarking of projects and programmes,” he said.
In line with the “Zimbabwe is Open for Business” drive, President Mnangagwa said NDS2 builds upon the milestones achieved under NDS1 in improving the ease of doing business.
“The Strategy continues to advance reforms aimed at enhancing competitiveness and reducing the cost and complexity of doing business.
Priority will be given to rationalising overlapping licences, streamlining regulatory requirements and reforming the national licensing framework to eliminate bureaucratic inefficiencies and duplication,” he said.
“The private sector remains the principal driver of economic growth and transformation. Accordingly, NDS2 provides a strengthened framework for continuous engagement and collaboration with the private sector as a trusted partner in promoting investment, driving structural transformation and advancing national development.”
He said that in pursuit of a modern, efficient and accountable public sector, NDS2 requires all public institutions to develop and implement Service Delivery Standards aligned with regional and global best practices.
“This will ensure that public services are delivered consistently, efficiently and with excellence across all Ministries, Departments, Agencies and Local Authorities.
Through this commitment, Government assures citizens of timely, people-centred and high-quality service delivery befitting an empowered and prosperous upper-middle-income society,” he said.
President Mnangagwa said NDS2 adheres to the principle of inclusivity and leaving no one and no place behind, given that it was a result of broad-based national consultations.
*“It reflects the voices and aspirations of Government institutions, the private sector, civil society, political actors, faith-based organisations, the diaspora and the general public.
True to our national philosophy that ‘Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo/Ilizwe lakhiwa ngabanikazi balo’, this Strategy embodies unity, self-reliance and shared responsibility.
The formulation of NDS2 embraced a Whole-of-Government and Society participatory approach to national planning led by the Office of the President and Cabinet, in liaison with the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development & Investment Promotion,”* he said.
“As Zimbabwe embarks on this developmental lap towards realisation of our Vision 2030, I call upon all stakeholders, inclusive of our co-operating partners, to put all hands on deck and rally behind NDS2 with unity of purpose and unwavering determination.
Together, let us accelerate progress, surpass expectations and realise our cherished Vision 2030, leveraging our domestic resource endowments, inclusive of our diaspora, innovative and other emerging financing strategies, as well as support from co-operating partners.”
In his preface, Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister, Professor Mthuli Ncube, said the formulation of NDS2 was broad-based, drawing on extensive stakeholder consultations and benefitting from the country’s first-ever National Economic Census, which provided details of all business establishments across sectors, both formal and previously excluded informal sectors.
“These assessments provided critical insights into sectoral performance, institutional capacities and structural bottlenecks. Guided by this evidence, NDS2 is designed to define strategic interventions, strengthen co-ordination, monitoring and evaluation mechanisms for more effective implementation. It also outlines strategies for win-win public-private partnerships, as well as involvement of co-operating partners,” said Prof Ncube.
In his acknowledgement, Chief Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Dr Martin Rushwaya, commended all stakeholders who participated in the formulation of NDS2.
“I acknowledge with deep respect the visionary leadership of His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Cde Dr ED Mnangagwa, and the entire Cabinet, whose guidance, steadfast commitment and strategic direction anchored the formulation of NDS2 and continue to inspire the pursuit of inclusive and sustainable development,” said Dr Rushwaya.
