President starts annual leave

PRESIDENT Mnangagwa has started his annual month long leave after an eventful year and busy schedule that saw him commissioning 30 developmental projects within less than a year while and winning the harmonised August 23 election.

The country’s two Vice-Presidents, Dr Constantino Chiwenga and Cde Kembo Mohadi, would take turns to act on President Mnangagwa’s behalf.

“His Excellency the President, Dr ED Mnangagwa, this week begins his traditional annual month-long official leave.

“He intends to spend the break in the country, and will interrupt it now and then to fulfil certain fixtures requiring his personal attention,” Deputy Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet in charge of Presidential communications, Mr George Charamba, said in a statement.

“As we wish His Excellency the President a restful break after what has been another hectic yet fulfilling year, we wish him, the First Lady and the First Family a merry Christmas and a prosperous 2024.”

President Mnangagwa takes leave of duty after an eventful year in which he led from the front in the implementation of numerous development programmes meant to improve people’s lives.

During the course of his first tenure, subsequently followed by his second term after the August elections, President Mnangagwa commissioned high-impact projects across the country, which are expected to drive and anchor the attainment of an upper middle-income economy by 2030.

“The President is on a well-deserved break. His performance is exceptional and included commissioning over 30 projects in less than 12 months, and won a Second Term for it,” Permanent secretary in the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Mr Nick Mangwana, commented.

“His indefatigable energy is the definition of a hard-worker. His vision is what the doctor ordered for this country.”

Under the Second Republic led by President Mnangagwa, Zimbabwe has scored major breakthrough and is now leading the pack in the Southern Africa region in terms of economic growth.

Some, if not all the development projects being spearheaded by the country are centred upon the Unity Accord agreement, which is being celebrated today, as they buttress the inclusive thematic focus and ensuring that no one and no place is left behind in terms of development.

In mining, President Mnangagwa has presided over the opening of several new investments such as Binga’s multi-million Muchesu Coal Project, as well as commissioning of expansion projects for some of the existing mines.

In agriculture, the President has continued his push for climate-proofed agriculture, mechanisation of farmers as well as championing rural industrialisation.

Under his Government, Zimbabwe is revamping the tourism sector in its quest to achieve a US$5 billion economy with Victoria Falls and other key destinations attracting more numbers riding on increased airline traffic.

In the health sector, Government is rolling out key interventions to improve access to health services in the country’s quest to achieve universal health coverage. The re-opening of Ekusileni Hospital in Bulawayo and upgrade programmes at Mpilo and United Bulawayo Central Hospitals, are some of the exhibits.

These programmes are a key facet of envisaged rapid economic growth to an upper middle-income economy by 2030, said Bulawayo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Cde Judith Ncube in an interview.