Online Reporter
Richard Muponde
Zimpapers Politics Hub
WHEN President Mnangagwa opened the 388th Ordinary Session of the Politburo on Tuesday in Harare, a prelude to the 22nd ZANU PF National People’s Conference in Mutare, his closing declaration carried a weighty message: “The revolutionary party is delivering”.
This statement, bold and assertive, encapsulated the ethos of the Second Republic, a leadership era that has consistently promised transformation, reform and inclusive development under the mantra; “Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo/Ilizwe lakhiwa ngabanikazi balo, a country is built by its own people.”
It was not just a political slogan, but a clarion call to action, unity and productivity.
“Let us be cognisant that the nation looks to ZANU PF to carry on the current trajectory of multi-pronged development, social cohesion, unity and peace,” President Mnangagwa said.
“As our theme says, we are Attaining Vision 2030 through Economic Empowerment and Value Addition brick by brick, stone upon stone, and step by step.”
Vision 2030 and the Birth of the Second Republic
When President Mnangagwa assumed leadership in November 2017, he immediately articulated an ambitious national vision: to transform Zimbabwe into an Upper Middle-Income economy by 2030.
This aspiration, encapsulated in Vision 2030, became the compass of the Second Republic’s policy direction.
The framework for achieving this was anchored on the Transitional Stabilisation Programme (2018-2020), which sought to restore macroeconomic stability and lay the foundation for sustainable growth. This was succeeded by the National Development Strategy 1 (2021-2025), a five-year plan driving sectoral reforms, value addition and industrial growth.
President Mnangagwa’s declaration that “the revolutionary party is delivering” must therefore be understood within this continuum, a trajectory that has seen visible transformation in several sectors, despite economic headwinds, sanctions and global disruptions.
Infrastructure: Rebuilding the Physical Backbone
If one were to identify the most visible hallmark of the Second Republic, it would be infrastructure development.
The infrastructural renewal drive has fundamentally reshaped Zimbabwe’s developmental outlook, extending from the sweeping modernisation of the Beitbridge Border Post, which now stands as the region’s most modern land port, to the ongoing Harare-Beitbridge Highway dualisation.
This focus on physical backbone development is further demonstrated by several other signature projects across key sectors. In the aviation sector, the completion of the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport expansion project in 2024 significantly elevated Zimbabwe’s aviation status, opening the skies to greater regional connectivity.
Concurrently, the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport and other provincial airports are also undergoing necessary upgrades to improve capacity and service.
Furthermore, water infrastructure and agricultural potential have been transformed through major dam projects.
This includes the completion of the Gwayi-Shangani Dam and the expansion of key facilities such as Muchekeranwa, Tokwe-Mukosi, and Marovanyati Dams, enhancing water supply and irrigation capabilities across numerous provinces.
Finally, the drive for energy security is addressed by ongoing works at Hwange Units 7 and 8. These units, commissioned under the Second Republic, have successfully added 600 megawatts to the national grid, marking a critical step toward ensuring reliable power supply for the nation.
These infrastructural gains, as the President reiterated, are not random but deliberate investments in the country’s productive capacity.
“We must ensure that all programmes and projects implemented by our ZANU PF-led Government serve the interests of the majority of our people for shared prosperity,” he said during the Politburo session.
Economic Transformation and Empowerment
Under the Second Republic, Zimbabwe’s economy has gradually transitioned from stabilisation to growth.
Despite challenges of inflation and currency volatility, macroeconomic indicators have shown resilience, anchored by agricultural recovery, mining expansion, and growing industrial output. The Agriculture and Food Systems Transformation Strategy has been a key pillar of this growth.
Through Pfumvudza/Intwasa, the Government restructured smallholder farming into a climate-proofed model, enhancing food security. The country achieved a record maize harvest in 2021, and wheat production has reached self-sufficiency levels, a historic milestone.
Mining, too, has flourished under the US$12 billion Mining Vision. New investments in lithium, gold, platinum, and chrome have positioned Zimbabwe as a rising mineral hub.
Major projects like Arcadia Lithium Mine, Manhize Iron and Steel Plant, and Unki and Zimplats expansions reflect the Second Republic’s success in attracting investment despite geopolitical constraints. President Mnangagwa’s call for value addition and beneficiation aligns with this agenda.
Social Services and Human Development
The Second Republic has equally prioritised social sectors. Education reform under the Competence-Based Curriculum is ongoing, with the construction of new schools in rural areas under the Rural Development 8.0 model.
Meanwhile, Health for All initiatives have seen hospital refurbishments, new clinic construction, and the procurement of ambulances across provinces.
The Government’s Covid-19 response further demonstrated institutional resilience and international cooperation, particularly with vaccine procurement and community vaccination drives.
In housing, over 500 000 units are targeted under the National Housing Delivery Programme, with new settlements emerging in Harare South, Gweru, and Mutare.
Governance, Unity and Discipline
President Mnangagwa’s message to the Politburo, urging unity, discipline, and ideological clarity, reflects his long-standing emphasis on internal order as the foundation of national development.
“Our focus must be on providing leadership and guidance for consolidating our unity and the Party’s strength,” he said.
“The people’s revolution . . . is sustained by following the correct line, our ideology, as well as discipline, patriotism, and loyalty.” This insistence on discipline is both a political and moral appeal. The President linked moral decay, including rising crimes and ritual killings, to a loss of cultural grounding. He called for a moral renaissance anchored in Zimbabwean values: “We are a nation where the sanctity of life is honoured, celebrated and preciously safeguarded.”
Within the Party, unity has been emphasised as a shield against factionalism and external manipulation.
Foreign Policy and
Re-engagement
Perhaps one of the most transformative aspects of the Second Republic has been its re-engagement drive, encapsulated in the policy of “Friends to all and enemy to none.”
President Mnangagwa’s revelation that Zimbabwe has gained support for its UN Security Council bid and assumed Vice Chairmanship of COMESA underscores the steady rebuilding of international goodwill.
“Zimbabwe under my Administration has received an encouraging endorsement and backing for our campaign,” he said, noting that the nation’s re-engagement is yielding diplomatic dividends.
From renewed cooperation with the African Union, SADC, China, and Russia, to re-opening dialogue with Western capitals, the Second Republic has sought to reposition Zimbabwe as a constructive global player.
Conclusion: A Revolution Renewed
As the 22nd ZANU PF National People’s Conference opens, President Mnangagwa’s declaration that “the revolutionary party is delivering” stands as both an affirmation and a challenge.
It affirms that the Second Republic’s policies, though imperfect, have yielded tangible outcomes in infrastructure, agriculture, mining, and diplomacy.
But it also challenges leadership at all levels to consolidate those gains, deepen accountability, and ensure that delivery reaches every citizen. The road to Vision 2030 is far from over. Yet, as the President declared, progress is being made “brick by brick, stone upon stone, step by step.”
