adminPromotion permanent secretary Dr Desire Sibanda during a workshop organised by his ministry for public sector economists and planners recently.
This was meant at analysing the Medium Term Plan implementation for 2012/2013 and consider coming up with a public sector economic forum.
Dr Sibanda expressed hope that the MTP targets can be reached by 2015 if stakeholders work together.
“In the MTP 2011-2015 Government set an average economic growth target of 7,1 percent and this can be achieved if we put development planning first.
“This would ensure an articulate national vision to guide the budgetary and sectoral priorities and co-ordination thus avoiding unnecessary duplication, fixing clear and well-defined objectives, strategies and national policies,” he said.
Dr Sibanda also challenged the economists and planners who attended the workshop to work with experts within the region and learn from their own experiences.
“I urge all of you here present to work closely with regional institutes including the recently formed Economic Commission for Africa Forum for Economic Planners, while learning from their experiences and best practices,” he added.
Among the recommendations that were unanimously agreed upon was the critical issue of not just primarily focusing on economic growth in figures but actually focus on economic development brought about that growth which helps create jobs.
Delegates also lobbied for the formation of a fully fledged economic planning commission that is independent and comprising experts in the field of economics and planning whose mandate would be to advise Government through the parent ministry.
Research was also singled out as a critical aspect and therefore there was consensus on the need to partner with development partners such as the UNDP in funding research programmes.
Delegates argued that through research would lead to more explicit research based policies that would address the real problems and challenges on the ground while also promoting knowledge-based management.
It was also recommended that ZimStat, the national statistical body, ensures timeous release of such statistics such as the PICES which deals with poverty, income, consumption and expenditure to ensure policymakers can come up with strategies on time.
The issue of value addition to our raw materials was also emphasised as this would ensure that as a country we would cut on our imports which are negatively affecting our trade gap.
This, they said, calls for infrastructural development, for example more facilities for the cutting and polishing of our diamonds as opposed to exporting raw minerals which we will not benefit fully from.
Dr Sibanda concluded by saying the process of monitoring and evaluating the implementation of the MTP would continue to be conducted through four Sector Working Groups co-ordinated by his ministry which are economic, infrastructure, social and governance and rights.
To date the MTP has managed to stay within plan with regards to annual inflation which has continued to be at a single digit at just below 4 percent against a target of not more than 6 percent.
Zimbabwe’s economy grew by 5,4 percent in 2009 and 9,6 percent in 2010, continuing the positive growth momentum in 2011 to achieve the target of 9,3 percent and this was largely attributed to the recovery in the mining and agricultural sectors.
Since the adoption of the MTP in July 2011, the Ministry of Economic Planning and Investment Promotion has released one implementation progress report which was unveiled last year.
The workshop was meant to provide a forum for discussion of formulation, co-ordination and implementation of Government economic policies and also advise Government on the implementation of sound economic issues accordingly before the second report is compiled.
Delegates were also meant to monitor and review implementation of national development plans such as the MTP itself and come up with recommendations on appropriate course of action to the Government leadership.
Online Reporter