Online Reporter
Nyore Madzianike
Senior Reporter
THE Second Republic has reaffirmed its dedication to creating a rich, industrialised and modern Zimbabwe, urging those holding public office to advance evidence-based governance and provide citizens with high-quality services.
Officiating at the 2026 Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Week launch held in Masvingo on Wednesday, Vice President Dr Kembo Mohadi said the Second Republic is dedicated to creating a rich, industrialised, and modern Zimbabwe.
The event, which started on August 30 and ends on August 4, is being hosted by the Office of the President and Cabinet in partnership with the United Nations and development partners.
lt is running under the theme, ‘Advancing Vision 2030, SDGs and Agenda 2063 Through Public Sector Service Delivery: Transformation of MEL and Data Systems’.
The week-long event has brought together Government institutions, provinces, local authorities, academia, civil society, the private sector, MEL professionals and international partners.
“We are advancing social protection, infrastructure development, economic transformation, and governance changes under the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2). You must all remember that Zimbabwe is open for business – for its own people and for other nations,” said VP Mohadi.
He said the country is seized with dealing with data systems, institutional coordination and public service delivery.
“Our challenges should make us more determined to innovate, adapt and achieve outcomes, consistent with an upper middle-income society,” he said.
“It is no longer optional for us to monitor, evaluate and learn. It is now a strategic imperative. It guarantees that Government initiatives provide observable outcomes, and public resources are used effectively. No one and no place should be left behind; citizens should receive high-quality services.”
The VP described the MEL week, which is in its second edition, as a crucial component of fortifying the country’s governance architecture.
“The MEL Platform has fostered a Community of Practice which brings together Government, academia, business, civil society and development partners under one roof to pause and interrogate whether our developmental frameworks are really changing people’s lives,” he said.
“This oneness in purpose and action is essential because it helps us to create a responsive and inclusive nation.”
The Vice President noted that data is now a key to the country’s economic and social growth and has become the new currency of development.
He said timely availability of data gives feedback on whether policies, strategies and programmes are meeting the grassroots’ demands and expectations.
Dr Mohadi said Zimbabwe must develop knowledge that is pertinent to the country’s situation rather than just being consumers of other people’s systems.
“I am especially happy that this MEL Week highlights African-centred assessment methods, context-responsive solutions, and indigenous knowledge systems,” he said.
“Our personal reality, ideals, and experiences must serve as the foundation for our developmental path. As Zimbabweans, we need to identify our developmental trajectory and track our advancement with instruments that represent who we are.”
He said one of the Second Republic’s top priorities is the devolution agenda, adding that strengthened local MEL systems will empower communities, improve service delivery, and increase accountability.
The VP urged Provincial and District Development Committees to make appropriate use of data systems to plan, carry out, and oversee development projects.
Dr Mohadi said Zimbabwe keeps fortifying its ties with regional organisations, development partners and the United Nations in its quest to mainstream both global development results frameworks and the national aspirations.
He appreciated the UN’s assistance in furthering Zimbabwe’s developmental agenda, saying Zimbabweans will ultimately be held responsible for their own progress through the mantra: “Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo/Ilizwe lakhiwa ngabanikazi balo/A country is built by its own citizens”.
Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Martin Rushwaya, who was represented by Deputy Chief Secretary Mr Zvinechimwe Churu at the official launch said: “This important event takes place at a pivotal moment in our nation’s developmental trajectory as we intensify our collective efforts towards the realisation of Vision 2030.
“One essential expectation, which is at the heart of our journey, is effective, inclusive, responsive and transformative public service delivery.”
Dr Rushwaya said Zimbabweans expect tangible deliverables that translate into improvement of livelihoods.
“It is in this regard that the Second Republic adopted the Whole-of-Government (WoG) and the Whole-of-Society approaches for coherence of policies among ministries, departments and agencies to avoid siloism and to ensure that Government developmental aspirations are informed by the needs, participation and experiences of our citizens,” he said.
“At the core of Whole-of-Government (WoG) strategy is Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL). The formulation of NDS2 took cognisance of this approach, where Government programming takes a citizen-centric approach that leaves no one and no place behind.”
Special Advisor to the President on Monitoring, Implementation of Government Programmes and Projects Dr Jorum Gumbo, Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Ezra Chadzamira and other top Government officials are attending the week-long event.
