SONA: Zimbabwe is in a good state

Dr Obert Moses Mpofu

HIS Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, President Mnangagwa, this past week delivered the much-anticipated State of the Nation Address (SONA).

The President set the legislative agenda for the second session of the 10th Parliament of Zimbabwe at Mount Hampden. As usual, His Excellency did not disappoint as he delivered a well-polished address that spoke to issues crucial to Zimbabwe, its people and the nation’s development at large. The President’s address exuded the most important elements and ingredients crucial to the success of our nation.

Key points were on how we should all work towards the benefit of Zimbabwe and take our beloved nation to greater heights. The country’s laws play an important role towards its success.

To that end, the President emphasised that it is prudent that Parliament expedites its legislative processes and conclude the matter of outstanding bills. The President emphasised the important role that Tourism and the Environment play in national development with this sector seeing a 62 percent increase in international tourist arrivals during the first-half of 2023.

In order to strengthen Zimbabwe’s fight against climate change, His Excellency further implored the 10th Parliament of Zimbabwe to review the Water Act, the Zimbabwe National Water Authority Act and the Plant Breeders Act. In addition, His Excellency spoke of the state of affairs with regards to social as well as economic development. He made mention of the tremendous growth that has been experienced in the agricultural sector, particularly the impressive wheat self-sufficiency that our nation has attained over the years as well as the remarkable growth of our mining industry, which has grown from US$2,8 billion to US$12 billion and thus in turn has been the driver of socio-economic development.

Such positive strides show how far we have gone in the right direction under the New Dispensation. Further, there are some crucial areas that the President highlighted on. The abolishment of the death penalty, the Mines and Minerals Bill, that have become areas drawing a lot of attention in recent times.

The President challenged the legislature to pass such key laws that are critical to the success of the country. His Excellency’s SONA could not have come at a better time than now when we are heading towards the ruling Party, Zanu-PF’s 21st National People’s Conference.

Basing on the doctrine of Party Supremacy over Government, the conference offers room for sound debate and coming up with resolutions that will be used as policy guidelines by the Party’s implementing agent, which is the Government.

As we conclude the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) and as NDS2 beckons, we have achieved so much and we still have a long way to go. So far, all seems to be on track. Our country is living up to the promise that it has. With the national priorities now set for the coming year, it’s back to work. There is so much to do and so much ground to cover as we endeavour to ensure that our country stands tall and is counted among the most prosperous nations in the world. This I do believe is an achievable feat under the Zanu- PF-led Government. Already, the Government has made efforts to address most of the outstanding issues within our economy necessary for us to achieve our developmental targets.

The latest of the Government’s life-changing projects being the immediate rebuilding and rehabilitation project of the Beitbridge-Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Road. This is one of the most important roads in the country as it not only provides access to the most prestigious tourist attraction in the country, but is also an important trade-route that offers a gateway to central, west and east Africa. Government should be commended for making the decision to rehabilitate this important road.

This project is bound to transform Matabeleland North Province and will make it easier to access this important province. Now that this project has finally been given the green light by the Government, the usual “keyboard warriors” who normally write and publicise nonsense should now eat humble pie.

The Zanu-PF Government has demonstrated that it is ever-ready to address the concerns of the people. Other important roads earmarked for rehabilitation include, the Kwekwe-Nkayi -Lupane Road, Bulawayo-Nkayi Road and the Karoi-Binga-Cross Dete Road. These projects are not “planned” projects, but have actually started being implemented immediately. President Mnangagwa’s Government has every intention of fulfilling the electoral promises that the Zanu-PF Party made to the people when we were given a fresh mandate and we will endeavour to rapidly improve the lives of our people.

No one and no place will be left behind. It is important to highlight that infrastructural development is the driver of economic development and with such massive projects having been initiated, our country is indeed in a good state. This, Comrades, is why President Mnangagwa presented a SONA address that was brief, precise, but well detailed. It seems by the reactions by the “nay sayers” that they expected a presentation that was full of doom and gloom, however, that was not to be, as there is no doom or gloom in our beloved country. We are marching forward and are poised to meet all our developmental targets. All in all, from the President’s speech, the country is in a good state.

The SONA managed to address all the pertinent issues in our beloved nation. Now that the SONA has been delivered, it’s back to work, with all hands-on deck as we work to deliver on our electoral promises in a bid to ensure a better Zimbabwe through Vision 2030. As espoused by His Excellency, President Mnangagwa, the Zanu-PF-led government remains committed to enhancing the well-being of the people of Zimbabwe through entrenching unity, stability, security and development.

Our people should thus know that, our Government is committed to the realisation of the promises made by our ruling Party, Zanu-PF. Indeed, prosperity as per the President’s SONA address can only be achieved through unity, harmony and love, as well as a sense of togetherness which is an essential ingredient towards the realisation of the Zimbabwe that we all want.

n Dr Obert Moses Mpofu is an academic and the Secretary-General of Zanu-PF. He writes in his own capacity.