Online Reporter
Richard Muponde
Zimpapers Politics Hub
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa’s Vision 2030 of transforming the country into an upper-middle-income economy has received a major boost after the United Nations (UN) pledged deeper collaboration with the Government to accelerate national development and improve the lives of ordinary citizens.
Vision 2030, driven by President Mnangagwa’s philosophy of “Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo/ Ilizwe lakhiwa, ngabanikazi balo” and the inclusive principle of “Leaving no one and no place behind,” aims to industrialise, digitalise, and modernise Zimbabwe through broad-based participation.
Introduced in 2018, the national blueprint is anchored on economic reforms, infrastructural renewal, increased production, social transformation, and equitable development, particularly for rural and marginalised communities.
Over the last six years, this policy thrust has shaped the Government’s focus on roads, energy, agriculture, mining, social services, and public-sector modernisation in pursuit of inclusive prosperity.
The commitment was made by Ms Getrude Nyashadzamwari Matsika of the UN Resident Coordinator for Zimbabwe, , during the ZIMSTAT-United Nations Data for Development and Innovation Working Group meeting in Hararelast week.
In her address, Ms Matsika said the global body’s shift to UN 2.0, a modernised model of development cooperation anchored on innovation, data-driven decision-making, and multi-sector collaboration, is tailor-made to support Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030. UN 2.0 seeks to transform how the UN works with national institutions by strengthening analytics, digital capacity, strategic foresight, and behavioural science to enhance policy impact and accelerate sustainable development outcomes.
She confirmed that UN 2.0 would strengthen this national trajectory by supporting better use of data, cross-Government cooperation, and innovation-led development.
“We are witnessing a major cultural shift in the development space, one that pushes all of us, Government, development partners and institutions, to embrace agility, continuous learning and collaborative thinking,” she said.
Ms Matsika stressed the necessity of ending isolated approaches across Government ministries to achieve transformative results.
“Zimbabwe can no longer operate in isolated ministerial silos because today’s development challenges are interlinked.
“When ministries share data, expertise and innovation, they produce transformative solutions that align directly with Vision 2030,” she stated.
She added that UN 2.0 equips the country with modern capabilities that reinforce each other, from digital systems to behavioural insights, creating a forward-looking society that fully understands its developmental needs.
“This approach helps Zimbabwe build resilience in the face of climate shocks, economic pressures and demographic shifts by enabling long-term planning and climate-smart strategies,” Ms Matsika said.
“In all these interventions, our mission remains centred on human lives, on what each policy, programme or dataset does to uplift citizens, empower youth and protect women and other vulnerable groups.”
She urged Government stakeholders to leverage the full range of UN technical and developmental support available in Zimbabwe.
“We have 25 UN agencies active in Zimbabwe, yet many institutions are tapping into only five of those resources.
“The Resident Coordinator’s Office is your gateway to accessing specialised technical expertise across all agencies” she said.
Ms Matsika encouraged Government ministries to expand partnerships so that no one is left behind in implementing Vision 2030.
“Our commitment is to walk with Zimbabwe towards the 2030 Agenda and ensure that our support accelerates inclusive, sustainable development,” Ms Matsika said.
“Together, we can create a future where data, innovation and collaboration drive real transformation for every Zimbabwean.”
The Second Republic, under the stewardship of President Mnangagwa, embarked on a transformative agenda for a self-reliant Zimbabwe through the equal and inclusive participation of its citizens.
