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Mukudzei Chingwere
Herald Reporter
President Mnangagwa’s Vision 2030 with which the economy is being primed for rapid growth towards the attainment of empowered upper-middle income status has gained regional admiration with the Republic of Malawi noting that Zimbabwe’s “ambitious plan should be supported and emulated”.
This was said by Malawi’s Minister of Information and Digitalisation Moses Kunkuyu in an exclusive chat with The Herald ahead of President Lazarus Chakwera’s visit to Zimbabwe today for the Transform Africa Summit to be held in the resort city of Victoria Falls.
Other Heads of State and Government expected are President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, His Majesty King Mswati III of Eswatini, President Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia and Faure Gnassingbé of Togo as well as other sector leaders from the continent for a symposium on Africa’s journey in digital revolution.
Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa told a Post-Cabinet briefing yesterday that the summit is on as well as the availability of the said Heads of State and Government.
The summit comes to Zimbabwe at a time Government is emphasising the central role of digitalisation towards economic development.
Anchored on his thirsty to see rapid and tangible changes in people’s lives, President Mnangagwa has since his assumption of the Presidency been hard at work to ensure that all facets of people’s lives from social and economic spheres are improved to meet the dictates of an upper-middle income economy.
As the Malawi Presidential delegation journeys to Zimbabwe, Minister Kunkuyu could not hide his admiration for the trajectory that Zimbabwe has taken, especially looking at the context of where Zimbabwe is coming from in terms of economic downturn in the First Republic.
Minister Kunkuyu added that with the progress that Zimbabwe is making, it is now high time that western capitals that have imposed illegal economic sanctions on Zimbabwe remove these in their totality so that Zimbabwe can reach her full potential.
“Zimbabwe’s ambitious plans to transform the country into an upper-middle income economy is very commendable and it is the drive that needs to be supported by the whole of SADC and the African continent as a whole,” said Minister Kunkuyu.
“Over years Malawi and Zimbabwe have collaborated in a number of sectors including knowledge sharing and we are having similar ambitions in transforming our countries.
“Zimbabwe has therefore set an impressive (example) that we must all emulate. As a country and as one of Zimbabwe’s key economic and trading partners, Malawi is keenly following this ambitious plan and we are ready to share best practice with Zimbabwe,” he said.
Speaking on the summit that kicks off today, Minister KuNkuyu said Malawi, like its regional and continental peers, appreciates the need to embrace digitalisation in economic development and would not want to be left behind.
“Malawi is one of the newest members of the smart Africa partnership and this Transform Africa Summit 2023 being hosted by Zimbabwe is the first one for Malawi to participate,” said Minister KuNkuyu.
“As a country we fully appreciate the pivotal role that digitalisation plays to transforming economies and we cannot afford to be left behind.
“We need to move together with all African countries in embracing this digital revolution and transform our economy and the lives of our people,” he said.
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