Online Reporter
Nyore Madzianike
Senior Reporter
MONITORING, evaluation and learning are no longer optional, but strategic imperatives which the Second Republic recognises as a cornerstone of good governance, value for money and policy improvement.
Officially opening the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Week programme which is underway in Harare, Vice President Kembo Mohadi underscored the core reasons why monitoring and evaluation units were institutionalised across all ministries, departments and agencies.
The programme is running under the theme “Strengthening, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Towards Equitable Development for Prosperous and Empowered Upper Middle Income Society by 2030”.
Said Vice President Mohadi:”Through Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning, we are building a culture of accountability and adaptive learning.
“This campaign is not just an event but it is a call to embed Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning in all aspects of national development, from planning and budgeting to implementation and impact assessment,” he said.
Vice President said as the nation moves to NDS2 and towards Vision 2030, there is need to strengthen systems that ensure continuous learning and evidence based decision making.
“Let us not forget that data without use is wasted effort; lessons without application are missed opportunities. As we move towards NDS2 and ultimately Vision 2030, we must strengthen our systems to ensure continuous learning, citizen feedback, and evidence-based decision-making,” he said.
Vice President Mohadi said as the nation reflects on its achievements, it must also confront its challenges like corruption, as they derail development.
“Distinguished Guests, as we reflect on our achievements, we must also confront our challenges with sincerity. Issues such as political polarisation and corruption threaten to derail our progress.
“Let me reiterate that, ‘corruption is an enemy of development’, and we must fight it relentlessly, whether in the public or private sector,” he said.
Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Martin Rushwaya emphasised the significancy of the event saying it should be held continuously.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, the significance of this event goes beyond symbolic gatherings. This Inaugural MEL Week, which should be sustainably held in the future, is a strategic vehicle to institutionalise evidence-based governance systems across the public sector, in addition to promoting accountability for results.
“In his inaugural speech in 2017, His Excellency the President, Cde. Dr. E.D. Mnangagwa directed that Government programming under the 2nd Republic be underpinned by the Integrated Results Based Management in order to systematically and objectively measure performance, and rigorously push the public sector for achievement of big and impactful results, MEL has therefore become one of the key anchor pins of managing for sustainable development,” he said.
The week long event was attended by various top Government, UN officials and other stakeholders.
Various higher learning institutions and Government departments including the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Office of the President and Cabinet exhibited their products and services at the event.
The UN also exhibited.
Online Reporter