adminProsper Ndlovu Business Editor
A NATIONAL monitoring and evaluation policy is on the cards to assess the implementation of the country’s economic blueprint, Zim-Asset, with the government conducting nationwide consultations to input into the document.
Senior Principal Director in the Office of the President and Cabinet Albert Tagira Chikondo told delegates during a consultation meeting in Bulawayo yesterday the policy document should be ready within 100 days, which end on October 20.
He said the delegates’ contribution would lay the foundation, direct and guide robust monitoring and evaluation procedures.
“That will steer our Zim-Asset vision and beyond ‘towards an empowered society and a growing economy’,” said Chikondo.
He said the government’s biggest challenge “was implementation and lack of a national monitoring and evaluation framework to guide and direct the implementation” of its policies, programmes and projects.
Chikondo said the stakeholders’ contribution would help bring the “whole development agenda into correct perspective”.
During the meeting, interest groups drawn from education, government departments, traditional leaders, local authorities and residents acknowledged Zim-Asset’s success was a collective responsibility and vowed to play their part.
They challenged Parliament to speed up alignment of laws and implored the judiciary to prosecute economic crimes while the anti-corruption commission was tasked to curb the vice without fear or favour.
Chikondo said through Zim-Asset, the government had adopted a new vision of steering the economy on the new trajectory of empowerment, economic growth and prosperity.
He said the new thrust was being consolidated by the embracement of the Integrated Results Based management system that seeks to ensure that ministries and government departments and agencies achieve relevant goals on time through strategic planning and resource usage.
He said an African Development Bank funded study revealed that Zimbabwe lacked a clearly defined monitoring and evaluation policy to guide implementation of government programmes and projects.
The new policy document is set to enhance accountability and ensure the country achieved high quality service delivery to its people.
derick.khumalo