Zvamaida Murwira in CHINHOYI
ZIMBABWE is making progress in its political and socio-economic development, with the successes of various programmes and projects implemented by the Zanu-PF Government reflecting the party’s people-centred approach, President Mnangagwa has said.
The Zanu-PF First Secretary said the revolutionary party remained an unmatched political force whose economic policies had transformed the lives of ordinary people while fostering unity among its members.
President Mnangagwa was speaking yesterday when he officially opened the 23rd Zanu-PF Annual National People’s Conference in Chinhoyi, Mashonaland West Province.
The conference is being held under the theme, “From Resolutions to Results: Consolidating Economic Development and Deepening Empowerment towards Vision 2030”.
“The stability of our currency, inflation rate and overall Gross Domestic Product growth reflects the culture of discipline and hard honest work of the great people of our nation,” he said.
“Under the Second Republic, local and external investments are increasing while the Engagement and Re-Engagement Policy is translating into positive grassroots-based impacts, at the local level.
“Zanu-PF remains the only guarantor that our national interests and well-being of all our people, remain at the core of every economic deal signed; industry established, factories opened and empowerment realised.”
The President outlined improvements in key economic indicators over the years, saying the country was making progress towards its Vision 2030 targets.
“In 2025, Zimbabwe’s GDP grew by 8,3 percent and is projected at 5 percent in 2026. Through our astute monetary policy, annual inflation has come down to 2,8 percent and is accompanied by price stability.
“These achievements are praise-worthy. The conference will recall that at the advent of the Second Republic, our country’s GDP was US$16 billion.
“Presently our GDP is at US$66 billion. Similarly, in 2017, the GDP per capita was in the lower-middle-income economy range, at US$1 200. Currently, the GDP per capita is US$3 500, a close to 200 percent jump.”
President Mnangagwa said the country was on course to achieving an upper-middle-income economy status by 2030.
He explained that trade export figures stood at US$2 billion annually in 2017, but total exports now exceed US$20 billion, representing a percentage increase of 1 000.
“Zimbabwe is rising,” he said.
The President said Zimbabwe had met all quantitative targets, structural benchmarks and other commitments under the first International Monetary Fund Staff-Monitored Programme review.
The President encouraged delegates to consolidate the gains through resolutions that promote fiscal prudence and discipline.
“Conference should consolidate these gains through resolutions that sharpen fiscal prudence and discipline.
“The agriculture sector has witnessed increased production and productivity across all categories of crops. Irrigation expansion, agricultural mechanisation, enhanced extension services, storage facilities, and market access have in turn led to the accelerated development of agro-processing and agro-industries.
“The sector is projected to grow by 6,9 percent with strategic grain production estimated at 2,4 million tonnes,” he said.
President Mnangagwa said the 2026-2027 summer cropping season required greater vigilance because of the risks associated with El Niño-induced droughts and other global shocks.
“The party, Government and traditional leaders will continue to prioritise increased social and climate mitigation as well as high-impact development expenditure,” said President Mnangagwa.
On mining, the President said the sector remained a key pillar of the country’s economic transformation, with beneficiation, value addition and mineral exploration contributing to its growth.
“Localised beneficiation and value addition in lithium, gold, platinum, coal and other strategic minerals, along with mineral exploration have seen an unprecedented growth of the sector.
“Zimbabwe now has one of the largest steel industries in sub-Saharan Africa and is now an exporter of lithium sulphate.
“Higher capacity utilisation, import substitution and investment in domestic value chains are reducing overreliance on imported goods and boosting the manufacturing sector,” said President Mnangagwa.
He said the Zimbabwe Entrepreneurs’ Exchange Platform was supporting micro, small and medium enterprises, while infrastructure projects in roads, dams, energy, irrigation and housing were being expanded through new financing models.
“The sustainability of the country’s development and prosperity depends on our ability to harness the potential of all people, particularly youth and women,” he said.
President Mnangagwa attributed the country’s achievements to unity and the contributions of different sectors of society, including farmers, miners, entrepreneurs, public servants and Zimbabweans in the diaspora.
“I commend the Party, Government, youth and women, small and medium enterprises, miners, farmers, artisans and entrepreneurs, public servants, as well as citizens in the Diaspora for these national accomplishments. As a united people, pulling in one direction, more can be achieved.
“Brand Zimbabwe and Brand Zanu-PF are a reality,” said President Mnangagwa.
He said history had shown that revolutionary movements in Africa, particularly Southern Africa, had been at the forefront of the struggle against colonialism, apartheid, oppression and economic exploitation.
“It is in this historical context that our beloved motherland, Zimbabwe, under the leadership of Zanu-PF has witnessed resilience and unprecedented growth of the economy, which is acknowledged by many doubting-Thomases and admirers alike.
“Our celebration is that Zanu-PF policies are positively impacting the quality of life of our people, and consolidating our independence, sovereignty, freedom, democracy, unity and peace.
“We are all observing huge improvement in our welfare. Kungave, pakuwanikwa kwechikafu, mvura, neshanduko muzvikoro nemuzvipatara. Zvivakwa zvemunyika, madhamu, migwagwa, kusanganisira dzimba dzedu, kumaruwa, nekumadhorobha zvava zvepamusoro-soro,” said President Mnangagwa.
Reflecting on the historical significance of Chinhoyi, the President recalled the 1966 armed confrontation in which seven liberation fighters engaged the Rhodesian forces.
“That incident is imprinted in our collective national memory as one of the defining episodes that marked the birth of an independent, free, democratic and sovereign Zimbabwe. Their demise at the battlefront never deterred us, but ignited the revolutionary flame. It became a rallying point across both ZANLA and ZIPRA, and among grassroots communities in the fight to dismantle the shackles of colonial bondage,” said President Mnangagwa.
“The venue of this conference must, therefore, inspire us to honour them and many other departed comrades by accelerating sustainable economic development and realising prosperity for all Zimbabweans.”
President Mnangagwa said independence had brought significant transformation, including the restoration of land that had previously been taken from the country’s forefathers.
“The policies we have adopted at fora such as this one, continue to define us as a truly independent, pan-African and sovereign people.
“We are hard-working masters of our own destiny,” said President Mnangagwa.
He said some of the leaders who had represented the people and the party were national heroes from Mashonaland West Province.
“Today the duty to fulfil the vision and aspirations, embodied in our Party Constitution, rests on us. We inherited a Party that is united, revolutionary and people-centred.
“The ancient stones and building blocks that form the foundation of Zanu-PF must never be tampered with. The Party is a well-oiled machinery that will keep moving forward and governing, in perpetuity, for the good of the people of our motherland, Zimbabwe,” said President Mnangagwa.
The conference was attended by the two Vice-Presidents, Dr Constantino Chiwenga and Dr Kembo Mohadi, Zanu-PF Politburo and Central Committee members, diplomats accredited to Zimbabwe and other delegates from across the country.
