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Prosper Ndlovu-Zimpapers Election Desk
ZIMBABWE has tenaciously continued to chart its robust developmental trajectory despite macro-economic hurdles, with significant milestones being registered in delivering people-centric programmes and projects, which has shamed the country’s detractors.
For the past five years, 2018-2022, the New Dispensation led by President Mnangagwa, has remained resolute in its determination to uplift the livelihoods of the people of Zimbabwe.
This has seen the Government rolling out a total of 6 869 developmental projects across the country of which 4 984 have been completed while 1 885 were ongoing as of December 2022.
Notwithstanding the Covid-19 pandemic-induced lockdowns, the continued imposition of illegal Western economic sanctions, climate change-induced disasters, and negative geo-political factors, analysts say Zimbabwe is by far in a better position than it was during the Robert Mugabe era.
According to a “COMPENDIUM OF PROJECTS IMPLEMENTED BY THE SECOND REPUBLIC (2018-2022)” issued by the Office of the President and Cabinet, numerous development programmes and projects, which vary in scope, from national, provincial to community-based, empowerment and strategic projects were implemented across the country.
The report outline presents completed and ongoing projects, disaggregated according to the 14 NDS1 thematic areas and provinces.
It notes that the infrastructure and utilities thematic cluster had the highest number of 2 343 projects, comprising 1 866 completed projects and 477 ongoing.
Major national infrastructure projects include highway road rehabilitation, the building of dams, power infrastructure, aviation expansion, and modernisation of ports of entry, to mention a few.
The emphasis on infrastructural development is seen as a key enabler to propel socio-economic development for the betterment of the livelihoods of the citizens of Zimbabwe.
Key milestones have also been recorded in the devolution and decentralisation cluster where 743 projects have been completed across the country out of 1 053 with 310 ongoing. The health and well-being cluster has completed 336 projects out of 421 with 85 outstanding while social protection has 113 completed projects and 51 ongoing out of a total of 164.
The human capital development and innovation cluster has 887 projects completed from 1 093 targeted while the digital economy cluster has finished 673 projects of which 147 are ongoing out of a total of 820. Major strides have similarly been made in the economic growth and sustainability cluster, food and nutrition security, image building and international re-engagement, housing delivery, and moving the economy up the value chains and structural transformation.
The transformative agenda has hugely steered industry and commerce into production across all sectors of the economy, which include agriculture, mining, construction, transport, communication, manufacturing, and social services, among others.
The projects give impetus to the promotion of inclusive and balanced socio-economic development across the country, pursuant to the agenda of leaving no one and no place behind on the journey “Towards a Prosperous and Empowered Upper Middle-Income Society by 2030”. The projects implementation thrust was anchored on national development strategies under the Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP), (2018-2020) and now the National Development Strategy (NDS1 2021- 2025), which are key building blocks towards an upper middle-income economy vision by 2030.
In his foreword to the report, President Mnangagwa states that the success of the country’s development juggernaut is being buttressed by the involvement of grassroots levels, and premised on the Devolution and Decentralisation Policy, in line with Section 264 of the Constitution. In the spirit of “leaving no one and no place behind” in terms of development, this has increased citizen participation in the planning, execution, monitoring, and evaluation of programmes and projects within different communities.
“This all-inclusive approach to socio-economic development positively impacted on communities and people’s livelihoods thereby uplifting people from poverty, particularly in the previously marginalised communities in line with the Second Republic’s mantra of leaving no one and no place behind,” wrote President Mnangagwa.
“The Second Republic has distinguished itself by adopting a deliberate policy to utilise local expertise and the country’s natural resource endowments, thereby breaking from the donor dependency syndrome for technical skills and funding.
“Since the coming in of the Second Republic, most of the infrastructural programmes and projects were locally funded through the inter-Governmental fiscal transfer system (devolution) and the Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP) among other funding vehicles.”
Unlike in the past when foreign suppliers and contractors dominated public works, Zimbabwe under President Mnangagwa has ensured that more local companies are contracted to provide goods and services for major projects.
This is in line with the President’s mantra “Ilizwe lakhiwa ngabaniniloNyika Inovakwa Nevene Vayo”.
As the country moves towards the forthcoming harmonised elections on August 23, President Mnangagwa has pledged that his leadership remains committed to steering Zimbabwe as a sovereign and unitary nation, toward continued development towards a “Prosperous and Empowered Upper Middle-Income Society by 2030”.
In his remarks, Minister of State for Presidential Affairs and Monitoring Implementation of Government Programmes in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Dr Joram Gumbo, has said the visionary leadership of President Mnangagwa has delivered huge successes towards addressing the needs and problems of the general citizenry.
“Despite the challenges bedevilling the economy, such as price escalations and distortions, and spiralling parallel market rates, illegal sanctions militating against access to credit lines and international funding a total of 6 869 projects were implemented across the country,” he noted.
“The projects include initiatives to improve the provision of social services such as education, health, and potable water, among others. The programmes and projects contributed immensely to employment creation, skills transfer, local supply of goods and services, the resuscitation of industry, and the revamping of infrastructure.”
Dr Gumbo said the operationalisation of the Devolution and Decentralisation Policy has gained traction under the Second Republic, with numerous programmes and projects being implemented in provinces, districts, and local authorities using devolution funds.
“This has brought equitable growth through stakeholder participation and citizen involvement in developmental matters at the grassroots. Delivering infrastructure was prioritised as a distinct strategy and key enabler for vibrant socio-economic growth and development,” he noted.
Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Dr Misheck Sibanda, has attributed improved public services to the Second Republic’s ability to instil a culture of high performance and quality service delivery across the public sector.
He said the Office of the President and Cabinet was working in collaboration with the Public Service Commission and the Treasury to foster effective coordination, formulation, monitoring, and evaluation of Government policies, programmes, and projects, as well as organising and deploying human and financial resources.
Under the Second Republic Zimbabwe has thrived to enhance continuous improvement, transparency and accountability, and performance contracts for ministers and senior Government officials under the Integrated Results Based Management (IRBM), said Dr Sibanda.
In addition, a digital Whole of Government Performance Management System was adopted to facilitate real-time monitoring of progress in the implementation of projects for informed decision-making and timely intervention, he noted.
To consolidate the gains achieved so far, Dr Sibanda has said the OPC will continue to strengthen the collaboration among Government ministries, departments, and agencies for optimal delivery of services to the people of Zimbabwe.
Online Reporter