Story by Kenias Chivuzhe
TEAMS from the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) visited Manicaland and Matabeleland South Provinces on Thursday as part of their ongoing assessment of governance and development issues in Zimbabwe.
In Manicaland Province, the APRM delegation expressed satisfaction with the progress the country is making across key sectors of the economy, noting visible improvements in infrastructure development, service delivery, and community empowerment initiatives.
The visits form part of the APRM’s broader evaluation exercise, which seeks to review governance practices, identify best practices, and support member states in achieving good governance, sustainable development, and inclusive growth.
“We saw with our own eyes the progress that the country is making. We started with Mashonaland West and proceeded to Mashonaland Central. Yesterday, we were in Mashonaland East, and today, we are in Manicaland. In the spirit of the African Peer Review Mechanism, it is important to engage stakeholders at the grassroots level. It is a mechanism of the people, for the people. That is why we are here this afternoon to listen to you. But it also lies at the heart of the mantra of His Excellency, the President, who said the country can only be built by its own people.
“Zimbabwe used to be known as the breadbasket for the entire continent and I have no doubt that, based on what we have heard, you are already a breadbasket for Africa. Congratulations to you. You have done it despite the illegal sanctions imposed on this country by some countries. But these illegal sanctions made you more resilient. You worked very hard. You found solutions among yourselves. We have visited various innovation hubs. We saw many beautiful farms of macadamia, banana, and avocado. We are impressed by what you have done,” Director of Country Reviews for the APRM, Dr Rachel Mukamunana said.
Earlier, the APRM delegation paid a courtesy call on the Manicaland Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Advocate Misheck Mugadza, in Mutare, where the team unpacked its mission before being briefed on the province’s economic development initiatives.
“The province’s economy is driven by robust performance in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, and a resurgent tourism sector, which has significantly boosted provincial output, employment, and investment confidence. The province recorded an average GDP growth rate of 3.2% per annum since 2022. This does reflect a positive GDP growth trend, being attributed to stable microeconomic conditions and increased.
“In the same vein, the capital income rose steadily to an estimated USD 1.7 billion, signalling improved household welfare and sustained provincial prosperity. Manicaland attracted an estimated US$55 million in investments during the year, expanding into processing, energy, hospitality, and manufacturing sectors. Manicaland is also a sleeping tourism giant,” he said.
Chairperson of the National Governing Council for APRM, Ambassador James Manzou, said the ongoing exercise marks an important step toward Zimbabwe’s upcoming peer review at the 2026 African Union Summit in Addis Ababa.
“We are here to undertake a targeted review process on economic governance and management. This process is being conducted under the supervision of a member of the African Peer Review Mechanism Panel. This phase allows the broader stakeholder engagement at the ground level, promoting inclusivity in line with His Excellency, the President, Dr Mnangagwa’s philosophy of leaving no one and no place behind. Zimbabwe is fully committed to the principles of good governance, recognising these as fundamental pillars for democracy. It is important to note that President Mnangagwa has reaffirmed his readiness to be reviewed by his peers in February 2026 in Addis Ababa, hence, the process we are undertaking here today,” he said.
Meanwhile, stakeholders who attended an APRM meeting in Chipinge commended the government for walking the talk on the inclusive development agenda.
“We are excited that we have been given this opportunity to talk about development issues that need to be addressed. This shows that our President walks the talk on the engagement and re-engagement policy,” a community member said.
“We have been given a platform to open up on key issues affecting our community,” another community member said.
“We praise President Mnangagwa for being open to criticism. It means he is a good leader as he invites the African Peer Review Mechanism to shape the country’s development course,” a resident said.
The success stories recorded under the devolution programme were also part of the major highlights of APRM’s visit to Manicaland Province.
