Story by Tamuka Charakupa
THE visiting African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) delegation has praised Zimbabwe for rising above the waters by implementing various developmental projects to improve livelihoods countrywide, despite being under illegal sanctions.
This comes after the team, led by Director of Country Reviews and Assessments, Dr Racheal Mukamunana visited several projects in Mashonaland West Province, including the industrial and innovation hub at Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT).
“Zimbabwe’s continued progress in implementing transformative national development projects, despite the burden of illegal economic sanctions, is a true testament to our resilience as a nation. These sanctions have not broken our spirit, instead, they have strengthened our resolve to harness local innovation, add value to our resources, and build a self-sustaining economy driven by our own people,” Dr Mukamunana said.
From food processing to engineering prototypes, the university’s innovation drive is helping bridge the gap between academia and industry, while supporting national priorities on value addition.
“We are in the country to assess the state of affairs and part of our visit involves touring projects across the country’s ten provinces. What we have seen at CUT is commendable. The innovation hub reflects how education can drive national development and value addition through homegrown solutions,” Chairperson of the National Governing Council-APRM, Ambassador James Manzou noted.
Earlier on, the APRM delegation paid a courtesy call on Mashonaland West Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Honourable Marian Chombo, where it was briefed on the province’s investment landscape and progress under devolution.
“As a province, we are making progress as far as investment is concerned. We are, however, feeling the negative effects of economic sanctions imposed on the country because to date, we have not yet received devolution funds thus derailing progress. Overall, we have highlighted the strides we are making in unlocking value through devolution and empowering local communities,” Honourable Chombo said.
The delegation also held stakeholder cluster focus group discussions to gather views on governance, economic development and citizen participation.
