Story by Online Reporter
PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa says Zimbabwe’s foreign policy of engaging all nations will remain central to the successful implementation of the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), emphasising that strengthened diplomatic relations are key to unlocking investment, cooperation and global partnerships.
Speaking at the official launch of NDS2 at State House in Harare on Thursday, President Mnangagwa said the country will continue to uphold its long-standing principle of being ‘a friend to all and enemy to none’, adding that the strategy gives prominence to the Brand Zimbabwe initiative and the Government’s Engagement and Re-engagement Policy.
“Zimbabwe will also continue to uphold international commitments on human rights, peace and security, while fostering dialogue, national unity and the rule of law. With regards to the diplomatic and international relations front, we remain guided by our enduring philosophy that Zimbabwe is a ‘Friend to all and enemy of none’. The Strategy must give prominence to the brand Zimbabwe initiative, while continuing with the Engagement and Re-engagement Policy,” President Mnangagwa said.
President Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe will also uphold its international commitments on human rights, peace and security, while fostering dialogue, national unity and the rule of law as part of its global responsibilities.
Closer home, President Mnangagwa reaffirmed government’s commitment to inclusive development, saying the Second Republic remains a listening, people-centred administration. NDS2, he said, will accelerate equitable regional growth through the Devolution and Decentralisation Agenda.
“Our ZANU PF-led Government is a listening and people centred Administration. Under my leadership, therefore, equitable regional development and inclusivity will be achieved across provinces through the accelerated implementation of the Devolution and Decentralisation Agenda. Under the National Development Strategy 2, broader social development and the mainstreaming of cross-cutting development issues, such as gender, disability, and overall social protection, remain key. Strategic interventions, inclusive of modernisation of our country’s healthcare infrastructure, availability of medicine, expansion of health insurance coverage and implementing gender-responsive policies, shall be rolled out at a faster pace,” he said.
Under the new blueprint, social development remains a key pillar, with targeted measures to modernise healthcare infrastructure, expand health insurance, improve medicine availability and strengthen gender-responsive policies.
President Mnangagwa said cross-cutting issues such as disability inclusion, gender equality and broader social protection will be mainstreamed across all national development programmes.
President Mnangagwa also said that national unity, peace and security remain essential for sustaining development progress and implementing NDS2. He reiterated that the fight against corruption will continue across all sectors, warning that transparency and accountability must be entrenched within public institutions.
“Unity, peace, security and the integrity of our national institutions remain the required solid foundation upon which we must successfully implement the NDS 2. Hence, the Strategy must entrench and deepen transparency, and accountability. Our fight against corruption across all sectors, will continue unabated,” he said.
President Mnangagwa said small and medium enterprises will be further formalised, while the sport, creative and cultural industries will receive stronger support. Protection of intellectual property will also be prioritised as Government seeks to stimulate youth entrepreneurship and innovation.
“Government will continue to roll out measures to formalise small to medium enterprises, promote sport and creative industries, as well as protect intellectual property,” he added.
To ensure effective implementation, President Mnangagwa NDS2 will be monitored through a digitally enabled Integrated Results-Based Management Framework supported by dedicated data units within Ministries, Departments and Agencies to enhance reporting, validation and performance management.
“In order to realise high impact results, strengthen performance management and accountability, the NDS 2 will be monitored and evaluated through a digitally enabled Integrated Results-Based Management Framework. This will be augmented by dedicated data units in Ministries, Departments and Agencies to enhance validation and reporting,” he said.
Calling on all Zimbabweans, including development partners and the diaspora to rally behind NDS2, President Mnangagwa said the country has the capacity to surpass its development targets.
“I call upon all the people of our motherland, Zimbabwe, inclusive of development partners, to put shoulder on the wheel and rally behind this transformational National Development Strategy 2. Together, in unity, with focus and unwavering determination, let us play our respective parts
to accelerate progress and surpass the development aspirations and expectations as envisioned in this document,” President Mnangagwa said.
