Story by Bruce Chahwanda, Political Editor
PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa has saluted the people of Zimbabwe for their extraordinary resilience, unity of purpose, innovation and resourcefulness in the face of illegal economic sanctions coupled with climate change-induced challenges.
He said this at his engagement with heads of diplomatic missions in Harare this Friday, also outlining some of the projects being undertaken to uplift people’s lives.
Under the 2030 vision of attaining an upper-middle-income society, the government embarked on political, economic, and legislative reforms as well as the implementation of people-centred projects to guarantee household food security and improved incomes.
“The illegal economic sanctions, coupled with the prevalence of climate change-induced natural disasters and weather phenomenon, are negatively impacting our economy. However, domestic resource mobilisation, diaspora remittances, and inflows of foreign direct investments are augmenting the national fiscus.
“Our people and the economy, are demonstrating extraordinary resilience, unity of purpose, innovation, and resourcefulness. The projected recovery in agriculture output is expected to drive economic growth to 6%, buoyed by the expected bumper harvest, following a successful summer season,” he said.
Other initiatives such as the creation of village business units and nutritional gardens where 35 000 villages are benefitting from borehole sinking projects under the rural industrialisation agenda.
“We, thus, invite your missions to partner these initiatives from the perspective of training and capacity building as well as value addition and sourcing of export markets as we promote market-driven productivity. Under our Agriculture Transformation Strategy and the Village Business Unit Concept, Zimbabwe envisions improved incomes and higher standards of living for our grassroots communities and also contributes to global food security and nutrition.
“In mitigating climate change, we are expanding dam construction, water conveyancing, and resuscitating irrigation schemes. These intiatives provide scope for further partnerships, cooperation, and investments,” he said.
President Mnangagwa urged diplomats to promote investments in line with government projects while also taking advantage of the forthcoming Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF).
“I invite your countries to participate at our premier trade exhibition, the ZITF, which is scheduled to take place in the City of Bulawayo, from April 21 to April 26, 2025. This trade extravaganza avails an opportunity to strengthen, grow investments, and expand trade relations.”
Under the Second Republic, the government has made huge strides in infrastructure development, social safety nets, and food security.
