Story by Oleen Ndori, Foreign Editor
THE government has reaffirmed its commitment to the dictates of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) with particular focus on economic governance and accountability.
With two-thirds of member states of the African Union having already acceded to the mechanism, including Zimbabwe in 2020, the hope is that sustained peer review will benefit the African people by finding lasting African solutions to African challenges.
For the government, the peer review provides impetus to performance in delivering national development aspirations.
“The APRM is a uniquely African, home-grown initiative that embodies the continent’s commitment to mutual accountability, self-assessment, and continuous improvement in governance and development to ensure that no one and no place is left behind. The current government review focuses on the thematic area of economic governance and management, which the Government of Zimbabwe has identified as a national priority,” Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Ambassador Albert Chimbindi said.
“This review provides an invaluable opportunity for the country to take an in-depth and accurate look at our economic governance systems, identifying strengths and addressing challenges, and ensuring that our policies promote inclusive growth and social opportunity. This process complements our Vision 2030, our National Development Strategy 2, to be launched soon, as well as the aspirations of Agenda 2063 of the African Union and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Together, these movements guide our pursuit of a prosperous, empowered, and inclusive society.”
Head of the visiting delegation, Ambassador Aly El-Hefny and Zimbabwe’s National Governing Council concur on the benefits of exchanging notes and ideas towards good governance.
“Today’s engagement offers a crucial opportunity to change the sides of Zimbabwe’s economic governance in the region. The APRM’s goal is not to judge, but to learn, share and document investment practices that strengthen accountability, fiscal discipline and institutional efficiency. Their contributions will ensure that the views of ministries and public institutions shape the governance of the Zimbabwe people,” Ambassador El-Hefny stated.
“Your presence here, Your Excellency, and dear brother, speaks volumes of the strong commitment of our President, His Excellency, Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa, to the peer-review process, which commitment he reaffirmed many a times during the working visits that you, Ambassador Aly El-Hefny and the APRM Secretary undertook to Zimbabwe since Zimbabwe’s accession to this continental framework on February 8, 2020,” Chairperson of the National Governance Council APRM Zimbabwe, Ambassador James Manzou said.
As a self and peer-assessment instrument and a driver of change, African countries are able to learn from each other’s experiences, while paving the way for sustainable means for the achievement of Agenda 2063 of the African Union, as good governance is a key component towards its achievement.
