Online Reporter
Wallace Ruzvidzo
Herald Reporter
Throughout 2024, President Mnangagwa implemented people-oriented programmes and policies aimed at reducing inflation, improving national infrastructure, and ensuring food security following the El Niño-induced drought last farming season.
At the year’s outset, he stated, “2024 is promising to be a year of further growth and development,” and the Second Republic has indeed made remarkable strides.
In his remarks at the last Cabinet meeting of the year on Tuesday, the President noted that the anticipated successes had materialised.
He emphasised, “As Government, we have made notable headway in our people-centred national development agenda.”
Throughout the year, impactful policies, programmes, and projects were crafted and implemented to meet the aspirations of citizens.
A significant milestone was the introduction of the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) currency in April, marking a pivotal shift towards a mono-currency system as the country gradually moves away from reliance on the US dollar.
The ZiG has shown promise in stabilising the economy, prices, and restoring confidence in the local currency.
Efforts to undermine the ZiG by economic saboteurs were effectively countered by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ), allowing the local currency to play its crucial role in stabilising the exchange rate.
Another highlight for the Second Republic was President Mnangagwa’s smooth takeover of the SADC Chairmanship at the 44th SADC Summit of Heads of State.
Zimbabwe achieved a record attendance, with only three Heads of State absent, showcasing confidence in Harare’s leadership within the regional bloc.
In addressing the El Niño-induced drought, the Government ensured that vulnerable households received necessary support.
President Mnangagwa assured the nation, “No one will die of hunger,” and indeed, no Zimbabwean faced starvation.
Both rural and urban households received timely food aid, with rural communities receiving mealie-meal and urban households benefiting from cash transfers.
Going forward, President Mnangagwa said adequate grain continued to be distributed to beneficiaries under the food deficit mitigation programme following the declaration of a State of Disaster for the 2023/2024 Summer Season after the El Nino-induced drought.
“The timely delivery of food aid as well as agriculture inputs to our people at the grassroots level must be prioritised while complaints that transport costs are sometimes passed on to our people, must be honestly addressed. I, therefore, challenge the relevant Ministries, Department and Agencies to apply themselves and devise strategies that will increase transport and logistical efficiency in getting aid and support to our people,” he said.
Infrastructure development continued to advance, with various roads constructed, rehabilitated, and opened to traffic.
Notable projects included the resurfacing of the Shurugwi-Mhandamabwe Highway and the rehabilitation of the Masvingo-Glen Norah Loop Road. Upcoming rehabilitation projects include major highways such as Beitbridge-Bulawayo-Victoria Falls, Bulawayo-Nkayi and Harare-Chirundu.
On dam construction, progress has been made on several projects, including Semwa Dam and Gwayi-Shangani Dam, which are expected to alleviate water shortages for Harare and Bulawayo.
The Government also commissioned new facilities in health, education, and business sectors, including an Optometry and Auditory School at Bindura University of Science Education, as well as an upgraded VVIP Pavilion at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport.
In health, Zimbabwe successfully contained the Mpox virus and managed to keep cholera outbreaks under control.
President Mnangagwa commended stakeholders in the sector for implementing multi-pronged intervention measures which saw the country combat the cholera outbreak during the first half of the year.
He said mechanisms were in place to deploy the recently approved Multi-Hazard Contingency Plan to curtail the effects of floods and other national disaster emergencies.
“I call upon you to provide leadership and assist your communities to mitigate damage and harm to property and life in the wake of the ensuing rainfall season. On the economic front, the revision of economic growth projections, on the back of the El Nino-induced drought’s negative impact on agricultural output, was inevitable. However, we remain resolute and optimistic that the fiscal and monetary reforms introduced during the year will increasingly underpin currency stability and usher economic rebound,” he said.
Turning to the energy sector, President Mnangagwa said while there was shortage of power owing to low generation at Kariba Hydropower Station, the improved use and exploitation of renewable energy sources in the country, particularly solar energy by companies and households, continued to reduce national grid power demand.
“The initiatives by ZESA through new models of Independent Power Producers are welcome moves to crowd-in the private sector in power generation, specifically for their respective energy needs. More campaigns should be mounted to encourage our people, in both rural and urban areas to adopt renewable energy for domestic use.”
The Second Republic’s re-engagement efforts yielded positive results, with President Mnangagwa attending the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and positioning Zimbabwe to benefit from China’s US$50 billion development pledge for Africa.
On the investment front, Zimbabwe attracted US$1.8 billion in investments during the second quarter and US$1.2 billion in the third quarter.
Notably, the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA) secured a US$6.94 billion mining investment deal from Ajako United (Pvt) Ltd, reflecting growing investor confidence in Zimbabwe as a secure investment destination.
These achievements underscore the Second Republic’s commitment to national development and the enhancement of citizens’ lives throughout 2024.
On housing, President Mnangagwa said the Government will continue to channel resources towards housing delivery, as well as the upgrading and rehabilitation of both residential and institutional accommodation nationwide.
“The strides made by local authorities during the course of the year are commendable. These include the conclusion of Master Plans by most local authorities. There are also glimpses of mindset change within that sector. Regrettably, cases of corruption emanating from the sector remain worrisome. The bold decision by Harare City Council to transfer waste disposal and management to private entities should be supported and replicated in other local authorities. Quality service delivery to our citizens remains the core objective,” said President Mnangagwa.
The decentralisation and devolution agenda, said President Mnangagwa, has led to an improved standard of life and living environments for people with enhanced basic social services infrastructure.
