Staff Reporter
Addressing the Nation during the country’s 41st Heroes’ Day Commemorations at the National Heroes Acre, His Excellency the President of Zimbabwe and ZANU PF First Secretary Cde E. D. Mnangagwa encouraged the media and information sector as well as the general public to take keen interest in developmental initiatives which the Second Republic embarked on as they are yielding fruitful results.
Since the inception of the New Dispensation, Government has been consistent in developmental matters as seen by positive results which even the usually unfriendly IMF commended. To date there are tangible results of the Government’s developmental projects including this year’s bumper harvest, increased energy production, improved drive in manufacturing and production sectors to mention a few. Even during this Covid19 pandemic and other natural disasters;Zimbabwe's economy has shown resilience.
“The Second Republic is implementing a vast array of infrastructure projects which are meant to create an enabling environment for socio-economic growth. I challenge our media and information sector as well as the general public to take a keen interest in these developments.
“The best way to show our appreciation for the supreme sacrifice paid by our heroes and heroines is to build a modern, industrialised, developed and prosperous society envisaged in the country’s Vision 2030. This 2021 Heroes Day Anniversary comes at a time when my Government’s economic reform programme, guided by the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS 1) is bearing fruit, with unprecedented successes.
“We celebrate the emerging heroes and heroines, young sons and daughters of Zimbabwe who have accepted the mantle to rebuild, develop and modernise our country in these and other spheres,” said President Mnangagwa.
His Excellency went on to outline some of the developmental programmes the New Dispensation is working on with more positive growth being projected in the economic, agriculture and mining sectors in honour of the heroes and heroines of the country.
“Our economy is projected to grow by 7.8% surpassing the 2021 National Budget target of 7.4%. The resultant healthy public finances have allowed more resources to be channeled towards infrastructure development and rehabilitation, health and education as well as a raft of social protection programs".
“At the centre of this positive performance is the agriculture sector, which is expected to grow by a remarkable 34%. Government will support this positive performance towards guaranteeing sustainable livelihoods and dignity to our people through the implementation of the various programmes under the Agriculture recovery Growth Plan. We will indeed honour the sacrifices made by our heroes and heroines for the land through the optimal utilisation of this sacred infinite resource.
“On the back of the bumper harvest, the prevailing macro-economic stability, localisation of value chains and uninterrupted power supply, has seen the rebound of the manufacturing sector. These developments place our modernisation and industrialisation agenda on a firm footing.
“The performance of the mining sector is on track and is expected to grow by 11% in 2021 buoyed by favourable international prices and expansion programmes aimed at increasing production. My Government is determined to facilitate the sector to go beyond exploration and extraction towards value addition and marketing that guarantees optimal value for our mineral endowments”.
The Visionary icon, President Mnangagwa highlighted that the country's envisioned energy self-sufficiency remains a priority with the completion of energy related projects being accelerated. He also said roads are also being attended to under the Emergency Road Rehabilitation program with major progress being achieved on major highways and are being funded by Government.
These developments are a clear testimony of the ZANU PF led Government’s fulfilment of the 2018 ZANU PF Manifesto. It is these developments that President Mnangagwa expects the media and information sectors and the general public to take keen interest in order to dismiss fake news being circulated by detractors.