Zimbabwe's growth trajectory is inevitable and policies that have been put in place by His Excellency, President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa have given room for that.
This forward moving trend requires that each person finds something to do in order to ensure the achievement of the set goals.
As we prepare to enter into the second phase of this development trajectory through the National Development Strategy NDS 2, President Mnangagwa had this message to share:
"It is my honour and privilege to officiate at this occasion, which marks the presentation and launch of the National Development Strategy 2. The development blue print will guide the implementation of our programmes and projects for the period 2026 to 2030. It further signifies our resolve and determination to accelerate our transition towards a prosperous and empowered upper middle-income society as enunciated in Vision 2030.
Let me at the outset, congratulate all our stakeholders, Ministries, Departments and Agencies for the unity of purpose and focus you demonstrated during the conceptualisation and subsequent formulation of this Strategy. In doing so, it is pleasing that you executed the task guided by the principle of inclusivity and our mantra of “leaving no one and no place behind.”
NDS 2 is, thus, an outcome of broad-based national consultations. Well done, Makorokoto. Amhlophe. It encapsulates the voices, hopes and aspirations of our people from across the country. The various perspectives of the private sector, faith-based organisations, development partners and the diaspora, were also taken into account.
It is a document that embodies unity, self-reliance and shared responsibility, in line with our national development philosophy; Nyika inovakwa, inotongwa, inonamatigwa nevene vayo/Ilizwe lakhiwa, libuswe, likhu-le-ke-lwe ngabanikazi balo.
The National Development Strategy 2 seeks to consolidate the gains achieved to date. In keeping with my Administration’s focus on professionalism and high work ethic, the implementation of this Strategy will be anchored on stakeholder participation, value for money and timely delivery of impactful results. All public institutions are challenged, therefore, to develop and nurture Service Delivery Standards that suit our unique local realities, while also dovetailing with global best practices.
Through this commitment, my Government assures citizens of timely, people-centred and quality service delivery, befitting an empowered and prosperous upper middle-income society.
In line with our Zimbabwe is Open for Business drive, NDS 2 will continue to advance reforms aimed at enhancing competitiveness and reducing the cost as well as the complexity of doing business.4
Ladies and Gentlemen; The over-arching objectives of the National Development Strategy 2 include:
1) Sustaining a stable and predictable macro-economic environment that promotes investment, innovation, productivity and resilience, while strengthening, diversifying and deepening the financial sector to enhance domestic resource mobilisation and broaden financial inclusion.
2) Transform the economy from a primary commodity-based to a diversified, broad-based, modern upper middle-income country through accelerating value addition and beneficiation.
3) Develop a strong, modern and resilient infrastructure backbone across all sectors of the economy that supports productivity and sustainable socio-economic development.
4) Increase agricultural productivity to achieve food and nutrition security, as well as promote sustainable agro-processing value chains, strengthen climate resilience and environmental sustainability.
5) Promote science, technology, innovation and human capital development for the realisation of a knowledge-driven and digitally enabled economy.
6) Strengthen Devolution and Decentralisation to promote equitable and inclusive national development.
7) Accelerate job creation, youth development and entrepreneurship, as well as promoting the growth of the sport, creative and cultural industries.
8) Enhance social development, universal access to quality health, education and other social services.6
9) Enhance Brand Zimbabwe, strengthen international relations and regional integration, attract foreign direct investment, promote tourism and advance diplomatic and trade development.
10) Strengthen governance and security institutions to consolidate the prevailing unity, peace and social cohesion.
To achieve these broad objectives, we have set for ourselves ten national priorities, whose development impact transcends all sectors of the economy.
Further, our priorities are aligned to regional, continental and global development frameworks. These encompass the SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan, African Union Agenda 2063 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Ladies and Gentlemen;
To ensure that our communities benefit from our natural resource endowments, the Strategy will prioritise industrialisation, modernisation, value addition and beneficiation, predominantly of agriculture and mineral commodities.
The importance of infrastructure, orderly and planned human settlements, in our pursuit of Vision 2030 cannot be overemphasised. The Strategy, will equally focus on the implementation of comprehensive interventions in energy, transport, ICT, water and sanitation as well as housing development. These are key enablers for inclusive economic growth and structural transformation.
Riding on the unprecedented gains realised in agriculture, particularly in maize, wheat and tobacco, NDS 2 will see us ring-fence our national food and nutrition security through increased productivity, modern storage 8infrastructure and enhanced climate resilience. The need to climate proof our agriculture, establish sustainable irrigation, along with integrated land and water management, will result in increased investments in these areas.
With regards to science, technology, digitalisation, innovation and human capital development, NDS 2 has been designed to enhance the quality of education through science, vocational education training and lifelong learning. The intricate nexus between academia, innovation and industry is set to be consolidated.
Job Creation, Entrepreneurship, Youth and Women Empowerment, as well as the growth of the Sport, Creative and Cultural Industries remain of critical importance under my Administration. Support for content creation that resonates with nation building, development and value addition to aid industrialisation as well as entrepreneurship programmes for youth and women, will be enhanced.
Additionally, Government will continue to roll out measures to formalise small to medium enterprises, promote sport and creative industries, as well as protect intellectual property. Comrades, Ladies and Gentlemen;
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.
Meanwhile, 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.
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.
Ladies and Gentlemen;
The success of any plan or strategy lies largely in its comprehensive roll out and timeous execution. To this end, the implementation of the NDS 2 will be anchored on robust and well-coordinated supportive structures that promote communication and dissemination, coherence, accountability and inclusivity for the delivery of our national priorities and objectives.
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.
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.
Our cherished national Vision, is becoming a reality. Leveraging our domestic resource endowments, the hardworking nature of our people, ingenuity of our youth, along with the invaluable role of our citizens in the diaspora, nothing in this Plan is impossible. Let us all continue to uphold the enduring principles of service, patriotism, loyalty, hard-honest work, production and productivity, for the prosperity, development and modernisation of our beloved motherland, Zimbabwe.
Let us move forward, hand in hand, building, modernising and industrialising our country. Ibwe pamusoro peibwe, ngatirambei tichivaka nyika yedu. Nyika inovakwa, inotongwa, inonamatigwa nevene vayo/Ilizwe lakhiwa, libuswe, likhu-le-ke-lwe ngabanikazi balo.
With these remarks, it is now my honour and privilege to declare the National Development Strategy 2 officially launched. I wish us all across every sector of the economy and society, great success as we embark on the journey ahead. A brighter and more prosperous future is certain.
God bless you all.
God bless Zimbabwe.
I thank you.