By Brendah Muchato
His Excellency the President and ZANU PF First Secretary Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa has urged political players to mantain peace and unity during the upcoming elections.
"Political players, seeking the people's mandate during the upcoming 2023 Harmonised Elections, must maintain and consolidate the peace, unity, harmony and love that we have built under the Second Republic. Violent confrontations have never been part of our culture", President Mnangagwa said
President Mnangagwa made these remarks on Wednesday where he was delivering the State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the New Parliament Complex in Mt Hampden.
He also urged stakeholders to intensify programmes to end drug abuse and early marriages.
"All stakeholders are urged to scale up programmes to end the new menace of drug and substance abuse, child marriages as well as all forms of violence", he said.
With regards to sanctions, President Mnangagwa called for the unconditional removal of sanctions expressing his gratitude to SADC and world leaders who made calls during the 77th UNGA session.
"The need for the unconditional removal of sanctions, which have constrained socio-economic growth for decades, remains urgent and imperative. We are grateful to AU, SADC and other world leaders who made similar calls during the 77th United Nations General Assembly. Our country welcomes the invitation to attend the US-Africa Summit in December, 2022 and emphasis remains on dialogue and multilateralism as the best option to resolve today’s global challenges", President Mnangagwa
His Excellency went on to say that the Presidential Inputs Programme will support every household with specific crops.
"In agriculture, the Presidential Input Programme is targeting 3 million farmers for enhanced production of cereals, oilseeds and legumes. The programme will support five Pfumvudza/Intwasa plots per household, with specific crop input packages based on agroecological regions. The Zunde RaMambo/Isiphala SeNkosi Programme has been extended to also cover Headmen and Village Heads. Our traditional leaders are constantly with our people at grassroots level. Hence, my Government will render all possible support to them", His Excellency.
His Excellency President Mnangagwa expressed hope that the country will find its rightful place among the global family of nations through the engagement and re engagement drive.
"Zimbabwe’s foreign policy of Engagement and Re-engagement, as well as our thrust to be a “friend to all and an enemy to none,” continues to bear fruit. Our diplomatic missions have been re-focussed towards economic diplomacy and diaspora engagement to attract investment and mutually beneficial partnerships", President Mnangagwa said.
Turning out to Covid 19 President Mnangagwa said; "Let me also emphasise that, although the COVID-19 pandemic has largely subsided, the virus still poses a threat. Therefore, there is need for all our people to remain vigilant"