By Kay Kaseke President E.D Mnangagwa and First Secretary of ZANU PF while opening the 339th politburo session at the Party’s Headquarters advised the Party and government to never stop reflecting on the path it has journeyed for a bright future and more prosperous Zimbabwe. He said government is alive to the dire economic plight of the people, as a result of the hardships brought by the COVID-19 induced lockdown that has not spared any sector with the hardest hit being the informal sector. Cde Mnangagwa said government will chip in to mitigate the challenges and cushion the people against the associated negative macro-economic impact. “I have since unveiled ZW$18-billion-dollar Economic Rescue and Stimulus Package. This has set aside financial packages cutting across all sectors of the economy including agriculture.” He urged the Party leadership through its structures to be proactive and inform the people about these initiatives and how they can benefit. Cde Mnangagwa said it is vital to prepare for the post COVID­­- 19 pandemic phase by outlining projects in different sectors so as to sustain them. “We have availed resources for a successful winter wheat farming season. In the medium to long term, irrigation development strategy will continue to be rolled out to mitigate the impact the impact of climate change,” Cde Mnangagwa said. “The support both the large and small scale mining sector players should keep our country on course towards a USD$12 billion dollar mining sector by 2020. Meanwhile, robust strategies must be developed by all players in the tourism sector to revive the sector in light of present impact of COVID-19 to the hospitality, travel, tourism and aviation industries.” Cde Mnangagwa outlined the importance of harnessing the immense potential in home grown, innovative solutions to drive and propel the country’s modernisation and industrialization through SMEs and the manufacturing sectors working with the education institutions.With all these, he once again urged the Party through its various Departments to ensure participation of members so as not to leave anyone behind during the national development. “We are a caring Party, a Party for the people and from the people. We must be a more visible, alert and empathetic leadership which timeously raises and brings to the fore issues that affect the quality life of our people.” To keep the membership mobilised he stated that the Party needs to develop and adopt new strategies which take into account the inevitable new realities in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.