Staff Reporter
Speaking at the 2021 National Thanksgiving and Dedication service in Bulawayo on Sunday, His Excellency President and ZANU PF First Secretary Cde E.D Mnangagwa announced that as 2021 draws to an end, our nation has so much to be thankful for.
The National Thanksgiving and dedication service is held annually and this was the fifth service in a row since the inception of the New Dispensation. The service was running under the theme, “Pursuing Nation Building Initiatives in the Spirit of Godly Patriotism, Ownership, Unity and Inclusiveness.
Accompanying the President was ZANU PF Vice President and Second Secretary Cde K.C.D Mohadi, Minister of Women Affairs, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Minister Sithembiso Nyoni, Patron of Zimbabwe Indigenious Interdenominational Council of Churches (ZIIC) Nehemiah Mutendi and Chairman of Faith for the Nation Campaign (FANA) and ZIIC Reverend Andrew Wutawunashe.
President Mnangagwa also highlighted how peaceful Zimbabwe is and that it has been favoured by the Lord with rains and as a result, leading to a bumper harvest.
“As 2021 draws to an end, our nation has so much to be thankful for. God answered our supplication for his help made a year ago at the 4th National Thanksgiving and Dedication Service held on 29 December 2020. As the Bible urges us in Isaiah 12 verse 4 and 5, “make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that His name is exalted. For he has done glorious things ; let this be known to the entire world.
“Our nation has continued to enjoy peace and tranquillity. We have been favoured by the Lord with abundant rains and through hard work, we realised an unprecedented bumper harvest which contributed to an upturn in our economy,” President Mnangagwa said.
President Mnangagwa went on to explain how the Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo mantra is bearing fruit with infrastructure development, food security through pfumvudza and utilisation of devolution funds.
“Under the mantra, “Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo” we are developing our national infrastructure, through our own resources. This includes roads, dams, irrigation, water and sanitation infrastructure, schools, clinics and other projects. The Pfumvudza/Intwasa programme has undeniably contributed to food security in our nation. The Devolution Policy is accelerating development from the grassroots upwards.
“The prudent utilisation of Devolution Funds is leading to the implementation of numerous projects, identified by local communities themselves. This has in-turn enhanced participatory governance across the Provinces, Districts and Wards. These projects are evident for all to see, bringing unprecedented improvements in the quality of life of our people as we march towards Vision 2030,” President Mnangagwa said.
His Excellency went on to express his gratitude for God’s grace of leading his Government with wisdom.