Our focus is on people, economy – Pres Mnangagwa

Goromonzi(New Ziana)- Government remains on course to reforming the economy for sustained recovery and growth despite attempts by the local opposition and hostile countries to derail progress, President Emmerson Mnangagwa said on Friday.

Opening the 18th edition of the ruling Zanu PF National Peoples Conference, he said government’s priority was uplifting the standard of living of people, and the country attaining an upper middle income economic status by 2030.

“In spite of the various attempts by our detractors to derail the course of our reforms and economic recovery, the revolutionary struggle for the peoples’ sustainable development is well on course,” he said.
“We are going forward.”

The conference, taking place from 10-15 December, is running under the theme: “Mechanise, modernise and grow the economy towards Vision 2030.
Issues under focus include the state of the economy, social services and poverty eradication, infrastructure development, value addition and beneficiation.

“The conference must share perspectives on how to quicken and rebuilding of both our party and country towards greater economic stability and growth,” President Mnangagwa said.

The ruling party, he said, was engaging other progressive parties under the Political Actors Dialogue platform on how to achieve a common vision and development for the country.

This is despite noises and criticisms from the main opposition, the Movement for Democratic Change, which opted out of the platform.

“The party should never be distracted by those making irritating noises in the country and on twitter and other social media platforms. Let them make the noise, let them tweet while we continue to govern,” the Zanu PF leader said.

He said government would continue to implement policies aimed at lessening the economic burden on people through subsidies among other initiatives in the face of unrelenting price hikes.

“In spite of various shocks which negatively impacted our projected economic growth, such as Cyclone Idai and the drought, most notable strides such as reducing the budget deficit to stabilise and grow the economy have been made,” he said.

Reforms so far carried out, which centred around austerity, would in the short term lead to stability and economic growth.

He called for continued peace and unity both in the party and among Zimbabweans, for the country to attain its objectives.

“The focus of our efforts must be towards ensuring that our people live a better life. Unity, peace and development is our party motto, let us live by it,” he said, stressing the need for servant leadership that addresses the needs of the majority.

Ensuring maximum productivity in all sectors of the economy should be the focus of all Zimbabweans, he said, while pledging total government support for initiatives by youth and women.

He reiterated that Zimbabwe’s land reform programme was irreversible, even though attempts to boost productivity on the land had been affected by drought.

Focus, he said, would also be on modernising the country’s dilapidated infrastructure, in part affected by two decades of economic sanctions imposed by the West in opposition to the land reforms.
New Ziana