Harare (New Ziana)-Implementation of projects and programs which the government initiated during the first term of the Second Republic should be accelerated to ensure they are completed and benefit the people, President Emmerson Mnangagwa said on Tuesday.
Addressing the inaugural meeting of the new Cabinet following his re-election in the August 23 harmonised elections, President Mnangagwa said his administration would intensify its focus on the implementation of people-centred projects meant to improve the quality of life for all Zimbabweans.
“As the Executive arm of Government, our policies, programmes and projects should remain people-centred for an improved quality of life for all our people. Production and productivity across all sectors must be accelerated. All projects and programmes embarked on during the First Term of the Second Republic should be completed speedily. This calls for hard work and focus from all of you.
“The task before us is to turn our energies towards the accelerated development of our country. We should never be distracted from our course to be a prosperous and empowered upper middle-income society by 2030,” he said.
He said the Cabinet remains seized with consolidating food security at both household and national levels.
“Although weather forecasts point to El-Nino, we remain hopeful that our country will receive good rainfall to give further impetus to the growth of agriculture and the agro-industrial sector. In view of climate change, our people should be encouraged to practice climate-proofed and smart agriculture according to ecological regions. Agriculture export markets must be pursued more vigorously,” he said.
“Further, we must scale up the provision of accessible and affordable social services for our people, in particular those in rural areas who bore the brunt of the arduous 16-year war of liberation,” he added.
President Mnangagwa said riding on the success of the US$12 billion mining industry target which the country has already achieved, the sector must continue to be a source of employment, foreign currency earnings, technology and skills transfer as well as the overall development of communities.
He said ministers would be required to ensure that Ministries facilitate the ease of doing business in line with the private sector-led development strategy and quest to make Zimbabwe an investment and tourism destination of choice.
“No Minister and permanent secretary can both be out of the country at the same time, as this has negative implications on service delivery and general Government business, he said.
“Further, travel outside the country will be strictly limited to those programmes which are of strategic importance and contribute to our country’s national priorities,” he said, adding that deputy Ministers have the responsibility to complement a Cabinet Minister’s responsibilities.
New Ziana
