Harare (New Ziana) – President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Wednesday said Zimbabwe is pursuing strategic partnerships with other countries as part of strategies to transition the economy from recovery to growth as the next stage of the country’s development agenda.
President Mnangagwa has already declared 2022 as a year of growth, highlighting that this would be achieved through increased emphasis on improving efficiencies, guaranteeing a stable political and socio-economic environment to foster economic growth.
“Going forward, we must remain optimistic and full of hope. As Zimbabweans, we are a nation gifted with the warrior spirit, always fighting for the good. Let us, therefore, remain united as we safeguard the gains we made in 2021 through working together. This will enable us to set a solid foundation for future generations. 2022 must be a year in which we focus on efficiencies through moving away from recovery to growth,” he said in his New Year message to Zimbabweans early this month.
Buttressing this vision, President Mnangagwa said the engagement and re-engagement agenda would play a critical role in transitioning the economy.
“The Second Republic will continue to pursue and strengthen collaborative engagements and re-engagements that optimise on the opportunities for growth, resilience and sustainable economic development, and by being a friend to all Nations and Peoples, and enemy to none,” he said while announcing a donation of 10 million vaccine doses from China.
Citing partnerships with China, President Mnangagwa said strategic engagements with other countries were pivotal in Zimbabwe’s development agenda.
“As we broaden and deepen these relations, we are cognisant of the scope and huge potential for mutual benefit, growth, and development in key areas in which Chinese investments and support would be quite instrumental in stimulating Zimbabwe’s efforts to achieve Vision 2030 of an upper-middle-income economy,” he said.
“Intervention(s) can take but may not be limited to support in the production or financing of several projects such as the manufacture and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, development, and access skills to and technology Chinese market of Zimbabwe’s agricultural products, including citrus and horticulture, as well as funding Zimbabwe’s go-green commitments.”
The second republic is implementing several strategies to transform the country into an upper-middle-income economy by 2030.
Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube has predicted robust economic growth for this year, spurred by higher mineral commodity prices and good management of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Growth in the agriculture, construction, as well as accommodation and food services (tourism) sector, would spur the projected 5.5 percent economic growth.
The World Bank has also concurred but has predicted a lower growth rate of 4.3 percent this year.
New Ziana