The Sunday Mail
Levi Mukarati in Victoria Falls
President Mugabe says he has had his fair share of achievements on the continent, with the major highlight being his elevation to the African Union and Sadc Chairmanship.
The President said the AU’s Agenda 2063 and Sadc’s Industrialisation Strategy were milestones attained during his concurrent tenures as Chair of both bodies.
Cde Mugabe was Sadc Chair from August 2014 to August 2015 while his one-year AU tenure runs until February 2016.
“Zimbabwe was thrust into the leadership of our regional groups, more specifically the African Union and Southern African Development Community where I served as the Chairperson of both groups,” he said in his forward to the Zanu-PF Central Committee Report.
ZANU-PF 1st Secretary President Mugabe delivers his keynote address at the ongoing 15th Annual National People’s Conference in Victoria Falls on Saturday. – (Picture by Believe Nyakudjara)
“We had our fair share of achievements and disappointments at the regional level. But, let me hasten to say that the development of a 50-year Continental Development Plan, Agenda 2063 at the AU, and the Sadc Industrialisation Strategy were major milestones.
“I would, therefore, want to call upon the party and Government to embrace these initiatives as we strategise for the future.”
The Central Committee Report — presented to the party’s 15th National Annual People’s Conference on Friday – spells out Zanu-PF’s achievements and plans that finds expression through Government policy.
President Mugabe commended Zanu-PF members for continuing to support Government as it works to deliver socio-economic transformation.
“At national level, we take note of the efforts that various party departments and Government ministries are taking to transform the country’s socio-economic fortunes as guided by our economic blueprint, the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (Zim-Asset) and the 10-Point Plan that I unveiled during my State of the Nation Address on 25 August this year.
“We remain guided by the policies and projects that are enunciated in these frameworks. The party and Government programmes are being stalled by financial constraints.
‘‘Efforts are currently underway to explore innovative financing models, intensifying our domestic resource mobilisation efforts and engaging international financiers.”
He said while the collapse of big institutions had birthed small enterprises, the “new economy” was operating outside the public finance system and not contributing taxes.
He appealed to Zimbabweans working outside the country to increase their support through formal channels and the numerous investment opportunities back home.
President Mugabe said ills such as corruption, public office abuse and dishonouring financial contracts distort Zimbabwe’s cost of doing business.
Zanu-PF, he also said, has a role to protect vulnerable groups, especially children, youth, women, the disabled and the disadvantaged.
On economic empowerment, President Mugabe commended Zanu-PF for spearheading land reforms and the indigenisation programme.
The President, however, noted with concern low land utilisation that has, in most cases, led to low agricultural production.
