Dr Obert Moses Mpofu
HIS EXCELLENCY, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Cde Dr ED Mnangagwa, last week delivered the much-anticipated State of the Nation Address (SONA).
He also set the legislative agenda for the second session of the 10th Parliament of Zimbabwe. As usual, he did not disappoint, as he delivered a well-polished address that spoke to issues crucial to Zimbabwe, its people and the nation’s development at large.
The President’s address touched on the most important elements and ingredients crucial for the success of our nation.
The key points were on how we should all work towards developing Zimbabwe and take our beloved nation to greater heights. The country’s laws play an important role in achieving success. To that end, the President did emphasise that it is prudent that Parliament expedites its legislative processes and pass all outstanding Bills.
He also emphasised the important role that tourism and the environment play in national development, with this sector seeing a 62 percent increase in international tourist arrivals during the first half of 2023.
To strengthen Zimbabwe’s fight against climate change, he implored the 10th Parliament to review the Water Act; the Zimbabwe National Water Authority Act; and the Plant Breeders Act.
In his address, the President also outlined the tremendous growth recorded by the agriculture sector, particularly our impressive wheat haul that has bolstered national self-sufficiency.
He similarly highlighted the remarkable growth of our mining industry. It has grown from a US$2,8 billion sector to a US$12 billion industry, helping drive socio-economic development. Such positive strides show how far we have progressed under the New Dispensation. Further, there are some crucial areas that the President highlighted.
The proposed abolishment of the death penalty and the long-awaited Mines and Minerals Bill were also spotlighted.
The President challenged Parliament to pass such key laws for Zimbabwe’s success.
President Mnangagwa’s SONA could not have come at a more opportune time than now, when we are heading towards the ruling party ZANU PF’s 21st National People’s Conference.
Basing on the doctrine of the party’s supremacy over the Government, the conference offers room for sound debate and resolutions that will be used as policy guidelines by the party’s implementing agent, which is the Government.
As the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) comes to an end, and as NDS2 beckons, we have achieved a lot. However, we still have a long way to go.
So far, all seems to be on track.
With the national priorities now set for the coming year, it is back to work.
There is a lot to do and much ground to cover as we endeavour to ensure that our country stands tall and is counted amongst the most prosperous nations in the world.
This, I do believe, is an achievable feat under the ZANU PF Government.
The Government has already made efforts to address most of the outstanding issues in our economy necessary for us to achieve our developmental targets.
The latest of Government’s life-changing projects is the immediate rehabilitation of the Beitbridge-Bulawayo-Victoria Falls road.
This is one of the most important roads in the country, as it not only provides access to the most prestigious tourist destination but is also an important trade route that offers a gateway to Central, West and East Africa.
The Government should be commended for making the decision to rehabilitate this important road.
The project is bound to transform Matabeleland North province and will make it accessible. Now that this project has finally been given the greenlight by the Government, the usual “keyboard warriors”, who normally write and publicise nonsense, should now eat humble pie.
The ZANU PF Government has demonstrated that it is ever ready to address the concerns of the people. Other important roads earmarked for rehabilitation include the Kwekwe-Nkayi-Lupane road; the Bulawayo-Nkayi road; and the Karoi-Binga-Cross Dete road.
Implementation of these projects has already begun. Cde Mnangagwa’s Government has every intention of fulfilling the electoral promises that ZANU PF made to the people when it was given a fresh mandate.
And we will endeavour to rapidly improve the lives of our people.
No one and no place will be left behind.
It is important to highlight that infrastructural development is the driver of economic development and, with such massive projects having been initiated, our country is indeed in good hands. This, comrades, is why His Excellency’s SONA address was concise.
It seems, from the reactions of the naysayers, that they expected a presentation that was full of doom and gloom. However, that was not to be, as there is no doom or gloom in our beloved country. We are marching forward and are poised to meet all our developmental targets. All in all, from the President’s address, the country is in a good state.
The SONA managed to address all the pertinent issues in our beloved nation. Now that the SONA has been delivered, it is now all hands on deck as we work to deliver Vision 2030. The ZANU PF-led Government remains committed to enhancing the well-being of the people of Zimbabwe through entrenching unity, stability, security and development.
Our people should, thus, know that our Government is committed to the realisation of the promises made by the ruling party.
Indeed, prosperity, as per the President’s SONA address, can only be achieved through unity, harmony and love, as well as a sense of togetherness, which is an essential ingredient towards the realisation of the Zimbabwe that we all want.
Dr Obert Moses Mpofu is an academic and the Secretary-General of ZANU PF. He writes in his personal capacity.