We must march forward together!

Below is President Mnangagwa’s New Year’s message delivered at State House in Harare yesterday

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MY warmest greetings to you all my dear Zimbabweans, both at home and abroad.

Today, we gather with those we love, as family and friends, during this special time of the year.

For many of us, this is also a time to look back and reflect on the year that has gone by, as well as on our goals and plans for the year ahead.

It is also a time to be grateful for the things that matter the most in our lives, that is, good health, a decent life, the love of family and the companionship of friends.

To all the hardworking breadwinners who endeavoured to make sure that their families and dependants led comfortable lives, I say thank you.

It is through your hard work and effort that our country is also on a path to sustainable socio-economic growth and development.

Together, we reflect on the long list of achievements in 2022 with a sense of pride, motivated and emboldened to face the future.

During the course of this year, many historic breakthroughs of great significance were recorded. Productivity and production targets were broken.

In the agricultural sector, we managed to record a bumper harvest of wheat, which saw Zimbabwe attaining self-sufficiency for the first time.

Going forward, and taking advantage of the predicted normal to above normal rains, my Government will continue availing support to farmers under the various input support schemes as well as through favourable producer prices.

With regards to mining, Zimbabwe is well on course to achieving the US$12 billion target by end of next year (this year).

This is benefitting from the conducive business operating environment.

The increased discovery of lithium, a mineral in great demand in relation to the world’s response to climate change and the production and deployment of green energy, stands to position Zimbabwe in a competitive position.

In order to nurture an entrepreneurial and innovative culture amongst our talented young boys and girls, the Second Republic is investing heavily in science and technology, including setting up innovation hubs and industrial parks.

This has seen record-breaking inventions and patents being registered and a lot of start-ups being nurtured.

Over and above this, for the first time, Zimbabwe is now self-sufficient in the production of medical oxygen and we also managed to launch our first satellite into space.

We are indeed building strategic science and technology capabilities with more zeal, confidence and determination.

The tourism sector has seen the number of both local and international tourists increasing.

A number of airlines have also either entered our market or increased the frequency of flights into Zimbabwe.

Critical economic reforms by the Second Republic, including increased fiscal discipline, boosted overall investor confidence.

In the manufacturing sector, the year 2022 witnessed increased capacity utilisation.

This, coupled with stabilising prices, has set Zimbabwe on a sustainable economic growth path.

It has seen the country recording its highest foreign currency earnings ever.

This was also made possible by Zimbabweans in the diaspora, who continue investing and sending money to their loved ones as remittances.

The year 2022 also saw the devolution and decentralisation agenda at work.

Through the devolution funds, a number of health facilities and schools were built countrywide.

The historic celebration of independence outside Harare in Bulawayo for the first time is a mark of our resolve as a united people.

Fellow Zimbabweans, the year 2023 holds much promise for our nation.

Focus will be on modernising, industrialising and growing our economy so that we attain our vision of becoming a prosperous and empowered upper middle-income economy by 2030.

This includes ensuring that we earn more from our natural and human resource endowment.

In this regard, the Second Republic will continue implementing measures to grow our economy, taking advantage of the good rains and the benefits accruing from the engagement and re-engagement agenda.

Through unity of purpose and hard work, we are going to lift more of our people out of poverty and into prosperity, whilst at the same time leaving no one and no place behind. I salute all Zimbabweans, in particular at grassroot village level.

As I traversed the countryside, it was evident that our people are living through hard, honest work, at peace amongst themselves in their communities.

Let no one disturb that peace.

The loyalty of the security services deserves special mention.

They continue to serve our nation with utmost honour and dignity.

Fellow Zimbabweans, elections offer an opportunity to exercise our democratic right.

As such, during next year (this year), we will be holding the harmonised general elections.

Mindful of the fact that we are a diverse but one people, united by one flag, I urge each and every one of us to continue being peace-loving and politically mature citizens.

The defence of our hard-won independence must serve as a reminder to us all.

We must march forward together, given that Chimurenga Chepfungwa is a process, not an event.

As masters of our own destiny, we should also start looking beyond 2030 so that we will be able to create a better future for generations to come.

Finally, as we welcome the new year, I wish you all joy, happiness, prosperity and peace.

Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo, igotongwa nevene vayo.

Ilizwe lakhiwa ngabanikazi balo, libuswe ngabanikazi balo.

May the good Lord continue to prosper our nation.

God bless you!

God bless Zimbabwe!

I thank you!