The Sunday Mail
Key successes have been recorded in programmes under Zim-Asset, particularly in agriculture, infrastructural development and poverty eradication, a new report on the 2013-2018 economic blueprint shows.
The Progress Report on Implementation of the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation was tabled at Zanu-PF’s 6th National People’s Congress in Harare.
The Congress was themed, “Accelerated Implementation of Zim-Asset”.
The 2015 Zim-Asset Action Plan has also been developed and will help spur implementation of economic development programmes outlined in the blueprint.
According to the progress report, Zimbabwe achieved self-sufficiency in the 2013-14 summer cropping season with 1 680 293 metric tonnes of cereals and 996 424 metric tonnes of other food crops.
This improved production is attributed to better Government support for agriculture.
Tobacco production increased by 30 percent to 216,1 million kg, while earnings rose from US$610,7 million in 2013 to US$685,1 million this marketing season. Exports of 91,4 million kg of the golden leaf earned Zimbabwe US$486 million.
Further, cotton seed and livestock production, as well as institutional and capacity systems improved.
There was also progress in guaranteeing land tenure systems via A1 agricultural land settlement permits, launched by President Mugabe in July.
On social service and poverty eradication indices, the maternal mortality ratio — the rate at which women die while giving birth — declined from 960 per 100 000 in 2011, to 614 per 100 000.
Psychomotor activities are being streamlined in school curricula.
However, interventions such as the Basic Education Assistance Module (Beam), Harmonised Social Cash Transfer, Assisted Medical Orders and Heroes’ Dependants Programmes are facing treasury disbursement challenges of treasury disbursements.
In the past year, Government has constructed and opened 22 primary and 34 secondary schools.
Twenty more primary and 18 secondary schools are nearing completion and will be opened in 2015.
Government rehabilitated 104 primary and 79 secondary schools and authorised establishment of 17 primary and 22 secondary schools.
Progress has also been made at key projects at Lupane State University as well as United Bulawayo, Bindura, Mpilo and Harare hospitals.
In addition, health infrastructure will benefit from the consummation of the US$89 million loan facility from China Eximbank, which has already started disbursing funds for retooling major hospitals.
The report also highlights the completion of Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport in Bulawayo; Harare and Victoria Falls International airport upgrades; near completion (95 percent) of the 823km Plumtree-Bulawayo-Harare-Mutare Road and the dualisation of Harare International Airport Road (80 percent complete) as successes under the Zim-Asset Infrastructure and Utilities Cluster.
Zinara — which last year bought 80 graders — distributed US$2 million for road rehabilitation; while rehabilitation and construction of water projects are underway.
On water infrastructure, major dam projects are progressing well. These include: Tokwe Mukosi Dam (84 percent complete), Gwayi-Shangani (15 percent), Mutenga Dam (96 percent complete), Wenimbi Pipeline (complete), Beitbridge Water Supply project (75 percent complete) and Mtshabezi Pipeline (99 percent complete).
On energy, the report notes massive upgrades at Hwange Thermal Power Station, and Kariba South Expansion Project.
A new fuel gantry was expected to be commissioned this year.
Economic sanctions against Zimbabwe are inhibiting progress and must go for Zim-Asset goals to be fully realised, the report says.
“Remaining European Union sanctions together with those imposed by the Commonwealth and, of course, the draconian measures still imposed by the United States of America should go.
“In the interim, and, more precisely, in the coming 12-month period, Government and the entire Zim-Asset cluster infrastructure will have to redouble its collective efforts to ensure a steady, effective implementation of the 2015 Priorities Action Plan, and to build upon the successes and progress achieved so far.”
