Staff Reporter
Legislators across the political divide have applauded President Mnangagwa’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) and described it as progressive.
Yesterday, President Mnangagwa delivered the SONA at the gigantic New Parliament Building in Mt Hampden and outlined the major successes that have been scored by the Second Republic.
Nyanga South legislator, Supa Mandiwanzira said that the SONA demonstrated that there was economic growth and progress happening in the country under the leadership of President Mnangagwa.
“The amount of projects and programmes that the President has articulated demonstrates that there is growth that is taking place in the country. It shows that investments are coming into our country. The New Parliament marks a new level of relationship between China and Zimbabwe,” said Cde Mandiwanzira.
MDC-T legislator, Paurina Gwanyanya-Mpariwa said she was impressed by the SONA as it touched on many issues that need to be addressed for the country to progress.
“I was impressed by President Mnangagwa’s SONA. His suggestion to make sugar cane a strategic crop is good as it will go a long way in reducing sugar prices. Again, I was happy when the President urged political players contesting in the forthcoming elections to maintain and consolidate peace, unity and harmony. If all political players take heed of this call by the President, then the 2023 elections will be violence free,” said Mpariwa.
Meanwhile, Labour, Economists and African Democrats (LEAD) president, Linda Masarira said that President Mnangagwa’s SONA addressed a number of issues and commended the Second Republic for making efforts to stabilise the economy.
“We applaud efforts by the Second Republic to tighten monetary and fiscal policy measures to stabilize the economy. Special mention goes to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) Governor, Dr. John Mangudya and the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) for curtailing speculative borrowing and other rent-seeking behaviour that had caused a turbulent economic climate,” said Masarira.
Masarira added that she had hopes that the Insurance Bill which seeks to replace the Insurance Act to address regulatory gaps and weaknesses will also have a provision to protect senior citizens in the informal sector, pensioners and to protect all insurers from the various malpractices that currently exist in the insurance sector.
The LEAD president added that the directive by President Mnangagwa, that the fifth session of the ninth parliament must expedite the Labour Amendment Bill, was a welcome move which was applauded by most labour advocates.
