Staff Reporter

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has outlined the strategic vision for his second term, emphasizing to his newly appointed Cabinet Ministers that "it's not business as usual."

Addressing the ministers at the High-Level Government Retreat in Harare yesterday, President Mnangagwa urged them to sustain the developmental momentum garnered during his first term of the Second Republic.

 The President emphasized leveraging Zimbabwe's comparative advantages to promote growth and inclusivity, ensuring no person or place is left behind.

"Our country's various comparative advantages developed over the years must be harnessed to accelerate growth, enhancing our nation's competitiveness. We aim to amplify sustainable development, ensuring 'no one and no place is left behind'," President Mnangagwa stated.

The President challenged the ministers to exhibit agility and innovation in fostering economic growth, modernization, industrialization, and global competitiveness.

"The Government should consistently foster an investment-friendly environment. Over the next five years, governmental affairs should revolve around the 'Whole of Economy and Society Approach to Development'. Open-door policies should be the norm. Thus, stakeholder engagement and dialogue are vital," he added.

Further, President Mnangagwa stressed the importance of maintaining momentum towards development goals.

 "The performance of the incoming Ministers and Permanent Secretaries will be gauged by their agility and innovation in driving economic growth, modernization, industrialization, and global competitiveness. 'It’s not business as usual'. Hard work must be a staple at all government levels. We need to collaboratively execute bold strategies to realize substantial outcomes,”said the President.

President Mnangagwa highlighted the necessity for the public sector to transition from merely reporting tasks and activities to showcasing results, outputs, and impacts.

"Our institutional systems and processes will consistently be refined through the Integral Results Management Systems," he asserted.

The President revealed that a host of developmental projects are set for his second term. Notable projects include the completion of the Gwayi-Shangani dam, Kunzvi Dam, the Beitbridge-Bulawayo-Victoria Falls highway, and the drilling of 35,000 boreholes across villages.