By Grace Chekai
The achievements scored so far by President Emerson Mnangagwa’s New Dispensation have raised a ray of hope that Vision 2030 is indeed possible, more so if unity of purpose prevails in the country.
Inaugurated as the President of Zimbabwe on 24 November 2017 after the late former President Robert Mugabe had stepped down, President Mnangagwa promised Zimbabweans that brick by brick and stone upon stone, the New Dispensation would rebuild the country which had been in the doldrums for almost two decades.
The economic reconstruction is premised on the national vision which seeks to transform Zimbabwe into an upper middle income economy by 2030.
In the journey to an upper middle income economy, President Mnangagwa has undertaken to deal with corruption and effect institutional reforms, empowering the youths and women as well as prioritising infrastructure development among other sectors.
Infrastructure development
As stipulated in the Transitional Stabilisation Program (TSP), Government has shown commitment towards infrastructure development. Government continues to prioritise critical infrastructure projects such as roads, energy and water.
Government will soon complete the rehabilitation of units 7 and 8 at Hwange which will add 600 Megawatts (MW) to the national grid. The project is now 45 percent complete.
Other on-going energy projects include the Zambezi Gas and Coal project. This project will add 750 MW to the national grid upon completion. The Western project which is also on-going will add 600 MW and Jinan will add 600 MW.
The construction of roads, which are economic enablers, also prove Government’s commitment to improving the ease of doing business. These projects include the Harare-Beitbridge Highway Rehabilitation and Expansion, as well as the Mutare-Harare-Gweru-Bulawayo dualisation, Karoi-Binga roads. Chiredzi-Tanganda road was completed, whilst the Makuti-Chirundu stretch is still under construction.
Corruption
In the journey to attain a middle income economy, President Emmerson Mnangagwa pledged to leave no stone unturned in the fight against corruption. Speaking at the 345th session of the Politburo, President Mnangagwa urged party members to shun corruption and desist from abusing big party wigs in corrupt activities.
He said going forward, all members across all party structures, must reflect on the party`s unassailable revolutionary character upon which the Government continues to build the country towards Vision 2030.
All the corruption activities in councils, parastatals and private sectors are being exposed. The arrest of senior government officials including cabinet ministers is a show of sincerity towards fighting the vice.
President Mnangagwa wants every citizen to join in the fight against corruption. He knows that fighting corruption is the gateway to achieving Vision 2030.
Institutional Reforms
The Transitional Stabilisation Programme acknowledges policy reform initiatives of the Government of President Mnangagwa in our drive to an Upper Middle Income Economy.
One of the reforms which the general public has been demanding is media reforms. As a listening administration, the Government of President Mnangagwa repealed the draconian Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA) and replaced itwith the Freedom of Information Act, Zimbabwe Media Commission Bill, and the Cyber Security and Data Protection Bill.
The Public Order and Security Act (POSA) was also repealed and replaced with the Maintenance of Order and Peace Act (MOPA).
The establishment of a Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD) is a political reform that speaks of an administration that believes in inclusivity in the journey towards Vision 2030. President Mnangagwa believes that everyone is important in building the Zimbabwe we all want.
Empowering youths and women
In a drive to Vision 2030, President Mnangagwa has incorporated the youths and the women. The youths and the women form the largest numbers of the population in Zimbabwe. In the past women and youths were never considered in development.
Usually women and youths lack funding for their developmental projects. In 2018, President Mnangagwa launched the women`s bank 36 years after the idea was proposed. Speaking during the launch on 25 June 2018, President Mnangagwa said the launch of the Women`s Bank would provide “huge building block towards the attainment of Vision 2030.”
President Mnangagwa also launched a bank to empower the youths in their journey to an Upper Middle Income Economy. The Empower Bank for youths which was launched a month after the Women`s Bank has gone a long way in empowering the youths.
The Bank empowers the youths by financing their income generating projects which are a positive move towards the country`s economic growth.
President Mnangagwa also introduced a woman`s quota where women are incorporated in politics. He wants the youths and women to participate in all developmental projects.
Vision 2030 needs all hands on the deck. The Government is doing all it can to make Vision 2030 come true. Only those who are blinded by politics can pretend not to see the milestone in the journey towards Vision 2030.
