A higher quality of life is now within reach for Zimbabweans, President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared during the Independence Day celebrations held in Gokwe on Friday. Speaking to thousands gathered at Mutora Open Grounds in the Midlands province, the President said the country was “breaking records” and “defying the odds” in its journey towards prosperity.
“From the household level up to our respective provinces and the nation as a whole, we are defying the odds, breaking records and realising uncommon development successes,” said President Mnangagwa.
“A prosperous society is within sight”
The Sunday Mail reports that President Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe was witnessing remarkable development despite facing major setbacks, including sanctions, climate change, and global economic shocks.
“The continuing sanctions, climate change-induced setbacks, global economic shocks and machinations by detractors desperate to see us divided have not derailed our course,” he told the crowd.
He emphasised that the vision of achieving an upper-middle-income society by 2030 was steadily becoming a reality.
“A higher quality of life and a prosperous upper middle-income society for many more of our people, in line with Vision 2030, is within sight,” he said.
“Together as one people, we are building our motherland, brick by brick, and stone upon stone.”
President Mnangagwa highlighted major progress in rural industrialisation, agriculture, and infrastructure as part of the transformation being pursued under his administration.
Rural economy on the rise
The President said rural incomes were improving due to value addition, local agro-processing, and the development of cottage industries.
“Rural areas are being turned into productive economic hubs,” he said.
“The Second Republic is comprehensively promoting rural development and revitalisation. Hurumende yedu yeZANU PF iri kuunza budiriro kumaruwa (The ZANU PF Government is bringing development to rural areas).”
He pointed to several programmes helping farmers to become more self-sufficient and economically empowered.
“Improved incomes for farmers, beginning at household levels, are evident while poverty eradication initiatives anchored by the agriculture sector have broadened.”
“The volume of trade and value addition, based on agriculture crops and products, is recording new highs.”
He also spoke on the expansion of the Pfumvudza/Intwasa programme and the partnership with the private sector to develop 100,000 hectares under irrigation.
“These pro-active initiatives will go a long way towards minimising the challenges associated with climate change,” he said.
“We must applaud ourselves as a nation for being able to feed ourselves in the face of this adversity.”
Title deeds and urban development
President Mnangagwa said the issuance of title deeds to A1 and A2 farmers and war veterans was a key step in unlocking wealth and securing property rights.
“It is worth noting that this year’s Independence celebration is occurring after the consolidation of our land reform through the issuance of title deeds,” he said.
“My Government is also stepping up efforts to regularise both old and new settlements in cities and towns throughout the country.”
The title deeds programme, according to the President, is meant to empower Zimbabweans and enable them to use their properties as collateral for loans.
“These programmes are set to assure citizens security of tenure and ownership of their properties,” he explained.
He also noted increased efforts to restock the Strategic Grain Reserve through the anticipated bumper harvest from the 2024/2025 summer cropping season.
“Land, which is our inalienable heritage, is being productively utilised,” he said.
In the mining sector, he said growth was being driven by favourable global prices and new mines.
“A 5.6 percent growth is expected this year, benefitting from new mines and the favourable commodity prices of some minerals,” he said.
He said progress was also being made in the pharmaceutical sector, with capacity utilisation increasing from 43% to 50%.
“The accelerated implementation of the National Development Strategy has had a positive impact on manufacturing sector value chains.”
This year’s Independence celebrations were held under the theme: “Zimbabwe at 45: Devolve and Develop Together Towards Vision 2030”.
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