Siphakeme .Mnindwa
Richard Muponde, Zimpapers Politics Hub
SINCE taking office in 2017, President Mnangagwa has proved to be a man of action after he presided over a vigorous commitment to transform Zimbabwe’s economy and infrastructure for the goal of attaining an upper middle income economy by 2030.
His administration has completed over 8 000 projects across the nation, reflecting a proactive approach to governance under the umbrella of the “Vision 2030 of an upper-middle-income economy.”
On assuming the presidency, President Mnangagwa hit the ground running implementing key strategies starting with the launch of the Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP) which ended in 2023, followed by the National Development Strategy 1 which is the driving force behind Vision 2030.
Encapsulated in the philosophies “Nyika Inovakwa Nevene Wayo” and “No one, No Place will be left Behind”, President Mnangagwa has encouraged citizen participation in nation-building, ensuring that no community is left behind in the development process.
Under his leadership, Zimbabwe has experienced significant advancements in various sectors, including in agriculture where the country recorded a record wheat output, surpassing a previously held record of 1964. This not only enhances food security but also stimulates the agricultural economy.
Major infrastructural projects like the construction of power stations, roads, and the New Parliament building, alongside improvements at the Robert Mugabe International Airport, showcase the Government’s commitment to modernising infrastructure.
President Mnangagwa’s administration has prioritised issuing title deeds to farmers, enabling them to leverage their land for bank funding, thus enhancing agricultural productivity and financial independence. These initiatives illustrate President Mnangagwa’s ability to translate words into action, reinforcing his image as a leader focused on tangible outcomes despite the hurdles of sanctions imposed by the West.
Analysts have described President Mnangagwa as a man of action who has sought to correct what previous administrations failed to put right for the benefit of the people.
Prominent business magnate and the Head of the Land Tenure Implementation Committee, Mr Kuda Tagwirei told ZBC online’s Face the Nation last Thursday, that President Mnangagwa is a leader with the interest of the masses at heart.
“You know that our debt in this country is around $21 billion. With one single stroke of genius from this President, he has solved the issue of the farmer who did not have access to finance. He has made sure that the constitutional provisions are met; that this farmer has been allocated this land for value and that they can be able to transfer it to whoever they wish, as long as that person is a citizen of the country. Those provisions have been met,” said Mr Tagwirei.
“But not only that, now the Government has an asset. And if you are a business person like I am, one of the things that you try and avoid is to be insolvent. And we have heard these comments, everyone saying, ah, Zimbabwe is insolvent as a country.”
He said two strokes of genius undertaken by President Mnangagwa was to restore value by giving farmers tittle deeds and setting up the Mutapa Investment Fund.
“I can just say with two geniuses, the Mutapa Investment Fund, one stroke of genius, we have value. I’m told it’s about $16 billion. With this second stroke of genius, the Government has an asset which is valued at over $10 billion. Within six months, the President has managed to make sure that this country is solvent, while ensuring that the farmer has got cheap access to finance,” Mr Tagwirei said.
He said within the next 10 years, the farmer is going to develop and become better because of security of tenure.
“At the moment the siblings, the war veterans’ children, are not worried that this farm that their father paid for is going to be taken by some stroke of pen. And that we are going to use the same laws that we use when we are transferring wealth from a deceased estate to the existing individual. I want to thank the President for doing such an excellent job. And I am so excited to be part of it, actually.”
Political and economic analyst, Global Economics2020 Consultancy Group executive director, Mr Naboth Paurosi Dzivaguru said President Mnangagwa is a leader par excellence and man who knows what needs to be done.
“His leadership ab initio was to pull the Zimbabwe’s economic development to dizzy heights. He declared in 2017 that he knew what Zimbabweans expected and vowed to meet the expectations, notwithstanding internal and external hurdles. Had the country not been under economic sanctions, Zimbabwe could have leaped into a regional economic giant,” Mr Dzivaguru said.
“There are two significant qualities of leadership, namely, humanity and iron discipline. President Mnangagwa has both, and these qualities are sine qua non for the country’s prosperity. A country’s economic development thrives on straightforward leadership, and President ED has demonstrated to be one,”
He said indeed the President is a man of action.
To sustain the momentum of development initiated by President Mnangagwa and achieve the upper middle income economy goal by 2030, the Government is taking steps to enhance citizen participation through encouraging grassroots involvement in planning and executing projects to ensure that developments meet the community’s needs.
President Mnangagwa has demonstrated a commendable commitment to progress through action-oriented leadership and strategic initiatives that address Zimbabwe’s needs.
As the current SADC chairman, he has set a precedent for economic development in the region, exemplifying how leaders can effectively work for the betterment of their nations. His approach should serve as a model in the bloc, emphasizing the importance of focusing on development, citizen engagement, and resilience in the face of external challenges-@muponderichard
