Source: Prosperity is within sight — President | The Sunday Mail
President Mnangagwa and First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa enjoy mass displays by members of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces at the 45th Independence Day celebrations at Nembudziya Stadium in Gokwe on Friday. — Picture: Believe Nyakudjara Sunday Mail Reporter
A HIGHER quality of life and prosperous society for Zimbabweans is now within sight, as the country has managed to record unprecedented development milestones despite seemingly insurmountable challenges, President Mnangagwa has said.
Addressing multitudes that gathered at the main Independence Day celebrations at Mutora Open Grounds in Gokwe, Midlands province, on Friday, the President said Zimbabwe is writing a new chapter of resilience and progress.
Rural incomes, he said, were progressively rising owing to value addition and agro-based manufacturing in farming communities, which are turning villages into productive economic hubs.
The country, he said, was accelerating rural industrialisation by promoting value addition and agro-based manufacturing in farming communities, turning villages into productive economic hubs.
“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.
“The continuing sanctions, climate change-induced setbacks, global economic shocks and machinations by detractors desperate to see us divided have not derailed our course.
“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.
“Together as one people, we are building our motherland, brick by brick, and stone upon stone.
“From Plumtree to Mutare, Zambezi to Limpopo, Beitbridge to Chirundu, Zimbabweans are demonstrating that Nyika inovakwa, inotongwa, inonamatirwa nevene vayo/Ilizwe lakhiwa, libuswe, likhulekelwe ngabanikazi balo.”
The President highlighted progress in agriculture, rural development, land reform and infrastructure as key pillars of national transformation under the Second Republic.
He said rural industrialisation is gaining momentum, with increased investment in agro-processing, local manufacturing and cottage industries, helping farming communities move up the value chain and retain more wealth within their areas.
“The Second Republic is comprehensively promoting rural development and revitalisation,” added the President.
“We are delivering development towards Vision 2030.
“Hurumende yedu yeZANU PF iri kuunza budiriro kumaruwa (The ZANU PF Government is bringing development to rural areas).”
The recently launched title deeds programme for beneficiaries of the Land Reform Programme, he added, was geared towards unlocking vast wealth.
“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 to both A1 and A2 farmers, including veterans of the liberation struggle,” said the President.
“My Government is also stepping up efforts to regularise both old and new settlements in cities and towns throughout the country.
“These programmes are set to assure citizens security of tenure and ownership of their properties through title deeds.”
The title deeds programme is a landmark initiative aimed at providing security of tenure and formal property ownership to beneficiaries of the Land Reform Programme.
The initiative seeks to empower Zimbabweans by converting offer letters and informal land allocations into legally recognised title deeds.
This move not only assures citizens of their land rights but also enables them to use their properties as collateral for loans, fostering economic participation and improving livelihoods.
“The ongoing agriculture transformation strategy, implemented under my administration, is further deepening rural reforms to ensure food security, increased grain production and agricultural efficiency,” he said.
“Improved incomes for farmers, beginning at household levels, are evident while poverty eradication initiatives anchored by the agriculture sector have broadened. Riding on the rural industrialisation policy, the volume of trade and value addition, based on agriculture crops and products, is recording new highs.”
President Mnangagwa said the growth of the national herd and other categories of livestock farming and the need to curb animal-borne diseases remain a top priority for the Government.
“As such, programmes, including the Presidential Heifer, Piggery and Poultry Pass-on Schemes, particularly for women, youth and war veterans, will continue to be supported.
“Land, which is our inalienable heritage, is being productively utilised, with an anticipated bumper harvest from the 2024/2025 summer cropping season. This will see the restocking of our Strategic Grain Reserve.
“I call upon all patriotic Zimbabweans to support our farmers and industries by buying local produce, increasing investments in agri-businesses and unlocking the full potential of our land.”
The Pfumvudza/Intwasa programme, he also said, was being expanded annually.
“Partnerships under the Irrigation Development Alliance will develop an additional 100 000 hectares with the private sector,” he said.
“These pro-active initiatives will go a long way towards minimising the challenges associated with climate change.
“Last season’s El Niño-induced drought affected many districts throughout the country.
“We must applaud ourselves as a nation for being able to feed ourselves in the face of this adversity.
“Vulnerability of all those affected was adequately reduced under the Food Deficit Mitigation Programme, which also saw urban households benefitting from cash transfers.”
The President said the Government’s policies to stimulate economic growth were bearing fruit, “with the mining sector leading and supporting value addition across sub-sectors”.
He added: “A 5,6 percent growth is expected this year, benefitting from new mines and the favourable commodity prices of some minerals.
“The accelerated implementation of the National Development Strategy has had a positive impact on manufacturing sector value chains.
“Of note is the pharmaceutical sector, with rising capacity utilisation up to the current 50 percent, from previous levels of 43 percent.”
This year’s commemorations were held under the theme “Zimbabwe at 45: Devolve and Develop Together Towards Vision 2030”.
First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa, Vice President Dr Constantino Chiwenga and his wife Colonel Miniyothabo Chiwenga, Cabinet ministers, service chiefs and heads of diplomatic missions were among the dignitaries who attended the event.
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