“We owe our success to the resilience and focus of our people” 

Source: “We owe our success to the resilience and focus of our people” – herald

IN an exclusive wide-ranging interview at State House in Harare on Friday, President Mnangagwa sat down with a team of senior State media journalists to discuss Zimbabwe’s evolving governance landscape, economic trajectory and regional and international engagements. The media team comprised VICTORIA RUZVIDZO (Herald Editor), DARLINGTON MUSARURWA (The Sunday Mail Editor), REUBEN BARWE (ZBC chief correspondent) and JOSEPHINE MUGIYO (Diplomatic Correspondent). Over the course of the engagement, the President addressed Zimbabwe’s election to the United Nations Security Council and reflected on the passage of Constitutional Amendment Number 3 Bill. The discussion traversed economic stability, mining beneficiation policies, climate change adaptation, diaspora reintegration and Zimbabwe’s upcoming chairmanship of COMESA, all anchored by the President’s recurring emphasis on collective decision-making and the mantra “Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo” (The country is built by its people).

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Q: Thank you, Your Excellency, for accepting us. We know your busy schedule; you had to honour our interviews …We first want to congratulate you, or congratulate Zimbabweans, for their election into the (United Nations) Security Council. Also, we want to congratulate Zimbabweans on your behalf for the passage of Constitutional Amendment Number 3. Your Excellency, our elevation into the Security Council as a non-permanent member, how do you envisage Zimbabwe’s role in this position …?

A: Well, it’s not actually Zimbabwe’s role. We will not be acting individually or in isolation. We go there representing our region. So, whatever Zimbabwe will articulate will be a collective view of our region. It’s not an individualistic approach to these issues. We have to represent our region, and that is the model of representation at the UN.

Q: Your Excellency, when you heard that the Parliament of Zimbabwe had passed the Bill, CAB3, how did you feel?

A: I felt they had done the correct thing. I expected them to pass it, and they did. So, I was happy.

Q: And this Act, according to you, it opens up new opportunities, it opens up new avenues and changes the governance architecture in this country by extending the Presidential term and the parliamentary term of members. What do you think is going to happen during the two extra years or the four years you will be at the helm?

A: At the end of the day, it wasn’t an idea of an individual. It’s the collective evolution of our political system. You cannot attribute this to a particular individual or group of persons, but a collective evolution of the political process.

Q: . . . We thought we could have had that opportunity (to witness the signing of the Bill into law) when you were putting the signature. Unfortunately, we just saw the gazette.

A: If you look at me, I am not a guy who can be intimidated. What I do, I do freely.

Q: Your Excellency, the signing of the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment Number 3 Bill into law, it has been hailed as a major milestone for us as a country in the governance journey. How do you ensure balancing governance and development, particularly when we look at moving towards Vision 2030?

A: To be honest, there is no formula of balancing these things. As things evolve, you decide what is good for your country at a particular time. And there is no time when individual views — individualistic views —  take the centre stage and leave a country. Generally, I believe that whatever we do, it must be a collective decision. I carry my Cabinet and the country on whatever decision we make. I don’t believe in individual persuasion or individual systems where the needs of or the wishes of an individual take the day. No. I believe that whatever we do, it must be a collective decision so that whenever that decision is being challenged, it’s not only you who stands up to defend, but the entire system of Government defends what we decide.

Q: Indeed, Your Excellency, on that note, you have always spoken about unity of purpose in both party and Government. So, in the next two years, what steps are you taking to consolidate that unity as we move forward?

A: Not in two years. Every day that passes, as long as we are breathing, we continue to consolidate. There is no day or week that we say we are resting. We continue to do our best individually and collectively to consolidate and embrace the systems which we have ourselves decided to have for our Government so that everybody is on board. There is not a single person or leader who says he is wiser than everybody else, but collective ideas produce collective wisdom of a country. So, I believe in a collective persuasion of the country.

Q: We have seen our economy doing so well, even regardless of the global geopolitics and even the vagaries of climate change. So, in the four years up to 2030, how is Zimbabwe going to navigate that terrain as we seek to achieve Vision 2030?

A: I think our leadership in this country — our political leadership in this country — should thank the people of Zimbabwe. Because it would be a misnomer if we believe that the success we are achieving is a result of the wisdom of leadership. No. It’s a result of the resilience, focus of our own people. I think an atmosphere has been created for people, individually and collectively or as groups, to do their best for their country, individually and collectively. So, collectively, our country is moving forward. I don’t think we should give any credit to any individual. No.

Q:  And related to that, Your Excellency, the country has been experiencing a period of unprecedented economic stability since September 2024. And, in fact, we now enjoy single-digit inflation. What message do you have for those who actually believe that the current stability is artificial and it will not last in the long term?

A: I believe that their ideas are artificial, but the economy is not artificial.

Q: Your Excellency, the mining sector has been key for the Second Republic, and we have witnessed its growth for the past eight years. Recently we saw Government banning the export of unprocessed minerals. Is there a specific timeline for setting up local refineries to ensure local beneficiation and value addition?

A: I think the policy is correct. We have not set up timelines for making sure everything is beneficiated, but that is the goal to achieve because it requires resources. What is important is that we are following a correct path for benefiting the country on the basis that these resources should benefit the country mostly than those to whom we will sell our resources to.

Q: Still on mining, we have seen that some African countries have tried to enforce those bans with mixed results. What do you think makes Zimbabwe’s industrial base uniquely positioned to succeed?

A: I can be very, very clear: Each country has its own boundaries. Zimbabwe has its own boundaries. So, we are unique. So, our issues should be dealt with uniquely as a country. We succeed as a country, fail as a country. We don’t need to emulate the failures of other countries or the successes of other countries. What we need to do is to do the best for our country on the basis of the resources and the skills that we have, and the vision as a country which we have, and what we need to achieve. That is the platform from which we develop our country.

Q: Your Excellency, later this year, Zimbabwe takes over chairmanship of COMESA. How critical is this for us and just how critical is regional integration in attaining the African that we want?

A: I think Zimbabwe is highly qualified to be chairman of COMESA. I don’t know about the press — our media — whether it is highly qualified to be the COMESA media … If you are qualified to be COMESA media, then I as President, I am highly qualified. I’m happy to hear that.

Q: Turning to climate change, Your Excellency, you have indicated that we need to move away from rain-fed agriculture. And we need to achieve at least half a million hectares of irrigated farming. Do you think it could be achievable before 2030?

A: Well, it is critically important to have goals, to work towards goals. Whether you achieve goals, it’s one thing, but at least you can see that we are a people who are focused, who set goals for themselves. But achieving them is another story. When you set a goal and pass the period, you can ask why we have not or we have achieved, not before. But at least if you say, “Mr President, why are you not setting goals?”, then you would be questioning my wisdom. But now you are saying, “Are you going to achieve the goal?” At least we have goals.

Q: And are they achievable?

A: In my perspective, I think they are achievable. I don’t know people like you. Do you think that they are achievable?

Q:  Earlier on, you indicated, Your Excellency, the fact that the development of Zimbabwe is a national collective … And your mantra, “Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo”, is always the operative mantra. Do you feel, in your opinion, that every Zimbabwean has their hands on deck?

A: To be honest, I feel that I am privileged as President of this country, because wherever I go, you find that our people, at every level are committed to developing the country. You can go in any part of this country, there is no part of the country — village, district or province which has no programmes. They have programmes, they have targets, which they set by themselves. What else would you want as a leader? I feel very proud. I can sleep comfortably with the type of country I lead.

Q: So, in light of that, Your Excellency, are you confident that Zimbabwe will still be able to achieve Vision 2030?

A: As long as the journalists like you can share this confidence, we will go forward. We are very, very confident. But that confidence can only be exuded across the country by yourselves. Are you confident? . . .  Finish!

Q: Your Excellency, we have the issue of our fellow citizens who are coming back home from the diaspora. How do we ensure their integration into the economic and social development process of the country? We know that skills development is important to the country’s transformation agenda. So how do we ensure that they become part of building Zimbabwe?

A: I have no doubt that each one who comes back knows where they came from before they went to South Africa. So, the first thing is to go back to roots and begin from there as they integrate in society. So, there is not a single problem. Government is not facing any problem at all. We do facilitate their transport, their welfare, we do that. But each one gives us an address: “I want to go to Chipinge, I want to go to Bindura.” We facilitate, and they go to their homes. And whatever facilities we give to people already in the country, they will also enjoy those services we are giving. So, there is no problem at all. Every Zimbabwean who is in diaspora is welcome back home.

Q:  On services, Your Excellency, people who are coming back have children, and they are coming in the middle of the year. Do we have the capacity to absorb the children who are coming back into our schools?

A: I have not received any complaint from the education system that they are overwhelmed by the children who are coming from across. Until I receive that, then I will see what to do. But for now, no complaint has come.

Q: At some point, Your Excellency, some of these people coming from the diaspora, we have seen them demonstrating at our embassies in South Africa or consulate in Cape Town and Johannesburg, even in London, where certain busybodies of some of these people would be denigrating their own country. What do you say to them?

A: We are a democracy. Those who have grievances against their country, they are allowed to express their grievances. And they will not worry about that. But most importantly, they should come back home and help us resolve those grievances which they see. They can’t be resolved when they are outside the country.

Q: As a Pan-Africanist, what are your views on the anti-immigrant sentiments that is playing out in some pockets of Africa?

A: To be honest, I don’t think I am aware of any Government on the continent which supports that. These are small groups who do such things. But generally, we are Pan-Africanists, we accept ourselves as Pan-Africanists wherever we are.

Q: There are certain issues sometimes that nag you or push you to the wall. Do you have some of the things which you say, “Hey … I couldn’t sleep because of thinking of these particular issues.” Do you sometimes do that?

A:  Well, it’s not easy to have a country that has no challenges  —  perhaps in books. In real life, every country has challenges. And no challenges face a country unless the country has the capacity to face the challenges. Are you clear?

Q: So you don’t have a time when you say, “Hey…”

A: I sleep very well. Very well.

Q: Your Excellency, in relation to that, are there some of the most difficult decisions that you have had to make as a Head of State?

A: All decisions are difficult, because when you make a decision, it must be a decision that is balanced, which takes into account the effects of that decision.

So, you cannot say every decision can be taken easily or very lightly. No, when you make a decision, you look at the consequences of whatever decision you take.

And whatever you do, you say what is best for my country and for the people. That guides you as you navigate. But as you do so, you don’t please everybody. And I don’t think even God pleases everybody.