The ManicaPost
Cletus Mushanawani
News Editor
COUNTRIES are built on unity, harmony peace and love, President Mnangagwa has said.
In a recent interview to mark the country’s 41st Independence anniversary, the President denounced violence, saying peace was crucial for the development of any country.
“Our Zimbabwean people are very discerning. They realise that the future lies with those who preach harmony, peace and unity, and not those who preach demonstrations. There is no country that is built on violence and demonstrations,” said the President.
This comes as whipping up emotions to breed political violence has become synonymous with opposition politicking in Zimbabwe.
President Mnangagwa said despite the challenges facing the country, devolution was addressing the needs of the grassroots.
“We in Central Government would not know what the people in a ward in Chipinge, Plumtree or Kanyemba would want as a priority.
‘‘These areas have different priorities which can only be addressed by availing resources at that level. This is what devolution is doing.
“The first step was to allocate US$300 million at the time. We then put in $3 billion. Now we are allocating billions of dollars to each province, which is then allocated to each district,” he said.
“In those districts, they have wards. Each ward determines what they want — be it a clinic, a dip-tank or a footbridge. These are the basic priorities needed at that level.”
He said through devolution funds, some rural district councils had been able to buy equipment for road maintenance.
“When a bridge has been washed away, local authorities are now able to repair it and maintain the roads in their respective areas.
“This does not mean such projects cease to be Central Government’s responsibility, we continue to work on developmental work across the whole country but we give local authorities the opportunity to also address the things affecting them,” said President Mnangagwa.
He said the fight was still on to ensure economic stability in the country.
“We had to put in place measures to deal with the financial services sector in order to reach where we wanted to reach. We had to fight financial sharks in the financial services sector.
“I am happy to say we are about 40 to 50 percent in fighting those financial sharks. Fortunately, we are now wiser than we were at the beginning, we now know whom we are fighting and who is behind them.
“This helps us bring the correct instruments to deal with the financial services sector for it to serve this country and not to serve foreign interests.
“As we do all these things, there is suffering but there is light at the end of the day. I believe people are beginning to see that things are changing and the currency is stabilising.
‘‘However, the fight is still on,” said President Mnangagwa.
As the 2023 harmonised elections draw closer, President Mnangagwa said victory for the ruling party was certain.
“If a leader of a political party goes into an election with the hope of not winning, then that person should not be a leader of a party.
“I am extremely confident based on the work that we are doing and the positive reception that we receive from the public, and the resolutions which we are achieving both in terms of resolving hunger in the country, in terms of providing energy, good roads, fuel and modernising our health sector.
“With all these things which continue to improve, the people will feel that they must give us a chance to do more,” said the President.
