The ManicaPost
Senior Reporter
ZANU PF national secretary for war veterans, Cde Douglas Mahiya, has commended tangible infrastructural development and mechanisms put in place by President Mnangagwa to ensure food security since the inception of the Second Republic in 2017.
Speaking during the war veterans provincial meeting held at Mutare Hall early this week, Cde Mahiya said robust infrastructure development is at the heart of the Second Republic’s economic transformation agenda to achieve an upper middle-income status by 2030.
For example, a total of 1 688 projects were implemented across the country from January to December 2021, out of which 657 projects are fully completed, while implementation of 1 031 is ongoing.
Manicaland has 274 projects, out of which 84 that include infrastructure and utilities (roads, dams, irrigation, housing, energy); human capital development (construction of schools, provision of ICT equipment); social protection (support for the elderly, BEAM) and provision of an enabling environment for health service delivery have been completed, while 190 are ongoing.
The 84 Government-funded major infrastructural projects are now positively contributing to economic growth, social welfare and quality of life for the people in the province.
These projects cut across transportation, agriculture, power, water, health, education and telecom systems, which underpin economic activity and catalyse growth and development in the province.
Cde Mahiya said the robust implementation of these impactful projects is testimony of Government’s commitment towards accelerating the betterment of people’s livelihoods in tandem with the national vision of attaining an upper middle income by 2030.
“They have positively impacted economic development and the quality of life, given their direct effects on Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth and endogenous dynamics of economic growth,” said Cde Mahiya.
He said the infrastructural projects not only trigger economic growth effects, in terms of real growth in GDP, but they also generate broader effects in terms of user welfare through the provision of improved public services, trafficability, investment and foreign currency generation.
“We also have a number of clinics and health posts that have been completed.
“Completion of these clinics mean a number of people in our districts will have access to healthcare facilities within a reasonable distance,’ he said.
Cde Mahiya further implored war veterans to unite and work together in support of what they fought for during the liberation struggle under the mantra: “Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo”.
“The last five years have been packed with action in terms of industrial development as the Second Republic led by President Mnangagwa has scored major successes in transforming the productive sector through robust implementation of comprehensive ease of doing business reforms.
“He has set the foundation for development. The President has spearheaded infrastructure development, and we implore you to give him another five-year mandate to cascade development to the grassroots.
“President Mnangagwa has spearheaded dam construction to eradicate hunger and poverty. As we speak, Zimbabwe has attained maize surplus. The country is now wheat self-sufficient, and this year we are targeting a wheat surplus.
Irrigation schemes are being rehabilitated and established in drought-prone areas as a mitigation measure to avert food shortages.
“He is a visionary, and leading a country does not require trial and error. You need tried and tested cadres of President Mnangagwa’s calibre. As war veterans, we are supporting President Mnangagwa and mobilising support for him and the ruling Zanu PF, which brought the independence we are enjoying today.
“Zanu PF should retain power to rule the country because it is the only party that appreciates the people’s aspirations. We sacrificed a lot for this country’s freedom,” said Cde Mahiya.
He said there is no proof that opposition leader, Mr Nelson Chamisa, is a good leader, apart from his politics of destruction and championing sanctions to cause the suffering of the masses.
