Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa said Wednesday the country this year made significant achievements towards the attainment of Vision 2030, despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
Adopted when he came into power in 2018, the vision seeks to grow the country into a middle-income economy by 2030.
"The year has recorded a number of successes, which would not have been possible without your commitment to duty and excellent performance," Mnangagwa said in his closing remarks at the final cabinet meeting of the year.
He said the country made huge strides in rehabilitation and upgrading of infrastructure, including the ongoing Harare-Beitbridge highway, which stretches to Chirundu on the northern border with Zambia and is one of southern Africa's main trunk roads linking the region to ports in South Africa.
Other achievements were made in dam construction, which he said remains central to boosting national food security and production of agriculture raw materials.
Government had launched several programs in the agricultural sector aimed at boosting crop and livestock production, he said.
"These programs are all aimed at improving agricultural productivity. The country has received some good rains to date, and we remain optimistic that the season will be a good one," he said.
Agriculture is the mainstay of Zimbabwe's economy, contributing up to 18 percent to the gross domestic product.
The government had also launched a new five-year economic blueprint which ends in 2025 and is targeting economic growth rate of five percent per annum to catapult the country into an upper middle income economy by 2030.
The devolution and decentralization policy had also been launched aimed at boosting development is the country's 10 provinces.
On the economic front, the decision to deal decisively with malpractices by mobile money operators resulted in the restoration of sanity and integrity in the financial services sector, he said.
"This has been further buttressed by the introduction of the foreign currency exchange market which has brought about exchange rate stability as well as slowed down price increases," he said.
Mnangagwa said with the COVID-19 pandemic, the country increased adoption of technology in doing business, although there was still need to deepen and broaden the deployment of technology in the public sector.
"We should strive for the implementation of a wide area network to help improve efficiency and effectiveness in government."
Progress had also been made in the energy sector, with new projects being implemented as the nation pushes ahead with its target to become energy self-sufficient and net exporter by 2023.
Mnangagwa reminded the Cabinet ministers that as they proceed on cabinet recess, they may be called on short notice if necessary while adequate measures should be put in place to ensure adequate provision of government services throughout the festive season.
Editor: Galia
