The Sunday News
It is my pleasure to welcome you to this historic event. This year’s celebrations are significant as they are first under new dispensation. We honour our fallen heroes and may they be remembered for the freedom we enjoy today – President Mnangagwa says as he gives a brief background about last year’s November Revolution.
We need to progress together despite creed and language. Our national anthem is our identity as a nation. Today, we declare our independence and five months in our New Zimbabwe we say God bless Zimbabwe despite some challenges.
For challenges we face, we need to focus on pursuit for economic recovery, poverty reduction, rehabilitation of social services and respect for rule of law. We need to protect and encourage private sector enterprises. We need to fight corruption. We will not achieve goals overnight. But through discipline we will realise our goals. Zimbabwe will rise again and be great.
The renewed spirit of hope and determination by our people is encouraging. The goodwill we continue to receive is positive. We have positive changes in the mining, agriculture and tourism sectors. Government is ensuring food sufficiency through command agriculture.
We have availed money to beef up and sustain command agriculture. We also need to protect the forestry industry. We are strongest when we work together. We are confident our efforts will improve livelihood and incomes of our rural community. We are also trying to minimise adverse effects of climate change by constructing dams.
China has pledged to assist us in meeting our endeavours. Russia and Belarus have made firm commitments to set up agriculture and mining plants in Zimbabwe.
The new government has a new way of doing things and we have amended the indigenisation policy. We have opened various sectors to the world.
The government attending to various issues that enhance competitiveness. We need country to engage in global best practices. We are committed to availing scholarships. This is a key goal for government. We need to look at ICT projects as they help our young to thrive in economic development. We have a heart for infrastructure development. Beitbridge Chirundu highway, modernisation and expansion of the RG Mugabe international airport is our priority. he commissioning of the Kariba South power plant has helped our power supply. Soon Hwange power plant will be improved. Tourism sector is improving by the increased arrival of tourists which is boosting our attractiveness as a good tourism destination.
There is need to revitalise the social service sector. We are mindful of rural population. We need to create vital rural economies. We are ensuring availability of drugs… We need to deal with violence perpetrated on women and girls… The Basic Education and Assistance Model seeks to assist 400 000 students from now through to August.
Government seeks to observe good corporate governance. Following our engagement with China, water problems in Harare will soon be a thing of the past…. We know hardships associated with unavailability of cash, we are all working to address that in earnest. We will resolve shortages of cash in the economy.
Our efforts are guaranteeing investor confidence. I urge finance sector to have robust strategies that translate to demands of economy. Surely, Zimbabwe is Open for Business. We need to establish the one stop shop investment centre. To improve efficiency good governance in public sector is crucial. We need to fight corruption. We need to reform our parastatals. We are open for business in all facets.
To all workers, I urge you to work hard with good ethics and as we grow our economy we also seek to address your issues. We have received commitments from the global world because of our willingness to open a new chapter with rest of the world.
We need to modernise the economy of our great country. The surmountable task to build our economy is for us together.
In a few months time, we hold harmonised elections. I urge all political leaders to shun violence, hurt speech in all our contests. We have invited countries to observe our elections from Sadc, Au and Eu. Elections will be free and fair. Let us think big of our country. Nothing is impossible. We shall rise. Happy 38 years of independence. Long live our country. God bless you and God bless Zimbabwe
