Download President`s State of the Nation Address - 6th December

Parliament of Zimbabwe, Joint Sitting of Senate and National Assembly
6th December 2016
STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT MUGABE
Madame President of the Senate,
Mr Speaker Sir,
Honourable Members of Parliament,
Invited Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Comrades and Friends.
Once again, it gives me great pleasure to address this august House, this time as I make
this year’s State of the Nation Address.
Madame President, Mr Speaker Sir,
In line with ZIM ASSET and the Ten Point Plan, Government has introduced several
measures to promote local content requirements across all the sectors of the economy,
especially in agro-processing, mining, manufacturing, construction and tourism. Our major
objective is to increase local capacity, create a skilled work force, and become a competitive
supplier base.
The recently gazetted Statutory Instrument 64 of 2016 has already started to bear fruit by
improving the efficient use of foreign exchange, and in enhancing local production, thereby
reducing import dependence. A number of local companies in the plastics, packaging and food
manufacturing sector, that include Tregers, Nampak, Proplastics and several others have been
the immediate beneficiaries of Statutory Instrument 64 of 2016.
Madame President, Mr Speaker Sir,
Acceleration of the implementation of policy reforms is supported by Government’s policy
actions in revitalising agriculture, infrastructure development, unlocking the potential of small
to medium enterprises (SMEs), encouraging private sector investments, fostering financial
sector stability, and through the observance of zero tolerance to corruption. The reforms are
meant to both rejuvenate the national economy and contribute to poverty reduction.
Madame President, Mr Speaker Sir,
My Government is importing grain in order to address the grain deficit caused by the
devastating effects of the recent drought. To date, Government has imported over 300 000
metric tonnes of maize, whilst about 200 000 metric tonnes have been delivered to the Grain
Marketing Board (GMB) depots by our farmers. Meanwhile, the private sector has also
supported Government by importing 25 000 metric tonnes. Add to this the amount of US$360
million for grain importation pledged by our Development Partners. I wish to appreciate and
thank the private sector and Development Partners who have joined hands with Government
to ensure that our people get sufficient food supplies.
Government has introduced the Command Agriculture Special Maize and Small Grains
Production Programmes, targeting a minimum of two million tonnes of maize from both
irrigable and dry land farms among A1, A2 and small-holder farmers. In addition, Government
is also rolling out the Presidential Inputs Support Scheme to support 800 000 communal
farmers. Our aim is to revitalise agricultural productivity, so as to assure ourselves of national
food security.
Beyond tobacco production, which has immensely recovered in the last few years,
Government will support the farming production of a number of other crops such as soya
beans, wheat and cotton. Government is working on the resuscitation of cotton production in
the forthcoming two seasons, by providing inputs to cotton farmers. It is also part of the cotton
resuscitation programmes to restructure the Cotton Company of Zimbabwe.
In the Livestock sector, Zimbabwe’s dairy industry is poised for further growth, as
Government together with several industry players, is implementing comprehensive inclusive
national milk production programmes that are set to ensure self-sufficiency by 2020. In 2015,
milk production reached only 58 million litres against an estimated national demand of 120
million litres.
Madame President, Mr Speaker Sir,
It is pleasing to note that in 2016, mining generally performed positively, buoyed by
favourable market prices, especially those of precious metals. Cumulative declared mineral
export shipments to June 2016, totalled US$981.4 million, contributing 63.4 per cent of
national export proceeds, and the major earners being gold, platinum, diamond, ferrochrome
and nickel. Gold production by our artisanal miners has been steadily rising since the US$100
million support facility for the sector.
Madame President, Mr Speaker Sir,
I am pleased to note the tremendous progress achieved so far in accelerating the Ease of
Doing Business, thereby promoting both domestic and foreign investment. The recent
promulgation of the Special Economic Zones Act should provide greater impetus to the
country’s economic turnaround by facilitating foreign direct investment inflows,
industrialisation, technology transfer, employment creation and increased export receipts.
Madame President, Mr Speaker Sir,
For the Tripartite Negotiating Forum (TNF) Social Partners, as a collective, time is ripe
for them to vigorously pursue the Social Contract, as agreed in the Kadoma Declaration.
Investor friendly measures to boost confidence, productivity and competitiveness, should be
strengthened, while the key tenets of good corporate governance and policy consistency are
also vigorously pursued. I therefore urge all the social partners, primarily Government,
Business and Labour, to work together to reduce the cost of doing business.
Madame President, Mr Speaker Sir,
Tourism continues to experience tremendous growth and development. During the first
half of 2016, Zimbabwe recorded a total of 902 435 tourist arrivals, receiving a significant
increase from Asia and America. The average national room occupancy rate has marginally
increased from 41per cent to 42 per cent. By year end, it is forecast that Zimbabwe will record
2.5 million tourist arrivals, which contributes to the GDP per cent. The peace and tranquillity
that we enjoy as a country positively contributes to the success achieved in tourism.
Madame President, Mr Speaker Sir,
The Small and Medium Enterprises and Cooperative Development Ministry plays a vital
role in the growth of our economy. Government capacitates this sector through training,
infrastructure provision, marketing and the creation of linkages and entrepreneurship
development. In order to improve access to finance by SMEs and Cooperatives, Government
approved the establishment of a microfinance bank under the Small and Medium Enterprises
Development Corporation. The bank will be capitalised through the issuance of Treasury Bills
valued at US$10 million.
Madame President, Mr Speaker Sir,
In pursuit of Gender Equality and Women Empowerment, Government has, since
Independence, introduced programmes to empower women economically, socially and
politically. To this end, we have put high on the agenda the establishment of a Women’s MicroFinance bank. This will assist women to establish and grow their business in the various
sectors of our economy. It is incumbent upon Government to ensure that funds are availed in
order for the bank to be operational.
Madame President, Mr Speaker Sir,
Government is concerned about the high levels of Gender Based Violence (GBV),
particularly against women and girls. In response, Zimbabwe Republic Police and Courts
have collaborated in establishing an elaborate multi-sectoral gender based violence
mechanism. Victim Friendly systems are determined to fight gender based violence in all its
forms. Government appeals to churches and community leaders to take a leading role in
shaping an appropriate social fabric and moral behaviour in our society.
Madame President, Mr Speaker Sir,
The 2015 Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey results have shown an improved
child mortality for the under 5’s, and also an improved child nutrition status, with child
stunting going down from 35 per cent to 27 per cent; and an increased ante-natal care for
pregnant women. It is pleasing to note that such good results have been achieved at a low cost.
Madame President, Mr Speaker Sir,
This year the power supply in the country improved significantly, with minimal load
shedding since the beginning of 2016. This is largely due to measures which were instituted
at the end of 2015, such as enhancing generation from Hwange Power Station and increasing
imports from the region. Government is also working on increasing local power generation to
close the local power production deficit.
Madame President, Mr Speaker Sir,
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has designed a comprehensive
Curriculum Framework for Primary and Secondary Education. The Curriculum Framework
aims at equipping learners with capacities for creativity, problem-solving, decision-making,
entrepreneurial and collaborative skills and team building. This prepares learners to pursue
careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Arts, Visual and Performing Arts,
Humanities and Languages, Design and Technology, and Commercials.
In order to promote human capital development, Government has begun implementing the
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) policy strategy. The STEM
initiative has seen the enrolment of over 5 000 students to study ‘A’ level Mathematics and any
two science subjects. This is aimed at the development of STEM skills to support Zimbabwe’s
quest for industrialisation and modernisation.
Madame President, Mr Speaker Sir,
In line with ZIM ASSET objectives Government this year created 69 648 stands for the
National Housing Delivery Programme. It is also working on availing land to formerly
disadvantaged groups, including Youths and Women, in support of Youth and Women
Empowerment and Development programmes. Government has also designated the Urban
Development Corporation (UDCORP), to spearhead urban development in general and
housing delivery in particular. UDCORP is championing the development of stand-alone
urban centres which will be developed in Chishawasha B, Knockmalloch near Norton, and
Umvutcha in Bulawayo.
Madame President, Mr Speaker Sir,
Following the adoption by Government of the 2015 Civil Service Audit Report, the
Public Service Commission aims to re-align, rationalise and restructure line Ministries and
Government establishments. The Commission is currently implementing a number of
structural reforms including the abolition of redundant and vacant non-critical posts. It is also
in the process of rationalising the duplications and overlaps of functions between and among
some line Ministries, and is carrying out job reengineering, job enrichment and multi-skilling.
The resultant effect would be leaner and flatter structures that are economic and would thus
enhance effective and quality service delivery.
Madame President, Mr Speaker Sir
Zimbabwe made history and left a permanent mark at both the regional and continental
levels following our chairing of both SADC and the AU in 2014 and 2015. The country
championed the development and adoption of a regional industrialisation strategy hinged on
value addition and beneficiation. Zimbabwe also steered the adoption of the AU Agenda 2063,
which is Africa’s development blueprint. Meanwhile, we continue to call for the weaning of
both SADC and the AU from overdependence on foreign funding, especially on critical issues
of peace and security.
Madame President, Mr. Speaker Sir,
Zimbabwe is proud of its Defence and Security Forces who consistently execute their
Constitutional mandate of safeguarding the country’s national sovereignty, territorial
integrity, independence, peace and stability. Externally, the Zimbabwe Security and Defence
Forces contribute to international peace and stability by participating in United Nations,
African Union and SADC peace support initiatives.
Madam President, Mr. Speaker Sir,
Let me conclude by paying tribute to our peace loving people, who have endured all manner
of economic hardships since we embarked on the historic Land Reform Programme. I wish to
commend them for their resilience, and urge them to cherish the peace and tranquillity that
continues to be the envy of many. Let us continue to find national pride in our core values of
unity, hard work and freedom. But lest we forget, let us pray to the Almighty to graciously
open the heavens for more rain this season!
Madame President, Mr. Speaker Sir,
I wish to take this opportunity to wish the Nation an accident-free Festive Season and a
Happy and Prosperous 2017.
Tatenda!
Siyabonga!
I thank you.