THE launch of a two-phased policy document, the Zimbabwe Agenda for Socio-Economic Transformation (ZIMASET) by ZANU PF is no doubt an indicator of the commitment by the ruling party to fulfil its electoral promises.
But there remains several challenges to its implementation.
A look at the blueprint shows that it is a results-based agenda, meaning that the party has to put emphasis on its performance appraisal plan.
This policy document must not fail if the party is to maintain its dominance in the political sphere and gain more trust with the electorate.
In its 2013 People’s Manifesto titled Taking Back the Economy, Indigenise, Empower, Develop and Create Employment, ZANU PF promised to create a
US$2 trillion economy and create at least 2,265 million jobs.
While the revolutionary party has already begun distributing agricultural inputs to small-holder farmers under the Presidential Well-wishers Inputs Scheme, which is expected to benefit more than 1,6 million households countrywide, the horrendous effects of sanctions continue to exist.
It will be foolish for anyone to expect the sponsors of Zimbabwe’s unprecedented economic decline to fold their hands and cheer the implementation of this star policy document.
Spanners will be thrown in here and there as the success of ZIMASET will set what the West sees as a ‘bad’ precedent in African and developing economies across the world.
ZIMASET is designed to negate the domination of our economy by Western countries.
With a unique set-up of various clusters, the Food Security and Nutrition cluster and the Infrastructure and Utilities cluster, among others, the document will set the tone for the full and unprecedented implementation of the party’s electoral promises through the upliftment of people’s livelihoods and the economy at large.
The Food Security and Nutrition clusters which will be driven by the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development and the Ministry of Health and Child Care will in the next coming days be providing food relief to areas facing food shortages.
The cluster will also immediately set up a concessionary funding facility at Agribank according to the plan set up by the ZANU PF Politburo during the unveiling of the policy document last week.
The Infrastructure and Utilities cluster has the immediate task of completing the construction of seven dams across the country.
The cluster is also tasked with powering all Government buildings through solar before 2015 while also stabilising the power situation in the country.
According to the document, the first phase of implementation starts this month until 2015 while the second phase will begin in 2016 up to 2018 with key areas of economic development such as improvement of social services, physical infrastructure, food security and value addition anchoring efforts to grow the economy.
Once the plan is implemented, ZIMASET says, the economy is projected to grow by an average of 7,3 percent.
The economy is expected to grow by 3,4 percent this year and 6,1 percent next year.
The growth is expected to reach 9,9 percent by 2018.
Mining, agriculture, transport, tourism, information communication technology, enhanced support for small and medium scale enterprises as well as infrastructural sectors primarily focusing on power generation have been identified as key drivers for the projected growth targets.
In his foreword to the document, President Mugabe says ZIMASET is driven by the ‘pursuit of a new trajectory of accelerated economic growth and wealth creation’.
“ZIMASET was crafted to achieve sustainable development and social equity anchored on indigenisation, empowerment and employment creation which will be largely propelled by the judicious exploitation of the country’s abundant natural and human resources,” reads President Mugabe’s foreword in part.
“This Results Based Agenda is built around four strategic clusters that will enable Zimbabwe to achieve economic growth and reposition itself as one of the strongest economies in the region and Africa.”
Resources constraints aside, President Mugabe says, Government will come up with innovative ways of fully implementing the policy.
“Given the resources constraints, Government will come up with robust and prudent fiscal and monetary policy measures to buttress and boost the implementation of ZIMASET,” says President Mugabe.
“Government ministries and agencies are therefore, called upon to work together in championing the implementation of this Results Based Agenda.
“The Office of the President and Cabinet will play a leading and coordinating role as overseer of the implementation process to ensure attainment of set targets of the plan.
“Our guiding Vision is an Empowered Society, a Growing Economy.”
In his acceptance speech soon after his inauguration at the National Sports Stadium, President Robert Mugabe said the on-going indigenisation and economic empowerment programme, infrastructure rehabilitation and development, mining and agriculture would top the list of his Government economic recovery and development agenda for the next five years.
“Another key area of urgent attention has to do with infrastructure,” said President Mugabe.
“Happily, we had already begun working our road networks, with many rehabilitation projects in the offing.”
With the new Government having laid the plan for the development of the country’s economy, the onus is now on the responsible ministries and other arms of Government to deliver.
An expectant nation waits.
Let those with ears listen.