(Last Updated on November 17, 2020 by GERALD NCUBE)
HARARE – President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Monday launched the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) to replace the Transitional Stabilisation Programme which ran from 2018 to this year.
The new economic blueprint is running under the theme “Towards a Prosperous and Empowered Upper Middle-Income Society by 2030.”
The policy document lays out policies, institutional reforms and 14 national priorities for the next 5 years in order for the country to achieve it’s upper middle- income economy status in line with vision 2030.
To ensure it’s success, government has also developed a robust monitoring and evaluation system that will anchor the NDS1.
Some of the highlighted national priorities include growth and stability with the vision that the economy will record average GDP growth rates of above 5%, forex exchange rate stablisation and sustained low inflation rates.
More than 700 000 jobs are expected and also an increase Gross National Income (GNI) per capita income levels to more than US$3 000 by 2025.
Speaking on Monday during the launch of the Blueprint in Harare, President Mnangagwa said focus will be on strategic infrastructure in energy, water and sanitation, ICT and transport sectors, all meant to enable efficiency in the country.
“Riding on the momentum realised during the phase of the TSP, the construction, rehabilitation and modernisation of key infrastructure will continue with greater speed under the NDS1.
“Focus will be on strategic infrastructure in energy, water and sanitation, ICT and transport sectors which enable Zimbabwe to be more efficient and competitive,” he said.
He also said the Strategy will priorities access to affordable and quality settlement in urban and rural areas as it targets to deliver 220 000 housing units by the year 2025.
President Mnangagwa also said the NDS1 will ensure sustainable growth in the mining sector towards the envisioned US$12 billion sector.
Furthermore, he said modernisation of the manufacturing industry will be speeded up, to enable the country’s goods and products to meet the needs of the citizens while also competitively penetrating the global markets.
He added that, “The constant tracking of the objective of Vision 2030 will be essential as we go forward. The NDS1 will focus on accelerated growth of the economy between 2021 and 2025 leveraging on our agriculture, mining, manufacturing and tourism sectors.”
Upon assuming office in 2017, President Mnangagwa set a bold objective of transforming the country into an upper middle – income economy by 2030.