Over the weekend, the Zanu-PF party, which governs Zimbabwe, convened its 21st National People’s Conference in Bulawayo, focusing on the theme “Industrializing and Modernizing Towards the Attainment of Vision 2030.” The party has put forth a number of directives for the government, aimed at enhancing social services, bolstering the local currency, and empowering the youth. The annual conference resulted in several significant resolutions designed to steer government policies and initiatives in alignment with the party’s objective of achieving a modernized and industrialized Zimbabwe by the year 2030. The resolutions encompass the following:
Social Welfare:
Universal Healthcare: The government is obligated to provide universal healthcare services for the elderly, children, and individuals with disabilities. This provision extends to include free healthcare for expectant and nursing mothers.
Mobile Health Services: The government is responsible for the establishment of mobile health units in areas that lack access to primary and maternal healthcare services.
National Health Insurance Initiative: The government is instructed to accelerate the creation of a national health insurance program.
Basic Education Support: The government is required to ensure prompt disbursement of funds for the Basic Education Assistance Model (BEAM) to guarantee educational access for all children.
Economic Stability:
Enhancing the Local Currency: The government must take steps to fortify the Zimbabwean dollar and hasten the process of de-dollarizing the economy.
Addressing Economic Malfeasance: The government is tasked with combating money laundering, speculation, and arbitrage in the parallel market, while also criminalizing the actions of economic saboteurs.
Transparency in Aid Distribution: The distribution of Presidential inputs and social welfare assistance must be conducted transparently and without corruption.
Local Production of Agricultural Inputs: The government is required to promote the domestic production of fertilizers and other agricultural supplies to lower production costs.
Furthermore, President Emerson Mnangagwa’s party has also focused on youth empowerment, instructing the government to prioritize the allocation of 10-hectare plots in each district for young people; consider appointing youth to parastatal boards; enhance youth desks across all ministries; and establish mechanisms to safeguard the interests of Zimbabwean youth seeking employment overseas.
Meanwhile, the Zimbabwean President, Emmerson Managagwa, has reaffirmed his commitment to upholding the country’s constitution, stating that he will not seek to extend his term beyond 2028. This was disclosed by Patrick Chinamasa, the ruling ZANU-PF party’s secretary for legal affairs while speaking during the ZANU-PF National Annual People’s Conference on Saturday. He publicly disclosed that President Mnangagwa had personally assured him of his adherence to the constitutional term limits.
This comes despite a proposal from members of the ZANU-PF party to extend his tenure to 2030.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa took office on November 24, 2017, following the resignation of former leader Robert Mugabe. Mnangagwa won a second five-year presidential term in August 2023, which will end in 2028, according to the country’s constitution.
Listen to our podcast, share this story and contact us to share your stories..