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President Mugabe lights the Independence Flame at the country’s 36th Independence Day celebrations before a capacity crowd at the National Sports Stadium in Harare yesterday. — (Picture by Innocent Makawa)

Lloyd Gumbo Senior Reporter
President Mugabe says Zimbabwe has made strides in its economic recovery efforts which have seen a number of new companies opening shop in the country while Government is reviewing legislation to improve ease of doing business.

The President also revealed that a financier and contractor for the $2 billion Beitbridge-Harare-Chirundu Highway dualisation project had been identified.

He made the remarks in his official address at the 36th Independence celebrations at the National Sports Stadium in Harare yesterday.

The President attributed the positive developments to the accelerated implementation of Zim-Asset under the evolved 10-Point Plan that he presented during his State of the Nation Address last year.

President Mugabe said the 10-Point Plan included a rapid results framework, revitalisation of agriculture and mining, value addition and beneficiation, financial inclusion and infrastructure development, as well as tourism promotion. He said a strategy to clear the country’s international debt was in place.

“Our re-organisation of the mining sector, which includes the consolidated State-ownership of the diamond mines, and the strategic management of gold mining and gold products, has started showing improved results with gold output now at 20,2 tonnes, rising expectedly to 25,5 tonnes by the year-end,” said President Mugabe.

“With respect to the manufacturing, I am glad to inform you that there has been a very comfortable resuscitation of companies that had closed or were on the brink of closure.

“In addition, there have been the formation of completely new companies within the economy during the past few years.

“The resuscitation, formation and expansion of these and other companies has greatly assisted us in preserving employment, creating new jobs, saving foreign currency and exchange, enhancing fiscal space and in increasing production.”

President Mugabe said a number of infrastructural projects, particularly the upgrading and rehabilitation of roads, power stations and airports, had also been implemented.

“Government has found a financier and contractor for the Beitbridge-Harare-Chirundu Road which will be constructed at an estimated cost of $2 billion,” said the President.

“On the other hand, it is pleasing to note that Air Zimbabwe and the National Railways of Zimbabwe are now steadily on the way to resuscitation.

“The power situation in the country has improved significantly this year. Government has managed to drastically reduce load shedding by increasing output at Hwange Power Station and by importing additional power from regional power utilities in the Southern African Power Pool,” he said.

“In the medium term, we expect to benefit from Kariba Power Station expansion presently at 41 percent completion stage, and Hwange Power Station, for which we have signed a loan with China Exim Bank. We also have active plans to re-power Harare, Munyati and Bulawayo power stations,” said President Mugabe.

He said in line with Government policy to promote renewable energy use, the country had embarked on a massive solar water heating programme. He urged new houses to have solar water heaters instead of electric geysers.

President Mugabe also encouraged existing homes to replace electric geysers with solar water heating systems.

The President bemoaned the effects of the El Nino-induced drought that he said threatened the country’s food self-sufficiency.

To ameliorate the problem, President Mugabe said Government had made effective grain import arrangements.

The President added Government was consulting with financial institutions so that the 99-year farm leases could be used as collateral.

“Let me acknowledge that the African Development Bank has given us much needed financial support.

“Recently, they availed a grant in support of our beef and leather value chain project that will surely drive growth in the Matabeleland North and South provinces by ensuring competitiveness of both local and export markets,” the President said.

“Government is also working to buttress the competitive agenda through the ‘Doing Business Reforms Programme’ which seeks to improve the ‘Doing Business in Zimbabwe’, hence the current review of procedure manuals and some legislation, which have been hindering a speedy registration of enterprises,” said President Mugabe.

He said Government had also adopted a border efficiency management system to promote trade and reduce congestion at the country’s ports of entry.