(TALKZIMBABWE) Make STERP work - Mugabe

Make STERP work - Mugabe
Sat, 04 Apr 2009 01:50:00 +0000

PRESIDENT Mugabe has said the inclusive Government does not have the luxury of engaging in unending theoretical discourse, pointing out that the mobilisation of the country’s own resources should be considered as key to the successful implementation of the Short-Term Emergency Recovery Programme (STERP).

In his keynote address to officially open the ministerial retreat in Victoria Falls yesterday, President Mugabe said the thematic slogan for the inclusive Government should be the implementation of agreed programmes.

"I wish to remind you that our people, be they the many from rustic dwellings, or emergent farmers, or indeed, the suave urban dwellers, share high hopes of progress during the tenure of the inclusive Government, and so we have an onerous responsibility of ensuring that we do not dash their hopes and disappoint them.

"It is, therefore, incumbent upon us to ensure that we emerge from this retreat with a clear, recharged and re-energised, compelling sense of achievement deriving from our design of implementing STERP.

"We dare not indulge in the luxury of engaging in unending theoretical discourse, for our thematic slogan should be resonantly ‘Implementation! Implementation! And Implementation Again!’" said the President.

The three-day ministerial retreat, which ends tomorrow, brings together ministers, deputy ministers, permanent secretaries, the private sector, civil society as well as heads of parastatals who are set to come up with a 100-day Action Plan for the implementation of STERP.

The President said the retreat should come up with "clear-cut roles and responsibilities" for all key players in Government.

"The roles and responsibilities should be well-defined, performance-based and time-framed.

"I am also confident that the programme will receive much support, judging by the various stakeholder workshops held recently across the country.

"It is our collective hope that after the 100 days, the country will begin experiencing a firm and determined walk on the road to economic stabilisation and recovery.

Honourable Prime Minister, you have the challenge of carrying this assignment and, indeed, Cabinet will look forward to your implementation of STERP," he said, directly addressing PM Morgan Tsvangirai.

‘‘However, everyone of us should rally behind the programme in order to realise its goals and objectives.

"The country greatly appreciates the offers of much-needed financial assistance that are beginning to flow in, first from within the region and also from beyond. This assistance shall be effectively applied as agreed with our co-operating partners.

"I should, however, hasten to point out that the mobilisation of own resources should be considered as key to the successful implementation of STERP, with outside support being complementary.

‘‘This strategic posture is not only necessary, but also prudent, and far-sighted, more so in the light of the prevailing international financial crisis," said the President.

He said he was confident that the "quiet and serene environment" of the Victoria Falls would provide an ideal venue for the retreat that also seeks to "engender constructive ideas and realistic deliverable targets for the Government".

The President said Article 3.1 (a) of the Global Political Agreement prioritises the pursuance of economic stability and recovery by the inclusive Government.

"I am pleased to note that immediately after its formation, the inclusive Government has got down to serious work by producing the Short-Term Emergency Recovery Programme," said the President, who went on to praise the architects of the programme.

After his address, President Mugabe flew back to Harare while business at the retreat continued.

-Herald/TZG