Maravi

Once again, that special day which gave us back our country, Zimbabwe, on the 18th of April 1980, is upon us.

Today, we gather, as one united family, enjoined by that still burning desire for self-determination, freedom and social justice, to celebrate our country’s 30th Anniversary of Independence.

Happy 30th birthday to you all!

Today we have once again every cause to celebrate this momentous and joyous occasion which finds us hard at work as a nation, consolidating the positive socio-economic and political gains ushered in by the Independence we attained in 1980.

Today, we rejoice indeed that our people have triumphed and continue to be focused on the reconstruction of their country by consistently remaining patriotic and vigilant.

Yes, today, we are happy that the difficulties and challenges which have manifested themselves, through unremitting opposition to our freedom by some unrepentant and incorrigible racist quarters, have helped sharpen our sensibilities as a nation by making us more determined in demonstrating that no challenge or hardship can overcome our sense of freedom, independence and sovereignty.

As you all will know, these joyous celebrations are echoing across the length and breadth of our great nation, at provincial, district and other smaller communities.

Given the immense sacrifices that our people made for the liberation of this our land, Zimbabwe, indeed the precious gift of freedom and independence, is one that we shall always cherish.

While the 2009-2010 rains set in earlier than normal, with 54 percent of the maize crop being planted, a long mid-season devastating dry spell was experienced in December and January in many parts of the country, mainly in Masvingo, Manicaland and Matabeleland South, resulting in the loss of a substantial hectarage of the crop.

Government is already taking measures to mitigate the effects of this dry spell and ensure food security for all our people.

As we still pondered over the changing nature of our seasons, we were overjoyed to receive some rains in February and March.

These rains should still prove important and precious for our winter wheat crop and some of our late crops, for our pastures, our flora and fauna, while significantly increasing dam levels countrywide.

The recent carnage on our roads in the period leading to and during the Easter holidays has left many a family grieving at the loss of their loved ones.

That over 90 lives were lost and over 300 people injured in countrywide road accidents in a short period of time is unacceptable.

I wish to extend our collective sympathies to the bereaved families while wishing the injured a speedy recovery.

Further, I wish to call upon all drivers, in particular, those of public passenger vehicles, to always exercise extreme caution and responsibility on our roads.

The Traffic and Safety Council of Zimbabwe, together with the Vehicle Inspection Department and other traffic law enforcement agencies, should redouble their efforts to educate the public in improving the level of safety on our roads.

Many of the key provisions of the Global Political Agreement, which is the maker of our Inclusive Government, have been and continue to be in the process of being fulfilled.

The constitution-making process, which is intended to create a new homegrown constitution and buttress the rights and dignity of all our citizens, is now underway.

Both Government and Parliament will play a key role in facilitating the full participation of all our people in this constitution-making process.

I wish to encourage all of you to support this programme so that at the end of the day, you have a constitution that will always speak for you and genuinely protect your rights and heritage.

The Organ for National Healing, Reconciliation and Integration continues with its work to engender and promote a process of national healing and reconciliation following a period of polarisation and hostilities among people.

The nation looks forward to the success of the national healing campaign strategy that focuses on the promotion of non-violence and tolerance.

As Zimbabweans, we need to foster an environment of tolerance and treat each other with dignity and respect, irrespective of age, gender, race, ethnicity, tribe, political or religious affiliation.

Your leadership in the Inclusive Government urges you to desist from any acts of violence that will cause harm to others and become a blight on our society.

Following the launch of the Short Term Emergency Recovery (STERP) in March last year, the country’s economic performance has significantly improved, giving significant relief to the general population.

Notable progress was recorded in price stability for both goods and services as reflected by drastic reduction in inflation to an annual average of –7percent at the end of last year.

Progress was also made towards macro-economic stabilisation, which was largely as a result of consistent implementation of policies, particularly the maintenance of cash budgeting and the multi-currency regime.

Improved supply of goods and services through the formal market, as well as plugging rent-seeking opportunities, also supported inflation reduction efforts.

We are aware of the inadequacies of our multi currency regime, but these will be revised through our economic policies of the future.

Stabilisation in the macro-economic environment resulted in increased economic activity, and ultimately, in the growth of revenue inflows from as little as US$4million in January 2009, to an average of US$100 million per month by the end of the year.

This allowed the financing of critical public investments, particularly in the sectors of education, health, roads and water. Consequently, delivery of public services in those areas significantly improved.

Over the thirty years of our Independence, Government has embarked on various programmes that are aimed at consolidating the country’s sovereignty over its resources.

The Land Acquisition and Reform Programme and now the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Programme serve as concrete and living examples of these programmes which seek to truly economically empower our people.

The economic empowerment policies are designed chiefly to redress the historic imbalances in the owner ship of the economy. The Indigenisation and Empowerment Policy, for example will broaden ownership and participation in the economy in a manner that recognises the sovereign right of the indigenous people of Zimbabwe.

In this vein, Government fully recognises the importance of the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) sector mainly because of its robust contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP), employment creation and innovative entrepreneurship.

The empowerment of women and the youths through the promotion of employment opportunities and financing of community-based projects will thus continue to be a priority of Government. Zimbabwe’s mining sector is key to rapid economic growth, with most mines recently recording an increase in capacity utilisation.

The sector has experienced renewed buoyancy and continued to attract a growing number of internationally renowned investors. However, Government is aware that the continued interruption of power supplies and lack of credit lines are hampering mining developments from operating at full throttle.

Government will, therefore, make concerted efforts to ameliorate the problems that have tended to retard development in this area. It must also be remembered that like the rest of the sub-region, Zimbabwe has witnessed unprecedented power cuts due to the high demand for electricity.

Again, Government is working with the region to address these challenges.

The country’s tourism industry is poised for a full recovery following a period of decline in recent years.

In 2009, the sector generated an estimated amount of US$522 million, contributing 6,5 percent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

With the 2010 Fifa World Cup tournament coming to South Africa, it is Government’s hope that tourism will receive another boost for its total recovery towards being a major contributor to the country’s economic growth.

Government is thus determined to develop the country into a global tourism destination of first choice.

Notwithstanding the many challenges that the manufacturing sector has experienced, it is worth noting that there has been a significant improvement in capacity utilisation in the sector, from below 10 percent in 2008 to between 30 and 50 percent in many cases, and above 50 percent in a few cases, by end of 2009.

Against this background, local products should begin to take more space on the local market and be able to compete with imported products. Based on last year’s performance, the sector has great prospects for recovery as the general economic conditions in the country continue to improve.

In an effort to boost recovery, Government has reduced duties on capital goods, raw materials and components, and recommended the issuance of duty free exemption certificates, this in order to increase capacity utilisation in the manufacturing sector.

In June last year, Zimbabwe assumed the Chairmanship of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa). As the chair, Zimbabwe will continue to promote and foster regional integration programmes in Comesa.

The Customs Union presents an opportunity for Zimbabwean industries to explore wider markets as well as becoming more competitive in the region.

Zimbabwe is also actively participating in the negotiations for the Sadc Customs Union and the Tripartite Free Trade Area between Sadc, Comesa and the East African Community (EAC).

The establishment of the Tripartite Free Trade Area will increase and widen the markets for Zimbabwe’s products.

Government will continue to implement measures designed to improve both the performance and image of State enterprises and parastatals so as to attract private and foreign investment.

Greater efforts will be directed at strengthening capacity utilisation of strategic parastatals and enterprises whose operations are cross-cutting and affect all sectors of the economy, such as those in the energy, water, transport and telecommunications sectors.

The health sector has not been spared from the adverse effects of the economic difficulties that the country is currently experiencing. However, some notable achievements have been made. In this context, the retention scheme supported by both the government and its development partners has improved and stabilised the staffing levels.

In addition, increased infrastructure and investment has resulted in the refurbishment of Harare, Mutare and Mpilo Central Hospitals.

Refurbishment works will soon start at six major hospitals throughout the country namely, Karoi District Hospital, Gwanda, Masvingo, and Gweru Provincial Hospitals, and Ngomahuru and Ingutsheni Hospitals.

Through concerted efforts to combat the scourge of HIV and Aids, the country has seen a significant decline in the prevalence rate of HIV and Aids, from 15,6 in 2008 to 13,7 percent in 2009. However, more work is still required to further reduce the prevalence rate.

With respect to conditions of service for public servants, Government will ensure that as revenue inflows increase, priority will be given to improve remuneration.

Government has already demonstrated this prioritisation through the establishment of two Ministerial Committees on Resource Mobilisation, and Addressing the Major Drivers to the Cost of Living.

We definitely regret the fact of meagre salaries and wages, but take it from me, the situation will improve progressively this year. However, I wish to thank you for your sense of sacrifice and tolerance.

As we celebrate our hard-won Independence, I wish to pay tribute to the people of Zimbabwe from all walks of life who have demonstrated a high level of resilience and patience under very difficult economic times.

We also salute the Southern African Development Community for their unflinching support to our nation during the crucial and long drawn political negotiations that gave birth to the Inclusive Government.

Similarly we extend our profound gratitude to the African Union and other progressive nations which remained committed and genuine friends of a free and sovereign Zimbabwe.

We call for the lifting of the illegal, declared and undeclared sanctions on Zimbabwe.

Surely, the legitimate national aspirations of the inclusive Government should be allowed to evolve without the burden of sanctions and undue interference from our detractors.

We take heart in the Sadc pledge to partner us in calling for the immediate removal of these heinous sanctions, which threaten to derail our economic recovery efforts.

As a nation and from across the political spectrum, we need to continue speaking with one forceful voice against these evil sanctions.

I wish to take this opportunity to pay tribute to our defence, police, security and prison forces for their dedicated involvement in maintaining the peace and security of our free Zimbabwe.

In addition the professional manner in which, our security forces have acquitted themselves in various regional and international peacekeeping United Nations assignments makes us a proud nation indeed.

Fellow Zimbabweans, as we celebrate this cherished sacred national day, let us remember with national pride, that the unity of purpose that brought together thousands of Zimbabweans, some of whom sacrificed their lives for our freedom, is the same spirit that should now bind us together as a free and sovereign people, pursing a shared national vision.

I call upon all Zimbabweans to dedicate themselves on this sacred day of our independence, to national unity, peace, development and national reconciliation.

Happy 30th Independence Day Anniversary

Makorokoto!

Amhlope!

Congratulations!

I thank you