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Speech at the official launch of the Medium Term Plan
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai
July 07, 2011

His Excellency, The President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, R. G. Mugabe,

Vice Presidents J. T. R. Mujuru and J. L. Nkomo,

The Honourable Deputy Prime Ministers of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Ms. T. Khupe and Prof A. G. O. Mutambara,

The Chief Justice, Justice G. Chidyausiku,

President of the Senate,

The Speaker of the House,

Ministers Here Present,

Judges of the Supreme Court,

Deputy Ministers Here Present,

Members of Parliament,

Chief Secretary to Cabinet,

Chairman of the Public Service Commission,

Members of the Public Service Commission,

Permanent Secretaries,

Service Chiefs,

Senior Government Officials Here Present,

Members of the Diplomatic Corps Here Present,

The Executive Director of the China Development Bank,

The Executive Director of the Economic Commission for Africa,

SADC Representative,

Captains of Industry, Here Present,

Ladies and Gentleman,

I find great pleasure to address you on this occasion of the official launch of the Zimbabwe Medium Term Plan (MTP) and I know that a lot of work has been done to ensure the successful completion of the drafting of this National Development Plan.

This was achieved through wide consultations with all Government Ministries, Private Sectors, Non Governmental Organisations, Civil Society, the Donor Community and Co-operating partners.

The Medium Term Plan sets out the growth trajectory of the economy over the next five years. It also sets out clear national priorities to ensure sustainable development over the Plan period. The MTP, with the vision of "Enhancing a democratic developmental state anchored by a growing and transforming, socially just economy" comes at a time when the country has successfully stabilised.

Going forward, the main focus of Government is to grow and develop the economy.

In this regard, the main thrust of the MTP is to maintain macroeconomic stability, restore and transform the economy's capacity to produce goods and services competitively for empowerment and poverty reduction. This will be achieved through pursuing the following major objectives of the plan:

• Sustainable economic growth, development and transformation;
• Poverty reduction;
• Employment creation;
• Price stability; and
• Sustainable Balance of Payments position.

Against this background, the MTP will guide the national budgeting process to ensure the implementation of the prioritised programmes and projects as set out in the Plan to ensure sustainable growth and development of our country.

I would like to appreciate the efforts of the Minister of Economic Planning and Investment Promotion, all Ministries and stakeholders that were involved in crafting this plan. As I have alluded to earlier, the Medium Term Plan was drawn up after widespread consultations with all stakeholders and this should ensure its successful implementation.

Sadly, Zimbabwe is known for producing quality economic blue prints which have fallen short on implementation or fantastic documents that remain tucked in some bottom drawer in some government office.

My office is responsible for policy implementation and with regards to the Medium Term Plan, we need to set the correct precedent by effectively implementing the policies and programmes set out in this Plan to ensure that the country achieves sustainable growth and transformation.

It is imperative that as Government, we remain alive to innovative ideas and feedback from the stakeholders as we implement the MTP. In this regard, the Monitoring & Evaluation of progress will be critical to the success of the Plan.

As we implement this Plan, we should not lose sight of keeping a firm grip on the macroeconomic stability achieved under STERP and STERP II. Achievement of high and sustainable growth targeted in this Plan, should be anchored by a stable macroeconomic environment that removes uncertainty and facilitates long term planning by stakeholders, business, civil society and cooperating partners as outlined in the Plan.

The Plan identifies investment as critical for growing and transforming Zimbabwe to achieve high growths and achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Our people need to be fully engaged in wealth creating activities during the Plan period. As Government, we should create the platform and environment for our people to fully exercise their innovative and entrepreneurial talents.

But we should desist from the major disease that has afflicted this government and which has sent a negative message to business and investors, both local and foreign. It is the disease of mixed messages from the same government which leads to policy inconsistency and policy unpredictability.

Only by putting aside our differences and uniting for the good of all, will Zimbabweans overcome their challenges. In launching the MTD, I hope it is a statement of confidence in this country and this economy. It must signal a new way of doing business in which we are all on the same page in implementing this collective government programme.

This must signal the end of the era of policy reversals and policy inconsistencies as we all strive to do our best for the people of this country by implementing this MTP.

Our major problem as government has been the implementation of policies without the necessary consensus and I hope that the launch of the MTP is the beginning of the laying of a national vision; a common programme built after sufficient consensus between ourselves in government and the various stakeholders.

It is critical that we maintain unity of purpose, have a shared vision with a high sense of accountability and transparency in the way we do business in Government and in the private sector. Commitment to entrenching transparency and accountability which is a founding principle for the Inclusive Government should guide the implementation of the MTP.

Once again, I hope that unlike other blueprints before it, this MTP will not gather dust in a government office.

The people out there expect a government that delivers and implements its own plans.

I Thank You

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