THE Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (Zimcodd) says government has failed to improve the worsening economic conditions under the economic plan, National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1).
In October 2020, the government, through the Finance and Economic Development ministry, launched NDS1.
According to Zimcodd, NDS 1 was expected to charter the country’s economic course until 2025 and set a footing for the NDS2 which was expected to then shape the socio-economic trajectory from 2026 to 2030.
NDS 2 would be in alignment with Vision 2030’s aspiration theme, Towards a Prosperous and Empowered Upper Middle- Income Society by 2030.
“However, an examination of the set priority areas versus the stated key result area targets at the end of the NDS1 document showed that the government has successfully failed to attain the intended results. The economy continues to shrink coupled with conflicting and confusing monetary policies,” Zimcodd said, in its recent weekly review.
“Health and well-being are still wanting with the public health sector in ramshackle, thereby undermining human capital development and innovation. Food nutrition and security have proven to be unattainable as evidenced by the findings of the National Vulnerability Assessment Analysis, Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee and the Regional Vulnerability Assessment Analysis.”
Zimcodd added that approximately, 3,8 million rural population and 1,8 million urban population were now reportedly food insecure.
NDS 1 priority areas of were economic growth and stability of national development; food and nutrition security; moving the economy up the value chains; transport, infrastructure and utilities. They also included digital economy; housing delivery; human capital development and innovation; health and well-being; image building, engagement and re-engagement; devolution and decentralisation; youths, sports and culture; social protection; governance; environmental protection; climate resilience and natural resource management.
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Zimcodd said the economy was yet to move up the value chains as trade injustices and monopolies continue to proliferate in various sectors of the economy.
“The tobacco, sugar cane and mining sectors are case points. Optimum housing delivery remains a wish for the general populace except for cabinet ministers, deputies, judges, security service chiefs and permanent-secretaries. At the same time, the youth and women continue to be relegated in governance and are only given positions through women and youth quotas as tokenism,” Zimcodd said.
“A deliberate negation of social protection services has also been witnessed in the past three years of NDS1 implementation through underfunding. Devolution and decentralisation are constantly under threat. Therefore, taking into consideration the above, the assertion that NDS1 is a success does not hold water. The claims show that the government has learned nothing from policy successes that do not fulfil intended goals and objectives.”
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