Published by the government of Zimbabwe
25 July 2007
document
Harare — THE following is the text of the speech delivered by President Mugabe during the opening of the Third Session of the Sixth Parliament in Harare yesterday.
ONCE again it gives me great pleasure to address this august House on the occasion of the opening of the Third Session of the Sixth Parliament of Zimbabwe.
This Session begins against a backdrop of positive developments that have the potential to make an indelible impact on the country's socio-economic landscape.
Internally, the signing of the three sub-sector protocols symbolised an important step towards the realisation of the Social Contract by the social partners, a welcome development that indeed promises to usher in a new era of mutual collaboration in addressing national challenges. Indeed, "Putting Zimbabwe First", ahead of parochial partisan interests, remains the best approach in seeking a turnaround to our economy. In order to give relief to our people in the face of astronomical rises in the prices of basic commodities, Government has embarked on a price stabilisation exercise that seeks to return prices to the pre-June 18 levels.
On the diplomatic front, we are indeed gratified by some recent international developments namely, the appointment of Zimbabwe to chair the United Nations Commission for Sustainable Development; our election as Vice Chair of Comesa in 2007, followed by our prospective hosting of the Summit in 2008; and the fact of our representing the Eastern and Southern African regions of the African Development Bank. These developments vividly demonstrate the confidence of our African partners in our country despite the hype of gloom and doom peddled by our Western detractors and their allies. The world is growing opposed to a unipolar world system that unashamedly tramples upon the rights of weaker states while resorting to self-serving notions of democracy and human rights as a veneer of legitimacy for their ill conduct.
It is for this reason that we dearly cherish the bold stance by Sadc member states in calling for the removal of the illegal sanctions imposed against us and refusing to accept the hostile attitude of Britain and its allies to Zimbabwe.
Madame President, Mr Speaker Sir,
Our economy continues to face adverse challenges emanating mainly from the illegal sanctions and successive droughts whose effects in turn are, inter alia, foreign currency shortages, and erratic energy and power supply situations. In these circumstances, the inexplicable price and rent hikes, which were apparently welcomed and encouraged by our regime-change proponents compounded the situation further and thus invited Government intervention.
Government, however, remains committed to restoring price stability and normalcy to the economy. To this end, following the passage of the National Incomes and Pricing Commission Act by Parliament, focus is now on expediting the operationalisation of the National Incomes and Pricing Commission. Members of the Commission have already been appointed, while work on the requisite statutory instruments is being finalised. The Commission will carry out research, maintain a comprehensive nationwide statistical database to be used in the analysis of pricing and production costs across all sectors of the economy; as well as developing pricing policy models, frameworks and strategies, with the overall objective of harmonising incomes and prices.
Madame President, Mr Speaker Sir,
Agriculture remains the fulcrum of our economic turnaround. This demands that prime attention should be placed on maximising productivity in the sector through mechanisation, irrigation development and enhanced provision of technical and financial support. It is in pursuance of this objective that Government has now embarked on an aggressive five-year agricultural mechanisation programme. On 11 June 2007, I commissioned the supply of over 925 tractors, 35 combine harvesters, 586 disc ploughs, 463 disc harrows, 70 vicon fertilizer spreaders, 241 boom sprayers and 71 planters all acquired at a total cost of US$25 million. It was a historic event since it signalled the first phase of our agricultural mechanisation programme. This programme, together with Government's ongoing dam construction and irrigation development programmes, will indeed place our agrarian revolution on a firm pedestal.
Furthermore, a US$200 million Buyer's Credit Loan Agreement between Government and the Exim Bank of China, together with other internal initiatives to enhance the capacity of the local fertilizer producers, has also helped in improving stability in the supply of agricultural inputs such as fertilizers and chemicals. Government will also continue to offer technical and financial support to farmers through vehicles such as the Reserve Bank's Agricultural Sector Productivity Enhancement Facility (ASPEF) and other possible support windows in the financial institutions. With regard to livestock production, Government, through the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, has embarked on a massive restocking exercise that will see the Ministry of Agriculture and the central bank availing funding for the cattle-breeding programme to increase the national herd by more than two million over the next two to three years.
Madame President, Mr Speaker Sir,
As a nation, a vision serves as a compass and acts as a source of inspiration in energising our medium-to-long-term development efforts. Accordingly, after consultations with a broad spectrum of stakeholders, an updated version of the Vision 2020 Document is now in place. Work will soon commence to publicise and rally the national effort towards its realisation. Also in this context, Government is working on the Zimbabwe Economic Development Strategy, a medium-term development programme to be implemented from 2008 to 2010. The programme's objective is to bring about sustainable and balanced economic growth. This thrust should also benefit from ongoing consultations with the Sadc team on its recommended package of measures to turn around the economy.
To improve accountability and enhance efficiency in the use of public resources by Government ministries, the Public Finance Management Bill, and the Audit Bill, which provides for the creation of an independent National Audit Office in line with international best practice, will be brought for consideration during this Session. Furthermore, the Sadc Finance and Investment Protocol, which will foster harmonisation of the financial and investment policies within the region, shall also be brought to Parliament for ratification. Bilateral trade agreements with Iran, Indonesia and Namibia will be signed during this Session, while similar negotiations with Zambia and Angola are in progress.
Madame President, Mr Speaker Sir,
The mining sector's profile as a growth node for the economy continues on an upward trajectory. This further reinforces the need for the nation to assert control over, and maximise benefits, from its mineral wealth. To this end, therefore, and in the light of the discovery of the Marange alluvial diamonds, a Bill to amend the Precious Stones Trade Act [Chapter 21:06] together with the Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill, shall be introduced during the Third Session. Furthermore, Parliament will, during this Session, be requested to ratify the Association of African Diamond Producing Countries (ADPA) Convention that was signed on 4th November 2006 in Luanda by African Diamond Producing Countries.
The Third Session will also see the tabling in this House of the Electoral Laws Amendment Bill which seeks to both amend the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission Act [Chapter 2:12] and the Electoral Act [Chapter 2:13], and to harmonise the two Acts and provide for the manner of appointment of members of the Electoral Court, as well as to transfer assets from the now defunct Electoral Supervisory Commission to the new National Electoral Commission (NEC). This amendment will be brought to Parliament soon in order to effect changes before the 2008 elections and to allow time for interested parties to fully appreciate and comprehend our electoral laws.
The current Session will also witness the tabling of the 18th Constitutional Amendment Bill that seeks to amend the country's Constitution to reduce the Presidential term from the current six to five years; harmonise the Presidential, parliamentary and local government elections; expand the membership of the House of Assembly from the current 150 to 210; as well as expand and restructure the membership of the Senate from the current 66 to 84, all with effect from 2008. Harmonising the elections will reduce costs and enable Government to focus more on development issues.
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