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President Mnangagwa on Wednesday cracked the whip on under-performing Ministers of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution who are adversely affecting Government operations by failing to submit reports and also not attending Cabinet Committee meetings.

The President who was addressing the Ministers from the country’s 10 administrative provinces, said for Government to have an effective National Devolution Agenda, Provincial Ministers must submit comprehensive and timely reports. President Mnangagwa said some Ministers were failing to submit the reports on the state of their respective provinces, highlighting all aspects including those on economic affairs.

“This is unacceptable and tantamount to dereliction of duty. Similarly the non-attendance to Cabinet Committee meetings by some Ministers of State for provincial Affairs and Devolution in 2024 was glaring,” he said.

SADC Chairperson President Mnangagwa

President Mnangagwa said because of the failure by the Ministers to attend Cabinet Committee meetings, the Committee’s submissions missed vital input from provinces. He urged the ministers to ensure the anomaly is corrected going forward as he expected the provinces this year to emerge stronger, dynamic and competitive economic hubs, with marked growth across all sectors.

President Mnangagwa said the primary task of Ministers of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution is to improve the people’s living standards and achieve shared prosperity as is envisaged in his development philosophy of “leaving no one and no place behind”.

BULAWAYO METROPOLITAN
Hon. Judith Ncube Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution

He said as such the ministers should be unrelenting in attending to challenges, taking necessary risks to overcome obstacles by implementing solutions that benefit the people.

“Hesitation, the dragging of feet and fence sitting are not acceptable dispositions under my administration,” said President Mnangagwa. He said Provincial Ministers should demonstrate leadership capability, integrity and humility that rallies communities around the common national vision.

Government is working on a number of programmes meant to attract both local and foreign investors and Provincial Ministers should therefore take the lead in attracting these investors to their respective provinces.

The task at hand is to turnaround the economy and Government on its part has come up with a cocktail of measures meant to attract both local and foreign investors.

MATABELELAND NORTH
Hon. Richard Moyo Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution.

It is the responsibility of Provincial Ministers working with other Government departments to ensure investors are not frustrated by long and protracted procedures as has been witnessed in the past.

There is a need to continue improving the ease of doing business in order to attract more investors and this is only possible if Provincial Ministers strive to meet deadlines to submit reports and also attend Cabinet Committee meetings.

The Provincial Ministers, we want to believe, are now enthused to be part of the winning team in 2025 following the address by President Mnangagwa on Wednesday. These men and women should have the energies and zeal to take Zimbabwe forward and this is only possible if they commit themselves.

MASHONALAND EAST
Hon. Apollonia Munzverengwi, Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution

The President cannot continue to whip Government Ministers to perform. It is therefore incumbent upon each and every Provincial Minister to deliver and justify his or her appointment to that post.

The Provincial Ministers just like all those in senior positions in Government, should be men and women of high integrity whose conduct is beyond reproach.