Takudzwa Karowangoro

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has commended Cabinet ministers for their dedication, unity, and hard work as Government held its final Cabinet Calendar meeting for 2025.

Addressing ministers, the President expressed gratitude to God for life, good health and wisdom that enabled Cabinet to effectively carry out its duties throughout the year.

“Government remains committed to fulfilling the expectations of Zimbabweans, noting, Nyika inovakwa, inotongwa, inonamatigwa nevene vayo – our nation is built, governed, and cared for by its own people.

I commend all of you for your dedication, commitment, and resilience. Ministers should avoid missing Cabinet and Cabinet Committee meetings as these take precedence over all other Government business,” said President Mnangagwa.

The President highlighted the importance of high-quality Cabinet memoranda, noting that well-prepared submissions lead to meaningful discussions and sound decisions. He challenged ministers to assess how well their respective ministries met set targets and encouraged thorough scrutiny of all submissions before they are presented to Cabinet.

Despite global economic shocks during the period of NDS1, he said, “Through the unity and hard work of our people, we have ushered our nation into a new era of hope, development, modernisation, industrialisation, and improved service delivery.”

He noted key achievements in 2025, including economic resilience, stabilisation of the ZiG currency, and growth in GDP.

The President also highlighted progress under the National Energy Compact, which aims to expand power generation and support independent power producers to ensure reliable, affordable and sustainable energy for both urban and rural communities.

He applauded successes in infrastructure, mining, manufacturing, tourism, education, skills development, and inclusive empowerment programmes for youth, women, and liberation war veterans.

“On public sector reforms one of the notable results under NDS1 has been the transformation and reinvigoration of public sector performance. We institutionalised a results-oriented culture, strengthened accountability, and promoted digitalised processes, reducing bureaucracy and improving service delivery,” President stated.

He commended the Civil Service for supporting the Executive, noting that familiarisation visits by the Chief Secretary to ministries helped identify challenges and promote more efficient Government operations. The President said such initiatives should be institutionalised to strengthen the Whole-of-Government and Society approach to development.

“All ministries must maintain momentum, government services should continue throughout the festive season. Let us stand ready to attend to any urgent business that may arise,” President added.

President Mnangagwa congratulated Cabinet for a successful year, encouraging ministers to rest during the holidays while upholding leadership dignity.

“Whether you spend the holidays here at home or travel outside the country, always conduct yourselves appropriately with the expected restraint and modesty. I trust we shall meet again in the new year, refreshed and rejuvenated for Cabinet business in 2026 as we roll out NDS2 in earnest,”President Concluded.

President Mnangagwa has emphasised the need for stronger collaboration between local authorities and the private sector to improve waste management and create cleaner cities across Zimbabwe.

Addressing guests at the commissioning of the second phase of refuse collection equipment by Geo Pomona Waste Management in Harare yesterday, the President said partnerships of this nature should form part of the country’s wider urban development plans to ensure consistent and efficient service delivery nationwide.

He said Government remains committed to improving service provision across all local authorities, in line with the Agriculture, Food, Climate and Environment pillar under the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2).

President Mnangagwa noted that waste management facilities must now be upgraded, modernised and supported by appropriate technologies to meet growing urban demands.

Referring to the recently launched NDS2 (2026–2030), he said the strategy outlines key national priorities that will guide development over the next five years.

The newly commissioned fleet includes 25 compactor trucks, 16 tipper trucks, 10 skip trucks, five street sweepers, two excavators and two spinner trucks.

He said the commissioning marked more than the introduction of equipment, but reflected the steady expansion of a project that plays a strategic role in achieving several NDS2 objectives.

According to the President, such initiatives promote better use of resources, environmental rehabilitation and ecosystem restoration, while supporting biodiversity conservation, soil improvement, renewable energy adoption and green economic growth.

He commended Geo Pomona Waste Management for its focus on sustainable environmental solutions, saying the progress achieved so far demonstrates operational discipline and alignment with national development goals.

President Mnangagwa urged authorities to ensure that cities, towns, growth points and municipal areas project a positive national image through cleanliness, beautification and sustainable waste practices.

He said Zimbabwe’s recent recognition as the world’s best country to visit in 2025 should be safeguarded by maintaining clean and healthy environments.

“A clean environment strengthens our national brand and enhances Zimbabwe’s appeal as an investment and tourism destination,” he said, adding that coordinated environmental protection efforts have positioned the country as a credible green-compliant nation.

The President said the Geo Pomona facility complements Government’s efforts to transform Harare into a modern, world-class city through integrated environmental management programmes.

He praised the partnership involving the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, the City of Harare and Geo Pomona, saying it demonstrated the effectiveness of a Whole-of-Society approach to national development.

President Mnangagwa further stressed that cooperation between local authorities and private players must be mainstreamed into urban planning frameworks to ensure wider benefits, including job creation, energy generation, improved public health, climate resilience and sustainable urban growth.

He said waste management systems should evolve from being a financial burden for councils into productive economic and environmental value chains, supported by advanced sorting, recycling and disposal technologies.

As Zimbabwe continues to experience rapid infrastructure development, industrial growth and urban expansion, the President said sustainable waste management strategies were now more critical than ever to reduce environmental risks.

He challenged local authorities and communities to strengthen participation in the National Clean-Up Day, held on the first Friday of every month, announcing that awards would be introduced to recognise outstanding performance.

“We must all take responsibility for protecting our environment as we modernise and industrialise our country,” said the President, urging citizens to embrace environmental stewardship.

The Acting Minister of Local Government and Public Works said the commissioning of the trucks marked another step towards achieving national development targets, including Vision 2030.

Harare Mayor Councillor Jacob Mafume welcomed the initiative, saying waste management was a shared responsibility that transcends political differences and requires cooperation between Government and the private sector.

Geo Pomona Waste Management reaffirmed its commitment to improving waste collection services in Harare, noting that the new equipment would further enhance efficiency.

Harare Province’s Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution commended the Second Republic for its developmental focus and applauded Geo Pomona for contributing to the improved environmental condition of the metropolitan province.

Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has clinched first prize in the 2025 Presidential Innovation Award, earning national recognition for its strides in adopting modern technology to enhance law enforcement operations.

The award was presented on Thursday during the third Presidential Innovation Fair held at the Harare International Conference Centre (HICC). The event, attended by innovators, policymakers and stakeholders from across the country, celebrated groundbreaking initiatives driving Zimbabwe’s digital transformation agenda.

ZRP was honoured for its collaborative work with the Zimbabwe Centre for High Performance Computing (ZCHPC) in developing and deploying an automated fingerprint biometric identification system. The innovation is designed to strengthen crime detection, improve accuracy in suspect identification, and speed up investigative processes.

According to officials, the system marks a major leap from traditional manual fingerprint matching, significantly reducing processing time and boosting the reliability of forensic results.

The recognition underscores the Police’s commitment to modernising its operations through technology-driven solutions aimed at enhancing public safety and promoting efficient service delivery.

The Presidential Innovation Awards are part of government efforts to support and reward institutions championing innovation across various sectors.