Mnangagwa’s Independence Day speech

Fellow Zimbabweans,

We are humbled by the goodwill and support which our country continues to receive in response to our request to rejoin the global family of nations. Driven by our national interest, vision and need to speed up economic development for the benefit of the Zimbabwean people, I have travelled in the region and beyond, sharing the new Zimbabwean story and our desire for mutually beneficial partnerships. I have met colleague Heads of State, world leaders, potential investors and business leaders from across the globe. We have received concrete commitments and extensive support for our economic development agenda.

In this spirit, envoys have been dispatched across the globe to highlight the new Government’s willingness to open a new chapter in our international political and economic relations with the rest of the world. We have, in turn, received envoys from China, Russia, the UK, the US, Belarus and the UAE, among others. These initiatives have undoubtedly propelled our endeavours to attract foreign investment in order to modernise and grow our economy for the betterment of all people in our great country.

I recently made a successfully State visit to the People’s Republic of China, at the invitation of His Excellency, President Xi Jinping. This visit resulted in the upgrading of our bilateral relationship and agreements that will add impetus to the implementation of projects in the energy, water reticulation, construction, road and rail rehabilitation, tourism, ICT and healthcare.

Significant, too, is the convergence stemming out of China’s Belt and Road Initiative which resonates with our vision for greater global trade, embedded in our own heritage dating back to the Munhumutapa Empire. This convergence offers us a window of unlimited opportunities as we grow and develop our economy.

Fellow Zimbabweans,

The surmountable task to rebuild our economy is ours together, whether at home or abroad. Thus, during my foreign engagements, I met and dialogued with our brothers and sisters in the Diaspora. I took time to explain developments back home, our vision and aspirations in the new era, and I listened to their views and hopes for the future. These interactions were indeed inspiring and insightful.

Back home, in line with my pledge to be a listening President, and my desire to hear first-hand the issues affecting our people, I continue to meet with Zimbabweans from across socio-economic and political spheres. To date, I have met with captains of industry and commerce, traditional chiefs, church leaders, university vice chancellors and senior administrators of institutions of higher learning, and representatives of the Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs in Zimbabwe.

I pledge that this culture of dialogue, unity of purpose, and open communication, will cascade through all levels of my administration, in order to enhance our accountability to our masters, the Zimbabwean people. It is through listening to one another and working together that we will achieve our goal of becoming a middle income country, which is free from poverty and corruption, with opportunities, employment and decent jobs.

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