Mugabe says protests don’t pay

Comrades and Friends in the tourism sector, Government is working on a number of programmes, which are aimed at attracting foreign tourism, as well as improving Domestic Tourism.

This should see an increase in the level of local visitorship to our own tourist’s attractions, and also ensure that tourism contributes significantly to poverty reduction and development in different communities.

The health sector continues to receive attention from Government and development partners. To this end, 35 new clinics were completed this year with the support of the communities, Community Ownership Share Trust Funds, Rural District councils and donors.

The education sector, on the other hand, is moving forward with the implementation of the new curriculum which will come into effect in January 2017. The new curriculum responds to the values, knowledge and skills needs of learners and the socio-economic requirements of the nation.

In higher education, I am pleased to note that Zimbabwe now boasts 10 State universities and six non-State universities. It is the intention of Government that every province in Zimbabwe should have a State university, a polytechnic and a teacher’s college.

It is also pleasing to note that parliamentary Bills for new universities namely the Bill covering Manicaland University of Applied Sciences and that of Gwanda State University are at various stages of approval.

Comrades and friends, Government has active plans to implement various training and empowerment programmes aimed at providing meaningful opportunities for the youths and women across the country. Plans are at an advanced stage to establish a women’s micro-finance bank.

This will enable women in various sectors such as agriculture, trade, mining, health and tourism to participate actively in economic activities. Further, Government strengthens and supports Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Co-operatives.

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