THE Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC), in collaboration with ActionAid and ACT Alliance convened a pivotal Fiscal Insights Forum on Wednesday in Harare.
The forum, themed “Advancing Fiscal Justice for Abundant Life and Inclusive Development in Zimbabwe,” brought together key stakeholders to scrutinize the country’s development trajectory.
Dr. Godfrey Kanyenze, a renowned economist, delivered a scathing critique of the government’s economic projections, calling them “baseless” due to widespread poverty. He emphasized that economic growth should yield tangible results for rural areas, but instead, youths are resorting to substance abuse due to economic meltdown.
Zimbabwe’s development has been hindered by a lack of inclusivity and rampant corruption, severely impacting service delivery in local authorities. Critical infrastructure needs, such as street lighting in major towns like Harare, remain unaddressed.
Despite these challenges, the government through the NDS1 has made significant strides in infrastructure development, including road construction and modern interchanges. The construction of dams like Kunzvi and Gwayi-Shangani demonstrates the government’s commitment to improving infrastructure and promoting economic growth.
Vimbai Mushongera from ZCTU emphasized the need for unity in achieving economic growth, stating, “We need to come together as a nation if we are to achieve economic growth that benefits everyone.”
However, Precious Shumba, leader of the Harare Residents Trust, raised concerns about government interventions in local authorities, noting that the devolution agenda is no longer working effectively. “The government must re-examine its approach to devolution to ensure it serves citizens’ best interests,” Shumba said.
In response, a representative from the Office of the President assured that the government is committed to fostering unity and will intervene where necessary.
The ZCC, a faith-based organization that promotes social justice, human rights, and economic development in Zimbabwe, has been actively engaging the government on key issues. Last year, the church body held a series of engagements on devolution, currency, and the disability bill, among other notable interventions, to promote inclusivity in policy and decision-making.
