Tinotenda Hove – President Emmerson Mnangagwa presided over the first Cabinet meeting of the year at his Munhumutapa Offices in Harare, urging Ministers to focus on improving Zimbabweans’ livelihoods and commending those who reported for duty during the break.

“The culture of results is now an embedded part of who we are,” the President declared, framing the new year as a period for accelerated economic growth under the Second Republic. He stressed that the Cabinet must sustain the momentum following the recent launch of the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2).

“It is imperative that Cabinet focuses on the country’s growth and development,” Mnangagwa said, adding that, “Our approach to the execution of duties and responsibilities must reflect the maturity of members.”

However, analysts and opposition figures have expressed scepticism over the President’s pronouncements. Despite repeated calls for tangible economic reforms, Zimbabweans continue to face high inflation, rising unemployment, and critical shortages in essential goods. Critics argue that speeches emphasizing a “culture of results” risk being hollow rhetoric unless accompanied by concrete policy measures.

“Statements about growth and maturity in Cabinet sound good, but they do not put food on the table or stabilise the economy,” said an economist who requested anonymity. “Zimbabweans need policies that translate into real change, not just aspirational language.”

The President’s emphasis on economic progress comes amid growing pressure to address the widening gap between government optimism and everyday realities for ordinary citizens. Observers warn that without a clear action plan and accountability mechanisms, the ambitious goals outlined in NDS2 could remain largely symbolic.