By Nevanji Munyaradzi Chiondegwa
VICTORIA FALLS – His Excellency, President Emmerson Mnangagwa inaugurated the 3rd Zimbabwe Economic Development Conference (ZEDCON) in Victoria Falls, emphasizing the nation’s commitment to economic transformation while confronting climate change. Themed “Building Resilience and Driving Economic Transformation, under Climate Change,” the conference drew academics, business leaders, economic experts, and government officials.
President Mnangagwa praised ZEDCON’s evolution into a leading platform for exploring innovative, long-term strategies for national and global advancement. He acknowledged the disproportionate impact of climate change on low-carbon emitting countries like Zimbabwe, stressing the urgent need for sustainable solutions to address droughts, floods, and cyclones.
Highlighting Zimbabwe’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 40% per capita by 2030, President Mnangagwa pointed to the country’s vast deposits of clean energy minerals like lithium. He challenged industry leaders to invest in infrastructure that facilitates value addition for these minerals, transforming Zimbabwe into a hub for sustainable technology.
“Focus is on leveraging our rich heritage, innovation, science and technology to revitalise rural areas and create new industries that increase the incomes of rural communities,” President Mnangagwa stated, emphasizing the Second Republic’s initiatives to bolster agricultural potential and promote rural industries.
The President urged young minds to utilize innovation hubs and industrial parks to develop home-grown solutions for climate change challenges. He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for economic transformation, including advocating for international financial architecture reform and debt relief. He highlighted proactive fiscal and monetary policies implemented to support technological innovation and manufacturing sector development, including the reconfigured Venture Capital Fund and the benefits of Zimbabwe’s subscription to the Africa Risk Capacity Sovereign Drought Insurance Policy.
President Mnangagwa underscored the government’s commitment to addressing climate change by mentioning the Carbon Credits Trading (General) Regulations of 2023, amendments to Public Investment Management Guidelines to incorporate climate risk assessment, and the ongoing consultation process for the Climate Change Bill.
He urged for increased research and development to create efficient, climate-sensitive technologies, particularly given the need for home-grown solutions due to illegal sanctions. He challenged attendees to expand ZEDCON’s scope, transforming it into a regional or international gathering to access a broader pool of expertise.
President Mnangagwa officially declared the 3rd edition of ZEDCON open, expressing confidence in its potential to contribute to building resilience, promoting economic transformation, and addressing pressing national, regional, and global issues.
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