President Emmerson Mnangagwa today officially opened the first Cabinet meeting of 2026 at Munhumutapa Office in Harare, outlining firm expectations on performance, discipline and accelerated national development in line with NDS2 and Vision 2030.
The President welcomed Cabinet members and commended those who remained on duty during the festive break, stressing that the patriotism, unity of purpose, hard work and resilience demonstrated in previous years must be harnessed in the new phase.
He said a culture of results was now embedded in the nation’s identity and urged ministers to sustain momentum on a people-centred growth trajectory.
President Mnangagwa cautioned against petty competitiveness within government, directing ministers to work with greater complementarity and clear signages, warning that any conduct or delays that reverse progress by individuals or ministries would not be tolerated.
He ordered the speeding up of processes and projects, saying sitting on documents would be unacceptable.
On the economy, the President directed that the reduction of licence fees be concluded within the first quarter of 2026 to open space for business and challenged ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to scale up engagement with the broader private sector.
He reaffirmed people-centred governance under the ruling ZANU-PF party.
Turning to agriculture and climate issues, President Mnangagwa noted favourable rainfall patterns and expressed optimism over a successful agricultural season, while assuring government assistance where adverse weather effects occur.
He instructed responsible ministers to consolidate reports to ensure affected communities receive timely support.
He also extended solidarity to countries in the region affected by adverse weather, affirming Zimbabwe’s commitment to Ubuntu and SADC cooperation, including continued mitigation support where required.
The President urged motorists and citizens to exercise extreme caution on the roads and reminded ministers that the trust bestowed on them by citizens must be honoured, as Cabinet decisions have a direct impact on the nation.
He declared Cabinet and Cabinet Committee attendance mandatory, warning that complacency and absenteeism would not be condoned.
He directed that well-briefed deputy ministers represent principals when necessary, adding that poor representation would be blamed on the substantive minister.
Ministers were further instructed to submit programs and projects requiring presidential presence timeously, noting that sporadic invitations for commissioning events would be unwelcome.
President Mnangagwa also challenged the media to uphold responsible journalism, place national interest at the centre of reporting, and play its role in nation-building.
He commended the continuation of post-Cabinet briefings and formally declared the first Cabinet meeting of 2026 open.
picture credit: Ministry of Information
By Jeremiah Gora
