'My govt will not tolerate corruption,' says Mugabe

President Robert Mugabe, says he will not tolerate corruption in the new government.

He was speaking while officially opening the 1st Session of the 8th Parliament in Harare.

"My government will exercise zero tolerance to the scourge of corruption," he said.

President Mugabe also said as a measures to ensure accountability and service delivery from parastatals will be put in place, chief among which is the introduction of a results-based management system where government entities are required to submit reports and be subjected to routine inspection.

He said the new government is faced with the daunting task of improving power generation, with final steps in place to fully operationalise the Arda-Chisumanje Ethanol Plant, which along private power generating initiatives, should significantly augment the national power supply.

"The blending of petrol with ethanol will have reached the E20 mandatory blending levels by end of year," said the President, adding, "the project will triger incremental job creation, thereby guaranteeing decent livelihoods for local citizens."

President Mugabe also commended the tourism sector for its contribution to the national economy, which he said continues on an upward trajectory. He hailed tourism stakeholders andthe peopleof Zimbabwe for supportinthe country when it co-hosted the 20th Session of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation General Assembly in Victoria Falls and Livingstone, Zambia.

"We should strive to build on the momentum built by this momentous event," he said.

He said the government will mobilise funds to revive closed companies to ensure the creation of jobs.

Regarding indigenisation, President Mugabe said, "Implementation of indigenisation and empowerment should be pursued and people should become stakeholders."

The President noted that the country needs a sound transport infrastructure to enhance national developmental activities.

"My government will continue the uprading and dualisation of roads through private and public sector partnerships. Together, we will work to facilitate the take over and collection of toll fees from Zimra by ZINARA.

"The turnaround of Air Zimbabwe is now on a firm pedestal, where full introduction of domestic flights has been achieved."

He said although regional routes have also been re-introduced to Johannesburg, efforts are under way to open up other routes to the DRC, Malawi and Tanzania.

"In addition, plans for the dualisation of the Beitbridge-Harare-Chirundu highway have reached an advanced stage," said Cde Mugabe.

He also said regarding environmental conservation, Zimbabwe continues to work with its neighbours through transfrontier conservations areas.

President Mugabe acknowledged that the new constitution imposes on the state the obligation to treat health care as an inalienable right for every Zimbabwean, hence the Health Services Act, Public Health Act and the Medical Services Act will be tabled for amendment during the 8th Parliament.

He also said the government will collaborate with Chinese engineers to improve water supplies in Harare and in Bulawayo, where citizens have been without water due to lack of capacity and poor sanitation.

He said there is need to transform the curriculum of the country's education system to meet the needs of developmental aspirations, putting focus on such subjects as science, technology, engineering and mathematics as well as entrepreneurship development.

The President also acknowledged that civil servants have been working under unpleasant conditions and pledged to improve their conditions of service and remuneration.