Mphoko cracks whip on errant ministers

President Mugabe has tasked Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko to closely supervise Cabinet ministers and permanent secretaries to ensure they deliver socio-economic transformation.

The top officials' performance will be weighed on a results-based management system that carries penalties for non-performers.

VP Mphoko exclusively told The Sunday Mail that Government was refining its systems to bridge policy formulation and implementation.

He also spoke of how corruption - if left unchecked - would be the number one impediment to development, and interventions authorities are pursuing to stop graft.

The VP's other roles include heading the National Healing and Reconciliation portfolio and supervising Zim-Asset's Infrastructure and Utilities and Social Services and Poverty Eradication clusters.

Government wants to revive the economy largely through immediate investment, with employment creation and natural resource beneficiation as primary targets.

These objectives are underpinned by Zim-Asset and bolstered by the 10-Point Economic Growth Plan.

Uppermost on the policy list are human capital development, indigenisation and economic empowerment, social services and poverty eradication, infrastructure development, transport, employment-creation, access to land and agriculture development and natural resource exploitation.

VP Mphoko said, "My role of oversight of this policy co-ordination and implementation portfolio dovetails into my supervisory role of the implementation of Zim-Asset and 10-Point Economic Growth Plan.

"It is no longer business as usual. Ministers have to work hard and achieve results that will make Zimbabwe an attractive destination. They have to achieve results that will improve the livelihoods of Zimbabweans. We are targeting employment-creation, the exploitation of our natural resources, including mineral wealth and beneficiation."

He added: "My plan for policy co-ordination and implementation is to make sure that ministries develop clear implementation strategies of their mandates and set realistic targets to achieve their goals.

"This requires the setting up of a clear, result-based monitoring strategy with milestones and standards to measure the performance of ministers and their ministries.

"The supervisory systems are there. A National Monitoring and Evaluation Policy is in place and operational. The policy was developed to enhance the implementation of Zim-Asset by providing clear guidelines for the conduct of monitoring and evaluation of all Government programmes and projects."

The VP said authorities developed a template providing clear guidelines on policy formulation and implementation.

"In the past, policy implementation was hampered by lack of policy clarity and thrust, lack of ownership and appreciation of the policies by the stakeholders, duplication and overlapping of policies as well as lack of adequate consultation before the policy is enunciated.

"All these factors militated against effective and efficient policy formulation and implementation. However, Government is seized with ensuring that the policies that will get Zimbabwe working again are formulated and implemented."

VP Mphoko warned that corruption could derail development and advocated revolutionary interventions.