HARARE – President Emmerson Mnangagwa has kicked off official government business for 2026 with a clear, no-nonsense message to his Cabinet, this is a year for delivery, not excuses.
Chairing the first Cabinet meeting of the year at Munhumutapa Office on Tuesday morning, Mnangagwa set the tone early, stressing discipline, speed and results as the pillars that must guide government work going forward. It was less of a ceremonial start and more of a performance briefing, with ministers reminded that the patience of citizens is not infinite.
The President commended ministers who remained on duty during the festive break but quickly shifted to expectations. He warned against what he called petty competitiveness between ministries, insisting that Cabinet must operate as one team pursuing a single national vision anchored in NDS2 and Vision 2030. In his words, anything that slows momentum will not be tolerated.
The tone of Mnangagwa’s address will sound familiar to many. It closely echoes his first inaugural speech in 2018, when he warned that “every minute must be earned” and that government salaries would no longer be taken for granted under a culture of go-slow.
Yet history offers a mixed report card. Subsequent performance appraisals later revealed uneven delivery across ministries, with some ministers failing to match the urgency demanded from the top. Cabinet reshuffles have followed over the years, suggesting that while the message has remained consistent, execution has often lagged behind intent.
At the heart of Mnangagwa’s address was service delivery. He ordered ministries, departments and agencies to speed up processes, cautioning against “sitting on documents” and delayed projects. Attendance at Cabinet and Cabinet Committee meetings was declared mandatory, with absenteeism and complacency firmly ruled out. Even deputy ministers were put on notice, with poor briefing or weak representation to be blamed on the substantive minister.
The President also made a direct economic intervention, instructing that the reduction of licence fees be completed within the first quarter of the year to create space for business activity. He challenged government institutions to deepen engagement with the private sector, framing economic recovery as a shared national task rather than a state-only project.
On agriculture and climate, Mnangagwa struck a cautiously optimistic note, citing favourable rainfall patterns while directing ministers to consolidate reports and move quickly to assist communities affected by adverse weather. He extended solidarity to neighbouring countries facing climate shocks, reaffirming regional cooperation under the SADC and Ubuntu spirit.
Road safety, media responsibility and public trust also featured prominently. The President urged motorists to exercise extreme caution and reminded the media of its role in nation-building, calling for responsible journalism that places national interest at the centre. At the same time, he commended the continuation of post-Cabinet briefings, signalling an intention to maintain structured government communication.
Perhaps the strongest message was reserved for accountability. Mnangagwa reminded ministers that every decision they take carries consequences for the country and its people. The authority they hold, he said, is borrowed from citizens and must be exercised with seriousness and urgency.
By formally declaring the 2026 Cabinet calendar open, Mnangagwa did more than mark the start of a new administrative year. He drew a clear line, 2026 will be judged not by promises made, but by work done. This message carries extra weight as the nation approaches the 2028 harmonised elections, which could be conducted under a new constitution if the draft, shifting the presidential vote from the masses to Parliament, is adopted. For a Cabinet now firmly back at work, the call for discipline, urgency, and accountability could not be clearer: performance will define credibility, and the nation will be watching.
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