President Emmerson Mnangagwa has called on Zimbabwe’s media to uphold responsible journalism, embrace the values of hunhu/ubuntu, and prioritise national interest in their work. He said the Fourth Estate remains indispensable to nation-building, unity and socio-economic progress.
Addressing the first Cabinet meeting of 2026 in Harare, this Tuesday, the President emphasised that journalists play a vital role in promoting accountability and strengthening public understanding as the Government accelerates its development agenda.
“To the members of the Fourth Estate, I challenge you to continue upholding the values of responsible journalism, hunhu/ubuntu, and place our national interest at the centre of whatever you do. The invaluable role you continue to play in information dissemination remains critical towards nation-building, socio-economic transformation, entrenching our national peace, unity and social cohesion,” he said.
He added that the resumption of post-Cabinet press briefings should reinforce transparency, urging journalists to build on what he described as their strong professional performance in 2025.
“As the Post-Cabinet Press Briefings resume in their usual manner, I urge you to continue the excellent work that characterised your operations in 2025 and make 2026 another success story,” he said.
Turning to Cabinet operations, President Mnangagwa called for tighter coordination, discipline and rapid implementation of programmes under the new phase of the National Development Strategy Two (NDS2), which remains central to achieving Vision 2030. He warned ministers against bureaucratic delays, inflated egos and internal rivalries, stressing that Government’s primary accountability is to the people.
“I will not accept unwarranted rigidity, inflated individualities, misalignment or bureaucratic lethargy that frustrates progress. We are answerable to the people of our great motherland, Zimbabwe, and accountable governance must be encouraged,” he said.
The President directed Government ministries to complete the ongoing review of licences, permits, levies and fees by the end of the first quarter of 2026. He said the reforms are vital to improving the ease of doing business, attracting investment and enhancing service delivery.
“These impactful changes should be implemented through the timely release of the necessary Statutory Instruments,” he noted.
Making reference to the current summer cropping season, President Mnangagwa said favourable rainfall patterns had boosted prospects for improved food security, although excessive rains had caused crop losses in some districts. He instructed the relevant ministry to present a comprehensive report to Cabinet to ensure that vulnerable and affected communities receive support.
He also reaffirmed Zimbabwe’s commitment to regional solidarity, noting that weather-related disasters had affected Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia and northern parts of South Africa.
“Guided by the enduring spirit of SADC solidarity, my Administration, under the ZIM-Aid framework, will continue to do its part towards mitigating the vulnerabilities of affected communities,” he said.
Addressing internal Government operations, the President insisted on mandatory attendance at Cabinet and committee meetings, warning that complacency and absenteeism would not be tolerated. Failure to make decisions and the culture of ‘sitting on documents’ will not be condoned. “Our people look to us to facilitate investments across all sectors and to deliver services and a higher quality of life,” he said.
He further cautioned ministers against routinely requesting his attendance at various events, emphasising that only projects of strategic national importance would warrant presidential presence.
Closing the session, President Mnangagwa urged Cabinet to embrace servant leadership, remain focused on national priorities and uphold Zimbabwe’s development philosophy.
“The decisions we make, and the results we realise or lack thereof, impact the destiny of our motherland, Zimbabwe,” he said, before officially declaring the 2026 Cabinet calendar open.
