President Mnangagwa
By Lerato Mpembe
On 24 March 2025, President Emmerson Mnangagwa presided over a landmark performance contracts signing ceremony at State House in Harare, marking a pivotal moment in Zimbabwe’s pursuit of a results-driven public administration system. For the first time since the programme’s inception in 2021, the scope of performance contracting was expanded to include Deputy Ministers, Commissioners, and Deputy Chief Secretaries — a bold step aimed at institutionalising accountability, service delivery, and leadership excellence across all levels of government.
The performance-based governance model, which President Mnangagwa introduced as part of his administration’s broader public sector reform strategy, is designed to measure the output and impact of government leaders against set targets and national development goals. By extending the contracts to a wider group of public officials, the government is not only reinforcing a culture of responsibility but also strengthening efforts to deliver tangible results to citizens.
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Recognising Excellence in Public Service
A central highlight of the event was the recognition of top-performing ministers for the 2024 fiscal year. Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Development, Honourable Felix Mhona, was awarded the title of Best Performing Cabinet Minister. The accolade reflects Mhona’s instrumental leadership in delivering infrastructure projects across the country, including the modernisation of the Harare-Beitbridge highway, airport expansion programmes, and efforts to enhance transport safety and efficiency.
Minister Mhona’s hands-on approach and commitment to timelines have made him a standout figure in President Mnangagwa’s cabinet. His ministry’s consistent delivery of key infrastructure has played a vital role in creating jobs and stimulating economic activity — aligning directly with the national vision of transforming Zimbabwe into an upper-middle-income economy by 2030.
Also recognised was Honourable Ezra Chadzamira, the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution in Masvingo Province. Chadzamira reportedly received the Best Performing Provincial Minister award for his outstanding leadership in promoting investment, facilitating rural infrastructure development, and driving economic growth initiatives in his province. Under his watch, Masvingo has witnessed notable progress in agricultural productivity, tourism development, and the rehabilitation of public infrastructure.
The ceremony also honoured heads of public agencies and senior bureaucrats who exceeded their performance targets in 2024, showcasing the deepening impact of Zimbabwe’s results-oriented management culture.
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A New Era of Governance Accountability
President Mnangagwa, in his keynote address, underlined the strategic importance of performance contracts in transforming public sector performance. “Performance contracts are not symbolic. They are serious commitments to deliver results. Every signature today is a promise to the people of Zimbabwe,” he said.
He added that the expansion of the programme to include more officials signals his administration’s unwavering commitment to a responsive and efficient public service. “Those who fail to meet their targets will be held accountable. Gone are the days of complacency. We are building a nation that delivers,” he declared.
President Mnangagwa also used the opportunity to emphasise that public officials must align their performance with the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) and Vision 2030 — the government’s long-term plan to achieve inclusive economic growth and social transformation.
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Driving a Culture of Performance
The performance contracts cover various dimensions of service delivery, including project implementation, financial management, stakeholder engagement, innovation, and adherence to timelines. Officials are required to develop performance charters with clear targets and deliverables that are evaluated by independent assessors.
Deputy Ministers, Permanent Secretaries, Directors-General, and Provincial Ministers now join Cabinet Ministers in signing these contracts, with results published annually for public scrutiny. This move represents a fundamental shift in governance, where performance is no longer assumed but measured and verified.
The Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC), which oversees the evaluation framework, confirmed that data from the 2024 review indicated significant improvements in project execution rates and inter-departmental coordination — particularly in infrastructure, health, and agriculture.
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Performance Measurement and Public Trust
The rollout of performance contracts is also seen as a mechanism to restore public trust in government institutions. For years, Zimbabwean citizens have expressed frustration over unfulfilled promises, poor service delivery, and lack of accountability among public officials.
By making performance results publicly available and recognising high achievers, the government is attempting to re-establish a bond of trust with citizens. The awards serve not only to motivate those in office but also to demonstrate the administration’s seriousness about delivering on its commitments.
This year’s event drew praise from a broad cross-section of society, with civil society organisations and private sector stakeholders welcoming the move as a step in the right direction. Business leaders noted that a government that rewards competence and punishes poor performance sets the tone for professionalism across all sectors.
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The Road Ahead: Strengthening Systems and Accountability
While celebrating progress, President Mnangagwa cautioned that much more remains to be done. He urged public servants to remain focused and urged the OPC to continuously refine the performance assessment process to ensure fairness and objectivity.
Plans are already underway to digitise the performance monitoring platform, enabling real-time data tracking and improved access to performance dashboards by citizens. This digital transformation is expected to further improve transparency and the speed of accountability within the public sector.
In addition, the government is working on integrating the performance contracting process with fiscal planning — ensuring that budget allocations are directly tied to institutional performance. This results-based budgeting framework is expected to enhance resource efficiency and eliminate wastage.
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Reactions and Reflections
The performance contract ceremony sparked widespread discussions on social media, with many Zimbabweans applauding the move and sharing their views on which ministries and officials deserved recognition.
Some critics, however, called for more stringent consequences for underperformers. “Recognition is important, but consequences are equally critical. If a minister fails to meet targets for three years, there should be consequences,” one commentator noted.
There were also calls for similar accountability mechanisms to be introduced at the local government level, where service delivery failures remain most visible. Community groups urged government to introduce performance contracts for mayors, councillors, and municipal managers — citing urgent needs for improvements in refuse collection, water supply, and local infrastructure.
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