NDS2 lays foundation for post-2030 growth: Prof Ncube
Nqobile Bhebhe-Bulawayo Bureau
GOVERNMENT is confident the successful roll-out of National Development Strategy 2 will not only help achieve Vision 2030 targets, but also lay a solid foundation for post-2030 growth in line with projected demographic change, Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube has said. Outlining the projections beyond Vision 2030, Prof Ncube emphasised the need to gear up for massive demographic and structural shifts. Estimates suggest the country’s population could hit about 26 million by 2050, a 70 percent jump, with nearly 60 percent of that being youths, said Prof Ncube, hence the need for forward-looking planning. He made the remarks in his elaborate address at a high-level academia-industry engagement held in Bulawayo last Friday where he set out measures to accelerate industrialisation and drive inclusive growth. The engagement ran under the theme: “Aligning the 2026 Budget with National Development Strategy 2 for Inclusive Growth and Vision 2030”. Prof Ncube said the Government was already looking beyond Vision 2030 to ensure that the country is adequately prepared for rapid urbanisation, technological change and population growth. ReadMore