Good Deeds Day Applauded For Aligning With NDS1 And Vision 2030

 

By Desire Tshuma

Harare – Good Deeds Day today hosted the Africa regional conference in Harare emphasising the importance of volunteerism, civic engagement, and sustainability in achieving the country’s development goals.

Addressing delegates during African leaders conference in Harare on Tuesday, Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Senator Monica Mutsvangwa said Good Deeds Day’s values of volunteerism and civic engagement aligned with the gpvernment’s agenda under the theme advancing community resilience through doing good.

“Zimbabwe is on an irreversible journey towards Vision 2030, which envisions a prosperous and empowered upper-middle income economy by the year 2030. To guide us on this path, the government implemented the national development plan.”

Minister Mutsvangwa said the NDS1, now drawing to a close, has laid the groundwork for infrastructural development, service delivery, youth empowerment, innovation, devolution, and citizen participation.

“Good Deeds Day and its guiding values volunteerism, civic engagement, and doing good for others and the environment are not separate from this agenda. Rather, they are part and parcel of it. The goals of NDS1 and Vision 2030 are best realised when every citizen understands that they have a role to play. We must therefore applaud Good Deeds Day Zimbabwe for aligning its activities with the national agenda,” she said.

Prioritising collaboration with Government and civil society to support underserved communities, with a commitment to uplifting communities and reaching those in need, especially as the 15th meeting of the conference of the contracting parties approaches.

“Good Deeds Day is rooted in sustainability, compassion for future generations, and the understanding that we must preserve our natural heritage while improving the quality of life for all Zimbabwe.  Participants proudly champion these values and stand as a hub for both people centered development and ecological preservation,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.

Minister Mutsvangwa said Rural accessibility and mobility strategic action plan (RAMSA) and Good Deeds Day complement each other in spirit and in action, reminding us that Ubuntu is not just a word but a call to action.

“Against this background we will be planting trees on the 26th of June 2025 in five schools across Harare. As the President always says ‘Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo’, indeed, each citizen is a builder, and each good deed is a brick laid towards national and continental development. The success of environmental programmes depends on citizen participation that is why national movements such as the national clean up campaigns are so vital.”

Meanwhile Minister of State for Provincial Affairs Honourable Charles Tavengwa said the Government implemented the National Development Strategy 1, now drawing to a close, which has laid the groundwork for infrastructure development, service delivery, youth empowerment, innovation, devolution, and citizen participation. good deeds day and its guiding values, which are volunteerism, civic engagement, and doing good for others and the environment, are not separate from this agenda. Rather, they are part and parcel of it .

“The goals of NDS 1 and Vision 2030 are best realised when every citizen understands that they have a role to play. They must therefore applaud good deeds day Zimbabwe for aligning its activities with international priorities, working hand in hand with Government and civil society to reach the underserved and uplifted communities,” he said.

Good Deeds Day and RAMSA share values of sustainability and compassion for future generations, prioritising preservation of natural heritage and improving quality of life. Zimbabwe champions these values, promoting people centered development and ecological preservation.

Honourable Tavengwa said: “As Zimbabweans, we open our arms to all those who come in peace to collaborate, to learn and to give. We are ready to share and equally ready to learn from others. Our diversity is our strength and our unity is our power.”

The East and Southern African good deeds day regionsl coordinator Dr Lucia Nkomo said as a coordinator of such a diverse platform, this conference brought together different African leaders, Good Deeds Day African leaders from various countries, comimg together to share experiences. It’s a learning platform, sje said, and it’s done once every year.

“We have a conference on a rotational basis, which means we have it in different countries. Last year it was in Kenya, this year it’s in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe for us is very key because it’s an inaugural conference where volunteers come together at this magnitude and at this size,” she said.

“And are hoping to share ideas that cut across very critical areas in terms of development. We are looking at gender-based violence, we are looking at gender equity, we are looking at environmental issues, we are looking at SDGs, we are also looking at inclusivity for disability issues. So all that comes into play, and those are the issues we are discussing, so we are learning from each other, and at the same time we are sharing the best practices as African leaders for good deeds day,” she said.