HARARE, Zimbabwe – President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has congratulated the Government and people of Zimbabwe on the official launch of the country’s African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Targeted Review on Economic Governance and Management, describing the milestone as a significant step towards strengthening good governance, accountable institutions and sustainable socio-economic transformation. He also reaffirmed Uganda’s commitment to supporting the APRM process across the continent.
Museveni, who was represented at the forum by Vice President Jessica Alupo, said Uganda is honoured to serve as Chair of the APRM Forum of Heads of State and Government and remains committed to working with all APRM participating states to strengthen governance, deepen peer learning and promote African solutions to African challenges.
He said Zimbabwe’s official launch of the Targeted Review on Economic Governance and Management demonstrates the country’s continued commitment to strengthening economic governance, accountable institutions and sustainable socio-economic transformation in line with the aspirations of the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
Museveni noted that Zimbabwe’s successful completion of the Targeted Review on Economic Governance and Management reflects strong political leadership, effective institutional coordination and a firm commitment to governance reforms.
He observed that Zimbabwe’s decision to undertake the Targeted Review comes at a critical time when Africa is accelerating the implementation of Agenda 2063 and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Museveni said the review acknowledges Zimbabwe’s continued commitment to regional integration through the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the AfCFTA, while identifying practical opportunities to strengthen economic governance and institutional effectiveness.
Describing the APRM as Africa’s foremost governance instrument, Museveni said the mechanism was conceived, owned and driven by Africans on the conviction that the continent’s governance challenges are best addressed through African leadership and African solutions.
The President stressed that the true value of the APRM lies in the implementation of the National Programme of Action.
“A review only becomes meaningful when it translates into concrete reforms, measurable improvements and tangible benefits for citizens,” Museveni said, adding that the launch represents not merely the unveiling of a report but a public commitment to implementation, accountability and continuous improvement.
Drawing from Uganda’s experience as one of the APRM’s founding members since March 2003, Museveni said the country is among the few African states to have successfully undertaken two comprehensive Country Review Processes. He noted that Uganda’s experience demonstrates that peer review delivers lasting value only when National Programmes of Action are adequately resourced, effectively coordinated, regularly monitored and continuously reviewed.
The forum is being held under the theme: “Addressing the Bottlenecks Hindering Africa’s Socio-economic Transformation through the Promotion of Good Governance.”
Museveni emphasised that good governance is not an end in itself but the foundation upon which economic transformation, industrialisation, regional integration, peace and security, investment and shared prosperity are built.
He said Zimbabwe’s successful implementation of its National Programme of Action will contribute not only to national development but also to regional and continental integration by strengthening investor confidence, promoting regional value chains and advancing the objectives of SADC, COMESA and the AfCFTA.
Museveni reaffirmed Uganda’s readiness to deepen South-South cooperation with Zimbabwe by sharing experiences in implementing National Programmes of Action, monitoring and evaluation systems, stakeholder engagement and institutional strengthening.
The President also encouraged African Union member states that have not yet acceded to the APRM to join the mechanism, while urging those that have joined but are yet to undertake their reviews or implement outstanding National Programmes of Action to draw inspiration from Zimbabwe’s example.
Speaking at the ceremony, President Emmerson Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe’s decision to undergo the APRM review reflects the government’s commitment to citizen-centred governance.
“Our acceptance to be reviewed amplifies our pledge to the citizenry that we are a people-centred government. Their voices matter; hence our institutions and policies are open to analysis and improvement. Governance is not static but ever-changing,” Mnangagwa said.
