Vice President Chiwenga’s Speech at the World Urban Forum
Watch the full speech delivered by the Vice President of Zimbabwe, Constantino Chiwenga, speaking at the 13th World Urban Forum held in Baku, Azerbaijan [01:08].
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Global Collaboration: He notes that the participation of various heads of state underscores the global priority being placed on sustainable urban development [02:02].
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Private Sector Role: He emphasizes that government resources alone cannot fulfill global housing demands and stresses the importance of leveraging public-private partnerships [04:34].
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Zimbabwe’s Housing Progress: Chiwenga outlines the country’s national human settlements policy [05:17]. He states that Zimbabwe previously faced a deficit of approximately 1.5 million housing units, but managed to deliver 1 million units between 2020 and 2025 [05:32]. For the second phase stretching from 2026 to 2030, the government targets delivering another million units [05:47].
Host Commentary and Political Analysis
Following the speech, the host of the channel shares an perspective on the address and the broader political landscape in Zimbabwe [07:06]:
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Praise for Chiwenga: The host praises the address as a powerful presentation, stating that Chiwenga has been effectively representing Zimbabwe across multiple international platforms—including a recent trip to Uganda where leadership transitions were discussed [07:16].
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Critique of the Presidency: The host contrasts Chiwenga’s focus on structured policies like housing and infrastructure with the current presidency of Emmerson Mnangagwa, arguing that serious developmental issues and investor relations are not being adequately prioritized by the current leadership [08:06].
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Call to Action: Viewers are urged to follow Chiwenga’s diplomatic engagements closely, with the host suggesting that Zimbabwe is currently entering a critical phase of potential leadership change [08:44].
