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Today marks the beginning of the Second National Imbizo Focus Week as officially launched by Minister of Communications, Faith Muthambi at Bradford Taxi Rank in Mahikeng, North West Province under the government’s five year theme:  “Together we move South Africa forward”.

Cabinet introduced the Imbizo Focus Week Programme in 2000 to facilitate direct, unmediated and interactive communication between government and the public, as well as various key stakeholders.

The Second National Imbizo Focus Week which kicks starts today the 07th till 12th April 2015 is comprised of a series of planned community and stakeholders engagement activities across the country.

The main focus of this year’s Imbizo Focus Week is to afford political principals from all three spheres of government an opportunity to unpack the pronouncements made by President Jacob Zuma during SoNA on the 12th February 2015.

The Focus Week also serves as a platform to enhance partnerships and increase active participation between government, the citizens, private sector, civil society, organised labour, sectoral groups, faith-based organisations and the media which is within the context of the National Development Plan.

Thus far, 52 Imbizo activities have been planned. Events that are taking place today include the following:-

Minister of Communications Faith Muthambi joined by North West Provincial government and Mahikeng Municipality are in Montshioa Stadt Village to launch the Focus Week and engage with relevant role players including the community and stakeholders.

Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Senzeni Zokwana supported by the provincial and local government is interacting with the community of New Castle in KwaZulu-Natal to unpack issues around revitalization of agriculture and the agro-processing value chain.

Minister of Home Affairs Malusi Gigaba together with Provincial and local government of the Free State are in Parys to solicit inputs from communities on how to further improve provision of government services.

For a comprehensive schedule of Izimbizos that will take place during the Focus Week visit the official Imbizo Programme web page http://www.gov.za/speeches/imbizo-focus-week-24-feb-2015-1005.

Government calls on all citizens to attend Izimbizo which will be happening in their respective communities and participate in the dialogues and jointly play a role in achieving the objectives outlined in the National Development Plan.

Follow at @GCISMedia @SAGovNews and @GovernmentZA for updates during Imbizo Focus Week. The #hashtag for the Imbizo Focus Week is #Imbizo2015

Issued by Government Communications and Information Systems