ED walks the economic talk

EDITOR. — A good leader is one who knows the way, shows the way and goes all the way.

Judging from Zimbabwe’s economic activities in the past four months, it is safe to conclude that under President Mnangagwa’s stewardship, Zimbabwe is fast becoming an economic powerhouse.

While President Mnangagwa has been criticised for failing to campaign by certain ‘sympathisers,’ what better way of campaigning surpasses walking the talk, especially when other contenders talk about unattainable promises only.

As the country gears for elections in July, it is only normal for competitors to pick on each other, in their quest to appease the electorate, hence the need for voters to evaluate on the best candidate.

While more than 100 contenders are in the race, the salient candidates remain Zanu PF’s President Mnangagwa and MD Alliance’s Mr Nelson Chamisa.

Unlike Mr Mugabe who gained notoriety for his infamous rant on providing 2, 2 million jobs, and Mr Chamisa who has since promised bullet trains, and turning Victoria Falls into Las Vegas, President Mnangagwa is more focused on tangible results especially toward economic revival.

While I don’t wish to discredit or question Mr Chamisa’s credibility to revive the economy, the question is, what is it that he has done for the economy apart from holding rallies and promising the electorates pies in the sky?

In as much as it is commendable for Mr Chamisa to hop on every province, announcing his existence and legitimacy as MDC-T’s president, clearly he still needs to do a lot to convince voters that he is results oriented.

Actually elections are the last thing that the country needs right now; for now, all the focus should be on rebuilding the economy and advancing economic prosperity.

As Zimbabwe continues to expand its network of top level business contacts and new financial partners, the President is currently in Côte d’Ivoire attending the Africa CEO’s Forum, thus walking the talk.

Merely tracing last week’s events, the country recovered USD $591, 1 million from externalized funds, the $40 million Willowton oil refinery and soap manufacturing plant in Mutare, and the President commissioned a US $500 000 Nestle Zimbabwe’s Cremora filling and packaging plant, and went on to sign the African Free Trade Area at the Kigali Convention, Rwanda.

What more should one ask for? Zimbabwe has embarked on a much stronger economic growth path following President Mnangagwa’s ascendency to power and the change of administration in the country has generally given foreigners optimism of strengthening and re-establishing of bilateral investment agreements with Zimbabwe, making it an investment destination of choice.

Most economic analysts also concur that economic prowess in the country is being driven by the envisaged stable political environment following the change in political administration, improved business confidence and anticipated turnaround from key sectors of the economic sectors, but mainly its political will from the leaders.

So before casting the ballot box, there is need to remember that economic revival lie in the hands of the leader, and for now President Mnangagwa has what it takes and what the country and economy needs.