Zim can’t afford letting guard down
THERE seems to be a realisation that the New Dispensation’s project “reform, renewal and growth” is not just gathering momentum, but its success is inevitable.
This prospect is obviously untenable for resource-greedy foreign powers.
As is now most likely, Harare’s success means their “yes man” would not get a whiff of the political power.
With Tanzania having recently attained middle-income status ahead of schedule, while Rwanda and Ethiopia are in the top five fastest-growing economies in the world, it is just a matter of time before the whole continent, including Zimbabwe, replicate the success.
This is unavoidable considering the economic bonds that are increasingly being forged by initiatives such as the recently launched African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) under the umbrella of Agenda 2063.
Zimbabwe is well on course in terms of realising an ambitious plan anchored on fundamental economic reforms to promote and protect private enterprise, reduce the costs of doing business and encourage foreign direct investment.
A wholesome economic revolution straddling agriculture to mining and everything in-between is currently underway.
Corruption is being systematically dismantled and institutions strengthened through massive restructuring processes.
This is why enemies of progress have become desperate, using every trick in the book and some new ones too to try and destabilise President Mnangagwa’s administration.
But the President is not the talkative type — he is a man of action.
Naysayers will dismiss the great strides that have been made so far, but the economy which, despite being battered by a combination of “elite sabotage”, sanctions, gummed up global trade, successive droughts, collapse of tourism due to Covid-19 and even natural disasters, is holding its own.
Economy
A macro-economic stabilisation programme coupled with the foreign auction system has stabilised the exchange rate, including the runaway parallel market, and consequently reduced volatility of prices of goods and services.
Soon, holders of Diaspora remittances will feel motivated to sell their foreign currency through official channels like bureaux de change or banks using rates discovered at the auction system.
With the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) expanding the auction system to include small players and allowing banks and other formal financial institutions to trade using the auction system rates, convergence will eventually happen.
This has had the effect of ushering in confidence, which is key to economic success.
The confidence in the market and the prolonged period of stability that has been recorded so far is set to be consolidated through increased agricultural output, particularly wheat and maize.
This is being complemented by production and import substitution, which is something that the President and his team are prioritising by targeting products that drain foreign currency, but can be locally manufactured.
Recently, the President was in Hwange, where he toured nine companies.
Combined, the Hwange projects are set to generate in excess of 6 900MW of power, making Zimbabwe energy sufficient and a net exporter of power.
This is the same energy required to ensure that agriculture does not fail.
To stimulate productivity, a multi-pronged Agriculture Recovery Plan has been rolled out.
Maize, wheat, soyabean and traditional grains — important crops in the country’s food self-sufficiency — are being prioritised.
This is not just Government-driven, it has the buy-in of the private sector, which is why companies like John Deere have been roped in.
In partnership with the private sector, projects such as dam construction, irrigation and farm mechanisation are at different levels of development.
Progress is now noticeable, with the country now set to harvest significantly more wheat than last year, which inevitably cuts wheat and flour imports.
Maize production is being prioritised. Output will be boosted by an additional one million tonnes per year within three years’ time through the development of 100 000 hectares of new irrigated land.
Speaking during a tour of agriculture projects in the country last week, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga said inputs for the summer cropping season should be made available by September 1 to enable farmers to plant as early as possible and motivate others to prepare land for the Pfumvudza programme, which has seen up to 100 000 people being conscripted.
Pfumvudza maximises production per unit area.
Similarly, the target for the winter maize programme has been revised to 8 000 hectares following overwhelming interest shown by farmers.
“We are our own liberators in terms of economic development and why should we export our sweat when we have the land and the water? It’s better for local companies to grow the maize we import and then we buy from them,” said VP Chiwenga.
“We need to create jobs for our people here. Forex should never be used to import food and Vision 2030 must be brought forward. We must achieve the vision of an upper middle-income economy before 2030.”
Eight days ago, President Mnangagwa was in Chiadzwa where Anjin has returned to fullscale operations.
Diamonds have the capacity to contribute US$1 billion to the US$12 billion mining industry sector by 2023.
In his Heroes Day address, the President emphasised the importance of the mining industry, saying: “The strategic roadmap for the attainment of a US$12 billion mining sector by 2023 is on course.”
He said the Mines and Minerals Act (Chapter 21:05) is being amended “into a competitive, modern, investor-friendly and supportive law which will benefit the majority of our people”.
Gold, which is one of Zimbabwe’s biggest exports, is fetching attractive prices on the international market.
The chaos that almost decimated gold mining in the country has been dealt with and deliveries have improved.
The tourism sector is set for a massive rebound led by President Mnangagwa himself, who launched the National Tourism Recovery and Growth Strategy to restart the sector, whose contribution to the national economy has been heavily crippled by the outbreak of Covid-19.
Perhaps the easiest progress to see is on the country’s roads, where local contractors are proving that significant development can be achieved using local resources and personnel.
All priority roads, among them Chirundu-Beitbridge Highway, are currently being worked on.
Road construction projects have been launched in every district in line with Government’s Vision 2030. Government is upgrading a 781km road network, re-gravelling 483km and constructing 22 bridges.
President Mnangagwa has been on the ground checking on progress.
A world-class transport system to complement the roads is being built.
The Zimbabwe United Passenger Company has witnessed significant growth over the years.
From seven depots in 2018, Zupco has managed to increase them to 31 across the country.
Zupco acting chief executive officer Mr Evaristo Madangwa told The Sunday Mail last week that the company’s fleet has grown from about 100 to 1 000 kombis and 800 buses. More buses are being bought.
The company has created employment for over 6 000 people across the country, prioritising employment of locals in compliance with the tenets of devolution.
Colleges and universities are translating knowledge into goods and services as seen through personal protective equipment manufacturing or the tap card innovation being used by Zupco, for instance, which is the brainchild of the Harare Institute of Technology.
Rooting out corruption
Since it was reconstituted a year ago, the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) has undertaken a tenacious anti-corruption fight that is fast cleaning up both the public and private sectors.
But some elements within opposition circles are now behaving as if they are the ones who started it when, in fact, ZACC celebrated a year last month with a lot of victories under its belt. Anyway, there is no harm in everyone playing a role in the anti-corruption fight. In fact, that is what both Government and ZACC want.
But for those in the know, there is no doubt that corruption is something that the New Dispensation has worked to dismantle from day one.
President Mnangagwa had to get rid of the old corruption-fighting unit and put in place something with teeth.
ZACC has fought, often with inadequate resources, against sophisticated syndicates that are bent on ensuring that Zimbabwe never finds its way back to the path of economic prosperity. ZACC is currently investigating over 800 cases.
Of note are the highly publicised high-profile cases of former Ministers of Health and Child Care, and Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, who were arrested for allegedly tempering with procurement processes and abusing funds from the National Social Security Authority (NSSA), respectively.
The Mayor of Harare Hebert Gomba is in court for alleged corruption and so are high-ranking police officers.
The dragnet is sparing no one. There are several cases involving alleged theft of funds amounting to millions of dollars from the Ministry of Defence and War Veterans Affairs, which led to the arrest of eight employees from the accounts and procurement departments, including a director.
The commission seized top-of-the range vehicles, properties and froze bank accounts.
Cases involving employees of the Department of Scholarships in the Office of the President and Cabinet, employees of NatPharm, former chief executive officer of Zinara, former City of Harare engineers and directors, and former general manager of PetroZim, among others, are all at various stages of trial.
In a clear sign that Government is serious, from the 61 dockets submitted, six cases have gone through trial, resulting in convictions.
The President has said the Second Republic’s thrust in the fight against corruption is unwavering.
“My administration, therefore, makes no apologies for fixing our systems across the socio, economic and political spectrum. The corrupt way is shut and those who choose that route will face dire consequences.”
Re-engagement, democracy, constitutionalism
In what has become the clearest sign to the West that Zimbabwe is serious about re-engagement, despite countries like the US continuously spitting in its face through unwarranted economic sanctions and contemptuous comments, the country recently signed a historic deal with white former commercial farmers.
The compensation deal, which is spelt out in the country’s supreme law, was in fulfilment of a pledge that the President made in 2017 when he came to power.
“Our war of liberation was fought with the support and solidarity of many international friends and partners. Zimbabwe’s foreign policy continues to be focused on engagement and re-engagement with other countries for mutual benefit,” said President Mnangagwa in his loaded Heroes Day speech.
Indeed, his administration has accelerated the entrenchment and consolidation of democracy, Constitutionalism and the rule of law.
On devolution, a key enabler of economic growth and decentralisation of power, the President said: “In addition, the devolution policy has begun to enhance the democratic participation of our communities in decision-making. This is in turn promoting good governance, equalisation and development that leaves no one behind, in our bid to maintain a prosperous unitary Zimbabwe.”
President Mnangagwa has also overseen the repeal of legislation considered anti-democratic, including the Public Order and Security Act (POSA), and the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA).
Government is also reforming electoral laws to ensure that future elections do not end in dispute.
Manufactured crises, regime-change agenda
The world is in a crisis right now, from climate change to diseases.
China and the United States are locked in a bitter trade war that is still escalating, the world economy is in recession, the United Kingdom’s economy is contracting, and over 40 million people have lost their jobs in the US.
There is no doubt about a crisis in Ethiopia, where over 9 000 people have been arrested and 200-plus have died since June in the name of restoring security, stability and the rule of law. Islamist insurgents that have occupied a portion of Mozambique and captured a strategic port have definitely plunged Zimbabwe’s neighbour into a crisis.
Zimbabwe has its fair share of challenges, but what is heartening is that they are being attended to.
Government’s success is not good for those with vested interests, hence the relentless attacks.
Triumph
Despite the relentless attacks, the country still faces the threat of the coronavirus.
It is easy to be distracted by political sideshows. As the country feels the full weight of a five-month lockdown meant to contain the spread of the coronavirus, it must not let down its guard on all fronts. Government seems to be fully aware of this. “With unfaltering determination and emboldened by the experiences of the unrelenting attacks on our country in the past two decades, we know that the future is bright. Our success is inevitable,” said President Mnangagwa is his Heroes Day speech.
“The divisive falsehoods and concoctions by renegades and supremacists who want to pounce on our natural resources will never win the day. Truth shall triumph over lies, and good over evil.”
Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa could not have put it any better when she said:
“Some people have been quick to judge the Second Republic while ignorant of the many achievements that our President has made. Zimbabweans need to understand that the current challenges are temporary. The future looks so much brighter.”