adminBusiness Correspondent
THE Affirmative Action Group has called for inclusive and broad-based development for the success of the economic blueprint, the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation. AAG chief executive officer, Dr Davis Gomo said this in Nyanga during the AAG Nyanga launch recently.
Dr Gomo also underscored that it was imperative for Zimbabwe not to be an import nation to steer economic growth under the blueprint. “Let us not be an import nation but let us promote our own brands produced locally because this is the only way to grow our economy.
“As Government pushes the Zim-Asset agenda, AAG is calling for inclusive and broad based development, which means we all have a role to play, from the Small-to Medium Enterprises to the street vendors,” said Dr Gomo. Dr Gomo said the indigenisation and empowerment policy came at a price with resistance from Britain and its allies through economic sanctions, which is why the economy is bleeding currently.
“When we called for indigenisation and empowerment, it talked about legal independence, cultural independence and political independence, which is what the British do not want to hear from Third World countries.
“We are experiencing the repel effects of economic sabotage through sanctions that were imposed on us, but we can prevail if we work together and have inclusivity and a broad-based developmental agenda,” said Dr Gomo. AAG national president, Mr Chamu Chiwanza said the biggest empowerment Zimbabweans would ever have was the ownership of their natural resources.
“Our biggest empowerment was reclaiming our land and natural resources. But some may ask why we are suffering when we now have economic freedom and indigenisation?
“It is because a revolution has stages. Lets us emancipate ourselves from colonial slavery and have faith in ourselves as entrepreneurs, farmers and miners that will steer economic growth in the new Zimbabwe. That is the first step.
“As AAG we say no to marginalisation and poverty, no to all forms of exclusion and sanctions and no to underdevelopment. Let us open our eyes under ZimAsset and see where we will play our part to steer economic development,” said Mr Chiwanza.
He said the Nyanga launch was part of their decentralisation as they were now creating structures at district level.
He added that the district structures would push empowerment agendas at local level more efficiently than when there were provincial structures only.
“We want to see development everywhere, not just in the major cities, but in growth points and in our rural areas countrywide,” said Mr Chiwanza.
AAG Manicaland chairman, Mr Fungai Chaeruka urged people in Manicaland to work together as a united front to steer development in the province.
He urged the Nyanga community to choose capable leaders who will represent them and steer development in the district.
The meeting was well attended by various AAG chairpersons from other provinces including Mr Munyaradzi Kashambe (Mashonaland East) and Mr Liberty Bizure (Harare). AAG national vice-chairman Mr Edmund Chiyangwa was also present along with Manicaland AAG outgoing executive member, Mr Charles Samuriwo.
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