‘Business will prosper under Zanu PF’

Joseph Madzimure-Senior Reporter

AS the Government accelerates economic growth, it will continue creating a conducive environment for the private sector to prosper, President Mnangagwa has said.

In a speech read on his behalf by Zanu PF National Political Commissar, Cde Mike Bimha, at a ruling party luncheon with the business community in Harare yesterday, President Mnangagwa said his administration will continue creating a conducive operating environment for business.

“We can do better than we have done in the past because we believe in saying ‘Nyika Inovakwa nevene vayo’, you must continue to preach these slogans and get more people to have a common understanding that only ourselves can drive the economy.

“Zimbabweans alone can drive the destiny of this country, we have done a lot in the past five years and we will do more in the next five years, but we only do that if we are united. We can only do that if we promote what is in the national interest,” he said.

The President called on Zimbabweans to put national interest first despite one’s political affiliation.

“We can go to different churches and even different political parties, but there is what we call the national interest in terms of what is in the interest of all Zimbabweans and that is what we should fight for and that is what we should look for,” he said.

“I appreciate your congratulatory messages as the business community. I feel so humbled that you sat down, thought about this and decided to have a congratulatory luncheon for me for winning resoundingly in the harmonised elections held in August this year”.

President Mnangagwa said the August 23 polls were the most peaceful elections held in Zimbabwe.

“These elections were free, fair, transparent and very credible. There was a peaceful environment before, during and after elections, they were not just elections, but elections done under sanctions. The elections were held amid formidable forces against the ruling party Zanu PF and Government. Despite all that, we won the elections.

“Thank you Zimbabweans, the forces against us were not just forces from the opposition, but forces from our detractors who wanted to see a regime change in this country. Despite that Zanu PF went on to win these elections,” he said.

The President said during the election period, Zanu PF’s deliverables were its manifesto.

“The strides made in agriculture, mining, tourism, manufacturing, infrastructure such as roads and dams, were the manifesto. You vote for us and we will do more. This was a very short period, but so much has been achieved. A lot of Zimbabweans were saying to themselves, so much will still be done,” he said.