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home in towns and villages.
The leader of the country’s biggest and most influential industrial lobby group said: “We are truly impressed and encouraged by the State President’s call for peace and unity before, during and after the elections.”
Zimbabwe goes for harmonised elections before June 30 this year and is currently working on a new constitution, the supreme law that would provide the basis for the plebiscite.
“He wisely chose this high-profile occasion of our national independence celebrations, a time when the ears of the whole country traditionally listen to his address, to eloquently emphasise that peace and tolerance are essential for Zimbabweans to enjoy life in independent Zimbabwe,” he said.
Mr Katsande said the President’s call for peace during his speech on the occasion of Zimbabwe’s 33rd independence celebrations at the National Sports Stadium in Harare last week was a “clear and wonderful message that we should remember the 33rd Independence celebrations for”.
In his address during last Thursday’s Independence celebrations President Mugabe warned the police would deal decisively with anyone involved in political violence, regardless of their political affiliation.
He urged rival political supporters to co-exist, adding that he receives weekly briefings on the socio-political environment from Zimbabwe Republic Police Commissioner-General Augistine Chihuri every Monday.
CZI has on many occasions emphasized the need for peaceful elections, as this was critical to ensure the elections do not negatively affect the country’s successive economic growth momentum since 2009.
Government has managed to keep the economy growing at a blistering average growth rate of 7,3 percent since 2009 and projects 5 percent rise this year.
Among Government’s major achievements during the four-year period has been record low inflation, cutting it to deflation levels in 2009 and keeping it under 5 percent since and 2,76 percent last month.
Although still beset by many economic challenges, Zimbabwe, like many African countries, is among the fastest growing economies in the world, but has the added advantage of the lowest inflation.
Following almost a decade of macro-economic instability, the Government has managed to ensure supermarket shelves are refilled following increased industrial and agricultural production.
Barring unforeseen hiccups, Zimbabwe is projected to continue registering high levels of economic growth, driven largely by resilient and buoyant mining, agricultural and tourism sectors.
Outgoing World Bank chief economist for Africa Mr Shanta Devarajan, said African economies blessed with abundant mineral resources, such as Zimbabwe, could maintain high growth rates until 2020.
President Mugabe said the country’s four years of successive economic growth was ample evidence to its critics that “we have the resources in our land to lift our nation to greater heights”.
Online Reporter