Chronicle Editor
Stephen Mpofu
TODAY, as global villagers prepare to usher in the new year on Wednesday, patriotic Zimbabweans, inspired by our Second Republic government’s mantra, “A country is built or developed by its own people” (nyika inovakwa nevana vayo/ilizwe lakhiwa ngabaninilo), are eager to see the long-awaited devolution programme transform rural growth points into industrial hubs.
This transformation would enable Zimbabweans returning from the diaspora to utilise the skills they acquired abroad for the betterment of our motherland.
Apart from the construction of roads, bridges, and other infrastructure — which continues in many parts of rural Zimbabwe — growth points have little to boast about in terms of industrial growth. Many rural inhabitants continue to drift to urban areas and neighbouring states in search of greener pastures when their energy could be used to develop the motherland if appropriate industrial infrastructure existed around them.
Zimbabwe boasts various rich mineral resources, such as gold, platinum, and lithium, among others. However, these raw materials are mostly exported to developed countries for processing into finished products, with the people from whom the minerals are extracted benefiting little or nothing development-wise from the resources embedded in their soil by God.
In these circumstances, should our Government not turn growth points into development zones with plants and factories set up to process raw materials mined in particular areas into finished products for sale locally or abroad?
This would prevent the jobless from drifting away to congested urban areas where jobs are scarce or crossing borders to work as virtual slaves. Instead, rural dwellers could find employment at home, developing their areas while raising families.
This would also help prevent the current trend of young people drifting into urban areas and getting hooked on drugs and substances due to the scarcity of jobs.
Our Government might wish to scout for international funding to transform growth points into more effective industrial zones spread across the country to serve more rural folk economically. As chair of SADC right now, our country might also wish to solicit global funding to help other countries in the SADC bloc develop rural areas to benefit their populations and end impoverishment where it exists.
Currently, South Africa, which for many years was a paradise for job seekers from Zimbabwe and other African countries who were hired for cheap labour under apartheid rule, is increasingly becoming a no-go area. Foreigners, including Zimbabweans, are finding it difficult to find work.
One Zimbabwean national, back home for Christmas, told this writer a few days ago that jobs were becoming scarce. If one did occur, foreigners grouped together to collectively execute it and share the rewards, only to find themselves back to square one.
Diasporans in secure jobs should be encouraged and helped as much as possible by our Government to help build our motherland by sending home as much of their hard-earned money as possible.
Online Reporter