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PRESIDENT Mugabe has struck the right cord by outlining the priorities of the new Cabinet that he will announce soon.
Speaking at his swearing in ceremony at the National Sports Stadium in Harare on Thursday, the Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces pledged that the new Government would prioritise pro-people policies.
President Mugabe promised that the soon to be installed new Government will address civil servants salaries, implement the indigenisation and empowerment programme to create employment.
The President also said the Government will set out to deal with electricity generation to improve the power situation in the country. Electricity is key to industry, commerce, farming and domestic use. Zimbabwe has been grappling power shortages for some time now and it is prudent that proposed power projects are implemented to improve the availability of electricity.
Another major concern in the country is the provision of water for both domestic and commercial use. For some years now the country’s local authorities have been battling to meet the demand for water by residents and businesses. The situation is crying out for urgent attention.
The development of infrastructure is also crucial for social and economic advancement. There is need to build new roads, dams and sports facilities as well as refurbish existing dilapidated infrastructure.
Agriculture had been neglected during the tenure of the inclusive government because the former Finance Minister Mr Tendai Biti belonged to a party whose ideology does not value support for farmers. Yet agriculture is a key driver of the economy. We reiterate again the importance of supporting farmers and commend President Mugabe for reassuring the nation that farmers will get the necessary backing from his Government.
An agricultural boom will be a catalyst for growth in our economy given that our economy is agriculture based.
The President also spelt out the mining sector will be the centre-piece of economic revival and growth.
Indeed mining has a huge potential to help spur economic growth but that promise needs to be ignited through policies and action. Zimbabwe is rich in minerals and other natural resources.
“It (mining) should generate growth spurts across sectors, reignite that economic miracle which must now happen. The sector has shown enormous potential, but we are far from seeing its optimum. We have barely scratched our worth, even in the sense of merely bringing above ground what we already know to be embedded in our rich soils. We need to intensify the exploitation of existing deposits,” President Mugabe told the gathering at the National Sports Stadium.
Civil servants and indeed the generality of workers in commerce and industry have been suffering because of poor salaries and are expecting a turnaround in their fortunes.
The revival of agriculture and industry will see capacity utilisation increasing and this will result in better earnings for businesses and an improvement in the income of workers.
The undertaking that the new Government will not deviate from the indigenisation and economic empowerment drive was also an assurance to the electorate because they have epic expectations.
For the people of Bulawayo and the Matabeleland region as a whole, their expectation is on the revival of the industries because the city, which was once an industrial hub, has now shrunk.
The region also expects its perennial water problems to be resolved while farmers look forward to getting support to spring them to the fields and work hard to increase production.
Online Reporter