adminREPORTS that a delegation representing Africa’s richest man, Mr Aliko Dangote is expected in the country this week was sweet music to all patriotic Zimbabweans and reaffirmed the notion that every cloud has a silver lining.
The country is going through an economic transition which has been given further impetus by the 10- point plan for Economic Growth which was prescribed by President Mugabe when he made the State Of the Nation Address recently. The visit by the Nigerian businessman and his show of commitment to invest heavily in the country could not have come at a more appropriate time. More so, it proved that the country is very much worthy of attention from giants in world business.
The areas of interest which Mr Dangote identified all fall under the 10-point plan and what is left is for responsible offices to make sure that the business deals become a success. As Presidential spokesman George Charamba said, the 10-point plan set the tone for action and Government and individual ministries should now convert the points into programmes of action executable within set timeframes.
Experiences from other countries show that there is something worth writing home about when there is a result-based programme of action. The 10-point plan and the broad economic blue print, Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (Zim-Asset), all point in that direction.
While prophets of doom have been all over the social media saying all sorts of hogwash concerning the investment deals proposed by the Nigerian, it was indeed good news to the majority of Zimbabweans when Government officials confirmed that Mr Dangote will send his delegation to conclude the deals on Monday.
Mr Dangote, said that he planned mining and power generation projects in Zimbabwe as well as to set up a large cement factory. The businessman even met President Mugabe in Harare recently to make clear his intentions, much to the chagrin of the enemies of the country.
“We had a very, very good meeting with the President and I told him that we have already decided to invest in three areas, one is power, second one is cement and third one is coal. We have already made up our minds to invest and so we are here and we will invest,” Mr Dangote told journalists.
The Nigerian billionaire said he would spend close to $400 million on the cement plant, which will produce a million and half tonnes of cement a year, making it the biggest in the country.
Mr Dangote is a self-made commodities man, who has built a fortune on a foundation of cement, sugar, and flour.
Educated at the Al-Azhar University in Egypt, the 58-year-old started his business, the Dangote group, at the tender age of 21.
Media reports say his uncle loaned him his startup capital, and he opened a small commodities trading business, focused on cement, flour, salt, and fish.
Online Reporter