Going beyond words

of the country’s economy and thanks to the National Economic Consultative Forum, our involvement has not gone unnoticed.
The NECF Steering committee meeting held this Tuesday at the IDC boardroom clearly demonstrated signs that Zimbabwe’s leadership is committed to “Going beyond words” in ensuring that the country finds its feet and starts working again.
There are two issues discussed at that meeting which I feel are topical at the moment, the Medium Term Plan and the just-ended Langkawi International Dialogue that was attended by a Zimbabwean delegation led by the Head of State and Government President Mugabe.
Economic Planning and Investment Promotion Ministry’s Permanent Secretary Dr Desire Mutize Sibanda, who spoke on the MTP, was naturally upbeat about the blue print and rightly so, because it is a document that shows that Zimbabwe is now prepared for economic change and to “Go Beyond Words.”
The highlights of the MTP include:
l Infrastructure development
l Employment creation
l Human centred development
l Macroeconomic stability
l Good governance
l Investment promotion
l Resource utilisation and poverty reduction
With numerous policy inconsistencies being accused of contaminating the economic environment and creating disharmony between business and Government, it is Buy Zimbabwe’s sincere hope that the MTP will be able to guide all other Government policy documents and set out clearly the national priorities and investment programmes.
It is exciting to note that the MTP seeks to maintain macro-economic stability and restore the economy’s capacity to produce goods and services competitively.
For Buy Zimbabwe, this is in line with our mandate to promote the increased production and consumption of local goods and services both locally and internationally.
Our work, therefore, is in sync with the Ministry of Economic Planning. Our hope is to ensure that as Zimbabweans we all work together from Government to business to the consumer. Clearly this can be done and the Malaysians have managed it with tremendous success.
They have worked together to transform a nation which, economically, trailed Zimbabwe into a middle class economy that has set its sights on becoming a fully fledged first world economy.
Listening to presentations on the Langkawi visit from CZI President Joseph Kanyekanye, NECF Executive Secretary Amos Mushaninga, President of the Zimbabwe Academy of Sciences Professor Christopher Chetsanga, Dr Muchena and others one could tell Zimbabwe is in the right path.
We have individuals who are passionate about transformation and, for the first time, I can say that people are moving in the right direction. We too, can transform this economy. The Malaysian case is interesting in that, like us, the country used to have a high rate of poverty but vigorous economic transformation and poverty reduction programmes have worked significantly and are now seen as the most successful in the Asia-Pacific region.
The country has an improved business environment and World Bank’s “Doing Business Index” rated Malaysia number 20 out of 181 economies in 2009.
Mr Joseph Kanyekanye said that the country needs to copy Malaysia beyond the MTP and one of the suggestions that has come up is to identify the sectors in which the country has competitive advantage in and focus in resuscitating them.
This is welcome because we get to focus on what we are good at. Now that this economic blueprint is out, I urge every Zimbabwean to play their part.
Government has led the process via the Principals, now business and the country’s entire citizenry needs to follow suit.
While it is noble for Government, businesses and consumers to take action in their own little spaces, it is time we do away with fragmented approaches.
This is how Government has formulated inconsistent policies; businesses have produced, not for the consumer, and consumers have turned to foreign alternatives for products and services. We have previously failed to share one vision and speak with one voice.
Buy Zimbabwe seeks to create an effective platform for this interaction to ensure that Zimbabweans walk the same path towards economic transformation.
In line with this we are hosting, in partnership with NECF, a symbolic walk (Buy Zimbabwe Day) in the streets of Harare on the 20th of this month where CEO’s and business executives are invited to bring out their goods and services and get to interact with consumers.
Government officials will also be present to understand the needs of the people.
In a desire to promote excellence in local goods and service, the Buy Zimbabwe Day has been designed to celebrate outstanding local goods and services by awarding them with Certificates of Recognition.
Participants will also get to witness the unveiling of a unique Buy Zimbabwe logo and Certification standard.
Join us in these celebrations . . .
Till next week, God Bless.
l For comments, contributions and membership contact Buy Zimbabwe on:[email protected], [email protected], Cell: 0772 714 233 Or visit 22 Broadlands Road Mount PleasantHarare Website: www.buyzimbabwe.org.zw