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Sydney Kawadza Review Writer
Zimbabwe has, over the decades, exported a significant percentage of its human resources to world markets, the exact figures subject to debate. The importance of a demographical study on Zimbabwe’s human capital base outside of its shores can never be over-emphasised. However, there is need to understand how Zimbabwe can benefit from its investment to the world, and remain sustainable in a practical economic matrix.
This is the vision of Dr Chiedza Kambasha, a renowned international speaker, philanthropist, writer, fashion designer, precision technology, international business and intelligence expert.
Dr Kambasha has worked in both corporate Europe and provided consultancy on the continent on issues relating to economic development, natural resource alignment to national security, international business and value addition particularly with high-net worth clients in Europe, the MENA Region and SADC.
The second daughter of the late national hero, Ambassador John Mayowe, Dr Kambasha studied locally before furthering her studies in Europe at the age of 17.
Introduced to technology and mentored by her father, Dr Kambasha remains steadfast and confident that Africa can prosper.
Dr Kambasha believes Zimbabwe already has a gap within the specialty skilled sector in line with technological advancement patterns the global competition has adhered and adapted to over the past two decades.
However, she added that Zimbabwe is not too far behind as it has enough human and a natural resource reserve that could turn its fortunes to green rather than red overnight.
She said skills of citizens should be harnessed and aligned to national needs adding that the country should embrace new technology.
“The future is bold, bright and progressive enabling every citizen an equal platform to contribute to the future of our restored bread and mineral basket,” she said.
The techno-savvy maverick unpacked Zimbabwe’s economic strengths and potential that could see the country rise like a phoenix to become a leading economic player in the world.
“Zimbabwe has an intellectually sound and practical demographic that would want to learn the latest technology but their efforts are limited without the resources to unlock our true value,” she said.
Dr Kambasha said many countries in Africa have identified where they fall behind on the international platform and have started embracing new technology by taking a cue from the developed world, and taking advantage of non-barrier factors to trade, development and advancement.
“We need to tap into a well defined economic intelligence model from an operational standpoint, with our potential and existing clients in mind at every step. This allows identification of mirage elements in policies that hold back Zimbabwe’s true value and place on the global table.
“Some countries such as Egypt, Kenya, Zambia, Tanzania, Morocco, Mauritius Sudan and Libya have temporarily exported professionals on career development training schemes provided globally. So, for example, executives that advise on strategy for growth attend Microsoft, IBM, Said Business School fixtures to broaden the thought process and apply it in a practical concept in an economy like Zimbabwe.
“We need to learn from the globalisation matrix in terms of competition and how new equipment has been developed while looking at how that could be beneficial to our country,” she said.
Dr Kambasha said Zimbabwe should invest in strategic alliances to unlock and add value to our economy.
“Our entrepreneurs are not setting up factories, creating employment or developing products that are competitive on the global market and vice-versa the entrepreneurs do not have a notable voice to contribute in corporate Zimbabwe.
“The top management has a know-it-all enclosed culture that eliminates meaningful revenue generation.
“We have a challenge where we will always be begging or borrowing when we are literally sitting on invaluable wealth.”
Dr Kambasha believes Zimbabwe is not getting the true value of, for example, its natural resources.
“We should know the value of our natural resources, conduct resource asset valuations, determine our time line blueprints from 1979 to date, take climate change and environment shift patterns into consideration to fully analyse the resource frame we are resident in.”
She added: “We are living in a world where money talks.
“There are exclusive clubs, associations and galas that auction off valuable information ranging from $50 000 to $9 million detailing blueprints that are inaccessible to us if we do not participate and harness the 70 percent plus demographic that spends months on end structuring alliances that turn them into millionaires while banking their millions in private banks offshore.”
Dr Kambasha said there was new technology for various exploration exercises, which Zimbabwe is not involved in.
“We are not benefiting from this technology, not because of sanctions but because of the spider structure where we apply assumption rather than precision. This exclusive technology affords us upon being a licensee from the patent holders.
“We are losing out and we are about 30 years behind from benefiting from our resources. It is up to us as the citizenry to effect the change, no fairy dust is going to turn our fortunes it begins with us, us as Zimbabweans united and seeing through vertical strategic lenses.”
Dr Kambasha said Zimbabwe is disadvantaged when it goes on the negotiation table without understanding its current strengths and establishing which global players desperately need our minerals.
She said while 85 percent of Zimbabwe’s minerals are of strategic value, the use of Lobengula-era equipment will get the country nowhere as there will be lack of proper exploration and mining prowess.
“Minerals such as diamonds can be mined without breaking the ore but the mining processes we use coupled with excitement devalue our minerals, as they are not in a form that restores their original values.
“Our counterparts and competitors are using new technology and if we use intelligent exploration and intelligent mining methods we could earn more from the minerals,” she said.
Dr Kambasha said there are Zimbabweans with the requisite skills but feel unappreciated or rather forgotten.
She however acknowledges that technology has barriers in entering markets as some people would rather stick to processes they know, and change sometimes seems like a hurdle.
Dr Kambasha is a wife and mother of three girls who enjoys travelling, playing golf, fashion, croquet, polo, cooking, languages and understanding different cultures.
Feedback: sydney.kawadza @zimpapers.co.zw
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