Online Reporter
Stephen Mpofu, Perspective
WITH 2026 only three days old, it is worth reflecting on what went right and what went wrong last year in line with the developmental mantra of our Government — a Government of the people, by the people, for the people.
Those entrusted with ensuring that no one and no place is left behind must keep these lessons front of mind so that our beloved motherland moves forward without further hindrance, into a brave new future for generations to inherit.
On the eve of the New Year, some agricultural experts were optimistic about wheat production in Zimbabwe, predicting that exports of the crop to other nations in the region and beyond could earn much-needed foreign currency.
That is encouraging and exciting, but there is a catch: whatever revenue flows into the national coffers from wheat exports may end up being spent on importing staple foods such as maize. Unless urgent measures are taken, crops like maize, sorghum and millet — the lifeline for rural communities — could face decline, threatening food security for millions.
What should demand immediate attention, alongside swift corrective action, is the alarming loss of cattle in some rural areas, particularly in the Midlands and parts of Masvingo Province. The shortage of dipping chemicals has left dip tanks defunct, and cattle are dying from tick-borne diseases. Those with financial means are reportedly importing chemicals from neighbouring countries and applying them by hand to save their livestock.
In Mberengwa District, south of the Midlands, villagers who have lost their draught power to January Disease are resorting to digging and planting by hand or ploughing cooperatively with neighbours who still have a few surviving cattle. Others are selling their remaining cattle to buy donkeys, which appear resistant to January Disease — a deadly condition caused by the protozoan parasite Theileria parva, transmitted by the brown ear tick (Rhipicephalus appendiculatus).
This writer contacted the Veterinary Services office in Harare, but no explanation was given for the department’s lacklustre response to tackling January Disease in the affected areas. One hopes that higher authorities in government will intervene swiftly to prevent further livestock losses.
Communities in rural areas must also be educated about the frequent droughts that have resulted, in part, from irresponsible human actions. Veld fires — often started by hunters or during land preparation — have become alarmingly common.
Drastic action is needed to curb these destructive practices. Smoke from these fires, combined with emissions from unmodified factory chimneys and coal plants, rises into the atmosphere and erodes the ozone layer, which shields Earth from harmful solar rays. The result? Frequent droughts that decimate crops, leaving some to blame divine forces instead of acknowledging human culpability.
Industrial leaders must ensure that factories, particularly in cities like Bulawayo — once dubbed koNtuthu ziyathunqa (the place of billowing smoke) — are fitted with converters to reduce harmful emissions. This is essential if Zimbabwe is to progress without contributing further to climate degradation.
Local authorities, too, must act decisively to restore potholed roads to the safe, navigable condition they were in during colonial times. This is not a matter for endless debate; it is a matter of public safety and national pride.
The beginning of a new year should always start with a sober review of what went wrong the previous year. Only then can our country move forward with development that truly leaves no one and no place behind.
