adminVandudzai Zirebwa Buy Zimbabwe
There is something seriously wrong with the Zimbabwean mindset because we seem to have a knack for shooting ourselves in the foot. Since the outbreak of the deadly Ebola disease Zimbabweans have been taking to social networks spreading rumours about cases of the disease at Parirenyatwa Hospital. This resulted in the Ministry of Health and Child Care having to issue a statement to quash the rumour that had gone viral.
The sad part is that such rumours have also begun to affect tourism inflows into the country, with a number of buyers and exhibitors cancelling their participation at the annual Sanganayi/Hlanganani Tourism fair.
The country’s image which has been undergoing a positive transformation is also taking a knock from self inflicted doom theories. The temptation would be to view this Ebola incident as an isolated case in an otherwise generally optimistic population.
Unfortunately all indications are that, investment in negative thought has become a perpetual challenge that faces our nation.
In early 2000 some politicians mounted serious lobbies for the imposition of economic sanctions that present generation are still fighting to have them lifted.
Our foreign direct investments have become so low that they are comparable to those that trickle into war torn countries.
In his recent mid-term fiscal policy Finance and Economic Development Minister Patrick Chinamasa took the position that Zimbabwean industries must be saved by increasing duty on non-essential imports.
However, if one were to go by comments in the local media, the temptation would be to think that, what Minister Chinamasa has done is to condemn Zimbabwe to serious economic ruin.
Rather than focus on his objective of ensuring that local productive capacity is restored and that our country is not reduced to a dumping ground of cheap substandard goods and services, some analysts have preferred to be alarmists saying the move is likely to trigger price increases that would seriously harm the interest of the local consumer.
To the sane, the question is what then is Zimbabwe’s priority? Does it make sense for our policy makers to stand by and watch as our country’s wealth goes up in smoke because of unregulated imports?
In any case, what does it help to have shops that are full of imported products in a country where the average person does not have money to buy them simply because they have no jobs?
Buy Zimbabwe is cognisant of the factors that have led to the erosion of self confidence. During our hyperinflation period we created two unfortunate habits. The first was to believe that all things come easy. We became a nation of dealers who are now the traders that have become dominant and devoid of any sense of nationhood.
The second habit was the fear that Zimbabwe is perennially doomed to failure. With the changes in the value of money every hour and the resultant despondence that characterised such development our people became very fearful of the future.
Most lost a sense of trust and confidence in the ability of this country to forge ahead. The result of the two twin evils was the development of a sub culture that places greater value in transitory and here and now pursuits, while paying little attention to the collective good.
Related to that was the emergence of a populace that finds itself generally restless and has minimal productive engagement and thus can only find comfort in the exchange of rumour and storytelling that are based on unfounded tales of doom and gloom.
While all this sounds scary, the consolation is that Zimbabwe is not the first country to deal with such issues.
When our neighbours, Zambia, found themselves fully enmeshed in an unproductive work culture that they became a butt of jokes internationally they hired experts to launch what they called a cultural remodelling exercise.
Most developed countries always pay close attention to the national mood and use all manner of tools to ensure that the most important resource human kind has, the mind, is protected from potentially harmfully thoughts.
Hollywood in America essentially thrives on ensuring that the American populace is kept in proper mental balance.
The lesson for Zimbabwe including Minister Chinamasa is to begin calculating the costs of bad thoughts and investing in developing a national brand that is anchored on values that priorities prosperity, pride and jobs.
It is all too well that Zimpapers have started the breakfast workshops to sensitise our country on various projects.
The sad part is that the National Economic Consultative Forum which should be at the centre of such initiatives seems to have been hit by a serious malady. Other institutions of Government must also support Zimpapers by playing their role before the minds of Zimbabweans turn to waste.
Yet when this is all said and done, it must be accepted that Zimbabwe is on a rebound. More importantly Government who for most of the time were responsible for policy laxity and not realising that they too had a duty to Buy Zimbabwe are now doing the right thing. We are on the right track to restoring Zimbabwean pride. What is needed now is greater confidence and belief that the House of Stones can stand proud again.
Till we meet again. God bless and always remember Buying Zimbabwe is not an option it is a critical tool for survival and prosperity.
Email, [email protected], www.buyzimbabwe.org.zw, Cell 00263773751878
Online Reporter