adminVandudzayi Zirebwa Buy Zimbabwe
Since the formation of the inclusive Government some four years ago, Zimbabwe has been caught up in a process that has sought to bring our nation together, while preparing ground for robust economic revival. A key part of that revival programme has been to demonstrate that we are a people who have built institutions that have the capability to conduct critical national exercises with little external support.
After 10 years in the economic wilderness which saw us record some of the world’s highest inflation figures and becoming a laughing stock, the past four years were also a means to bring back our national pride and proving to the world that Zimbabwe has in-built capabilities to become a leading nation not only on our continent but globally.
During those four years we took time to craft a home-grown constitution that was endorsed overwhelmingly by citizens in a referendum that passed all known international benchmarks of a free and fair election.
Next came harmonised elections, that many around the world believed would follow the usual pattern on the African continent of violence and dependence on funding and materials on foreign countries.
Once again, Zimbabweans across the political divide lived up to the country’s billing as the most literate country in Africa by shunning violent practices and heading the call to vote peacefully.
Amid economic sanctions and an economy that is reeling under a severe liquidity crisis, funding was secured locally. The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission also cast aside the traditional option of securing ballot papers from foreign sources by working with local printers, who despite their initial trouble on the special voting exercise recovered remarkably to ensure that all who wished to vote did so.
Well done, Zimbabwe for leading the way for the continent.
However, the work to rebuild Zimbabwe has just begun. President Mugabe has likened Wednesday’s elections to that of 1980 when the nation attained its independence. Then expectations were that Africans were incapable of governing themselves and making right decisions required to take this country forward.
Back then the majority of Africans were excluded from fully participating in the mainstream economy and confined to life below the Poverty Datum Line.
The newly independent country had to take decisive steps to ensure that all the people of this country fully participated in its reconstruction. Just as well within 10 years, Zimbabwe emerged from the ravages of war and was widely acknowledged to be a leading African country.
Literacy was high, the economy was on a continuous upward growth trajectory. A new middle class was emerging and we became a sought after venue for international conferences as well as a favourite venue for world class films. Our President was an international darling.
As is well documented, such growth collapsed at the slightest attempt to redistribute wealth among citizens. That point also brought challenges that Zimbabwe has faced up to this day.
The inclusive Government came into being to ensure that we regained our compass, found each other and relaunched ourself into the economic sphere. Perhaps because the primary consideration of this kind of government was more political than anything, we can overlook the fact that the economy took a back seat.
Imports galloped past a deficit of US$3 billion against ever dwindling exports. Iconic companies such as Caps Holdings and Cairns Foods collapsed. The manufacturing sector went into serious crisis, with industries turned into shells. Bulawayo was turned into a ghost town.
Even mining which could have immensely benefited from the commodity boom did not fully reap the benefits.
Once upon a time the gold sector produced 30 tonnes a year, but at present can only manage 13 tonnes.
The diamond sector which literally came from nowhere to claim the number four slot in the world was hamstrung by economic sanctions, which resulted in its failure to realise competitive international prices.
When former Minister of Finance Tendai Biti projected that the sector would bring in US$600 million into the national fiscus, he was shocked to realise only US$40 million.
The social sphere was also affected as our national soccer team experienced its worst performance since independence. The only consolation was that the investment made in education in 1980 continued to bear fruit as we retained our status as the most literate nation on the continent.
With elections done and dusted it must surely be a new beginning.
We must now allow politics to take a back seat and prioritise the economy. First, we must realise that we cannot continue with our current policies that have seen importers enjoying a greater space in our nation than our local manufacturers who have the burden of creating wealth and jobs.
We must take decisive steps to compel Government to procure at least 70 percent of their requirements from local manufacturers.
Willowvale Mazda Motor Industries and Quest Motors. who at their peak employed over 100 000 people directly and indirectly, must now be revived by among other things being prioritised in all Government tenders.
At a policy level, we must tighten regulations that compel both the public and private sector to favour locals in their local procurement programmes.
Like our neighbour South Africa, we now must make it impossible for any business to conduct business without providing local preference. Tax incentives and related export rebates must now be factored in all economic policy.
We must also stop this exercise of allowing importers to bring products on the local market without passing the necessary standards. We must demand that all imports be registered with the Standards Association of Zimbabwe and compete on the same footing with local products and services.
It must also be punishable to claim to be a Zimbabwean product and carry insignia such as Proudly Zimbabwean without being manufactured locally.
The National Indigenisation and Economic Board and institutions such as Buy Zimbabwe must become more active in tracking public and private companies that procure locally.
By no means should this mean Zimbabwe now has the opportunity to become less competitive. We have periodically insisted that buying local should not be a substitute for mediocrity.
The time to Buy Zimbabwe without any excuses has now come. Till we meet again, God bless.
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Online Reporter