Time for action — Zim on the move

development for the country concerned. If one or two of these central problems have been growing worse, especially if all three have, it would be strange to call the result “development,” even if per capita income has soared (Seers 1969, pp. 3-4).
The above quotation examines an issue of great depth, important in the annals of every country’s history.
The CEO Africa Roundtable (CRT) was initiated to discuss issues of this nature in the process of the growth of the jewel called Zimbabwe and in the manner in which it will relate to other countries around it and globally. From humble beginnings in 2009, the CRT has grown from being a one-day seminar to being a three-day premier business event on the Zimbabwe business calendar.
From being purely a Zimbabwean event the CRT is now set to spread into other African countries. After all, Africa is widely regarded as the cradle of human civilisation.
Recovery full of opportunity
Granted, Zimbabwe has gone through turbulent times over the decade leading to 2008.
Nevertheless, it is now beyond doubt that the economy is on the mend.
With a sustained growth rate approaching double digits for the last three years, Zimbabwe is now one of the fastest growing economies in the world!
Yet there is still a lot of work to be done to catch up. This catching up is pregnant with opportunities for those who are willing to innovate and become relevant in the new world order.
US$100 billion vision
Since the last CRT, there has been resonance across the country that this momentum can and must be sustained to ensure the achievement of a US$100 billion economy by Zimbabweans between 2030 and 2040.
What remains is for Zimbabwe to set clear strategies that will turn this potential into a reality.
The Benefits
Here is why we need to work towards a US$100 billion economy.
Attainment of these targets (shown on the graph below) requires action. Deliberate and co-ordinated action.
The various economic sectors must act in unison. The thrust for the 2012 CRT is the setting of identifiable opportunities and action items that will foster the achievements of the above targets that will improve the lives of the majority of Zimbabweans.
The meaning of action – Masvingo Province
In July 2011 the CEO Africa Roundtable held a regional meeting in Masvingo that was attended by some of the province’s leadership.
At this meeting Engineer Walter Mzembi informed the meeting that Tokwe-Mukorsi Dam’s construction was on course again and the province was expected to create 29 000 hectares of irrigated land that would benefit from it.
One hectare of irrigated land can deliver over US$5 000 worth of income to a rural family in any year.
Twenty-nine thousand hectares would contribute US$145 million to Masvingo Province before applying the multiplier effect of such income.
This was only one of the province’s schemes to build its own US$10 billion contribution to the US$100 billion economy.
The province expects to benefit from the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park and exploit the recently discovered coal deposits, estimated to be bigger than the Hwange deposits that were discovered in the area.
At US$10 billion the Gross Domestic Product per capita for Masvingo Province would be US$6 872.
An average family of six will have access to an income of US$40 000 annually. Now that is meaningful action.
Action nationally
The 2012 CEO Roundtable will examine the constraints bedevilling the country such as the liquidity crunch and proffer potential solutions.
The conference will examine the national collaborative imperatives agreed at the Zimbabwe Indaba in November last year and analyse the extent of implementation of such resolutions.
The country needs to generate an additional I 500 megawatts of electricity in the next two year to continue growing at this level.
This is a potential “show stopper”.
What are all stakeholders therefore doing or supposed to do to ensure that there are no stoppages?
US$100 billion is about building a middle class and delivering good productivity-based jobs.
It is about prudent international engagement and focused economic expansion. There is need for consensus on all these elements. The facilitation team at the CEO Roundtable will work to contribute to this process.
The Vision
We envision a country where there will be an income for every family and an opportunity for all entrepreneurs.
The majority of us have agreed on the vision of US$100 billion by 2040. We just need to continuously work towards agreeing on the activities that will get us there.