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Gibson Nyikadzino
Interview
Zimbabwe and Tanzania share enormous historical, economic, social and cultural relations. The two countries are exploring more areas of engagement for the mutual benefit of their people. To get more insights on the bilateral and regional commitments the two countries share, Zimpapers Politics Hub’s Gibson Nyikadzino (GN) had an interview with Tanzanian Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mr Simon Siroo (SS), who took time to explain Zimbabwe’s development course under the Second Republic and how it fits into the Sadc industrialisation agenda.
GN: From your assessment, how are relations between Zimbabwe and Tanzania contributing towards regional unity and stability?
SS: Before I answer your question, the first thing I should appreciate and commend is the good job which is being done by His Excellency, Dr ED Mnangagwa. As far as development is concerned, he is making sure there are huge strides. Whenever we move around, we see new roads being constructed. Some roads are being repaired and new hospitals have been built. Some big industries have been built, for example, steel industries. Therefore, it is really something commendable. The second thing is just the appreciation also for the Sadc for awakening our industry. We know industry is the pillar of our development.
GN: How does this feed into the Zimbabwe-Tanzania relations and contribute towards regional stability?
SS: Go to our historical background, Tanzania and Zimbabwe are brothers and sisters. Go to the history of how Zimbabwe got independence, we were together. Our forefathers, Mwalimu Nyerere, and (former president) Robert Mugabe were friends. That is why even when I came here, I feel that I am still in Tanzania.
Whenever I move around, whenever you speak Shona, it doesn’t differ from Kiswahili. It is almost the same, it is a Bantu language. Therefore, we have our strong ties between our two nations because we share in the political, economic and trade sectors.
GN: How are these relations connecting or benefiting people?
SS: If you happen to go to Kariakoo in Tanzania, you will meet many women from Zimbabwe buying a lot of goods. At the same time, there are lots of products from Tanzania that come to Zimbabwe. Therefore, I can assure you that we have a very strong relationship between our two nations. And I am sure that this should go on.
GN: Trade and industrialisation are now major themes in SADC. Ahead of the August 44th Ordinary Summit, what do you think should be the major talking points, including at the Industrial Week?
SS: Industry is everything. Once we talk industry, it means money, local or foreign. Therefore, once we talk about foreign currency, it means development. You cannot build a hospital without money. So embracing the Industrial Week is important.
It is important that even stakeholders, they should showcase their products. I am sure that most of the partners will come in. Some in the private sector will come to see what is there. Therefore, it is high time for Sadc countries to showcase the following: our resources; our heritage, gold; platinum; cotton among others. But the second thing is to market our products and it is important that this exhibition is being held. The other thing is to showcase our skilled force because whenever the foreign investors come, they want to know the skills and expertise we have. That is vital.
GN: How do you compare Zimbabwe and Tanzania’s industrial policies in providing a conducive environment for foreign investors?
SS: Industrial policy is important. For example, our policy and that of Zimbabwe are good. Our environments are conducive for investors. There are no complications as far as our policies are concerned.
GN: At a regional level, the industrialisation agenda gained traction around 2013 and 2014. Ten years later, we have that once again. What explains the relative calm we had about the issue before?
SS: I think it is because of the challenges. Once you meet the challenges, you see an opportunity. Therefore, we think they (SADC leaders) after facing challenges, maintained it was high time to embrace this thing. Once you talk about industries, automatically you talk about income.
Without money, you cannot provide services to the people. Without money you cannot provide food to the people. Therefore, with the challenges, then you have to opt for industrialisation.
GN: In your view, how are all these regional efforts fitting into the AfCFTA agenda? Are African countries on the right footing to engage in trade among themselves as a region?
SS: Absolutely! Information is power. During the Industrial Week exhibitions here, there are lots of things to share. By sharing information, you know which country has which resources, and bilaterally, some countries can come together and decide what has to be done together. I am sure whenever the investors come to he Sadc region from different countries, they share information. We are lacking information, actually. On Africa Continental Free Trade Area, we are also lacking information. People need to know what is there in Zimbabwe? What kind of industries and resources are there in Zimbabwe? That is what investors are thinking about. But now, because of the sanctions, investors end up thinking Zimbabwe does not have anything to offer. That is why I say that it is important that they come and see. President Mnangagwa is doing a lot with despite the sanctions.
GN: How do women and young men contribute to this industrialisation agenda and draw benefits too?
SS: Industrialisation is important, it addresses even the challenge of unemployment. Therefore, if at all we have enough industries, then it is going to cut some of the challenges of unemployment, because most of the young people will have jobs. But what is more important is the issue of innovation. Go back to history. Once you talk about industrialisation, for example in Zimbabwe, you are talking about Education 5.0. That is important. The policy talks about teaching, research and service to the people, then innovation and industrialisation. It is important for our graduates to be innovative.
GN: How do these graduates come in?
SS: They can have their own start-ups. You cannot depend wholly on being employed by the Government. What we are lacking are innovations. We have a lot of professors, we have a lot of doctors in certain countries, right? But we are still having problems. Because we do not see the problem in our society. The importance of education is to cut the challenges and help to solve the problems in the society. The issue is that we have the education, yes, in our mind, but how do we put our education into actions? That is what we are lacking.
GN: Education has not addressed most of the challenges our societies are facing. Have perceptions now changed especially regards women?
SS: The challenge behind this is historical. Most of our culture was to undermine women; that women were second class. But we have come to realise that it is not true. When we educate women, when we empower women, we are speeding up the development of our countries. We have to empower women and our youth.
The youth is a big population. But they have to change the mindset of thinking mainly to be employed. They have to employ also. I think it is something which was indoctrinated in our mind by the colonisers that we were getting education to be employed. Something which is untrue.
They changed our mind that once you work in the heritage, once you work in the farm, you cannot prosper. They tried to convince us that when you farm, it is only for subsistence. But farming now is a business. What is needed is commitment, planning and marketing.
GN: Lastly, investments locally and externally thrive when the region is stable in terms of security. What do you attribute to the security we have in the region?
SS: Our Heads of State and Government are working hard to bring stability in areas we have challenges, like the eastern part of DRC and the north of Mozambique. The security situation is somehow modelled and not bad. But we are still moving on to address that. And given that our leaders are working hard, I am sure that there is a time when we are going to be okay. But we still have the challenges.
Because if your a neighbour is not happy, is not comfortable, is not secure, automatically you would say you are not secure as well. Because how do you do business with the people from DRC? It is a challenge. How will you take your trucks with goods to the DRC? It is a challenge. Connectivity is important as far as the business is concerned. Security for us, in order to build business, is very important.
Online Reporter