Zim on threshold of serious economic growth

and unparalleled mineral deposits will connive to grow the economy of this wonderful country to a size of US$100 billion by December 31 2040.
This entails a sustained growth of 10 percent per annum over the next 28 years!
1980-2008
In 1980, the Zimbabwean leaders had the foresight to spend money in social services to uplift the standards of living of all Zimbabweans and prepare them to take their place in the community of nations.
This was manifest in the rapid expansion in education, health delivery and integration of small holder farmers into the commercial marketing chain.
A process of redress for past colonial injustices resulted in land redistribution, black economic empowerment and a gradual transference of opportunities to the previously disadvantaged.
Despite the acrimonious decade prior to 2008, we have all witnessed the readiness of Zimbabweans to take on the world even as we have asserted ourselves here during difficult times and in the Diaspora where our people have migrated.
This is all rooted in the post-independence foresight mentioned above.
I continue to propose that by quantum, what we have achieved is only a fraction of our potential going into the future.
The time to exploit this potential is now as we head towards our golden jubilee in 2030.
The strength of acting in unison: GNU
The year 2009 was a turning point in the economic history of Zimbabwe. The country had come of age.
At the close of 2008 emerging from a highly contested election, Zimbabweans set down and agreed to restore economic stability on their soil and on their own terms.
This single resolution resulted in 2009 reversing the tide of a decade of economic decline and paved way for a brighter future for Zimbabwe.
I stand to be corrected, but today, we stand on the thresholds of destiny.
I am not aware of any other country on the African continent with more potential than Zimbabwe.
I can challenge anyone to show me a country where the locals stand as tall and are as empowered as Zimbabweans.
Be this as it may, this is not enough. We must raise the level of transparency and accountability amongst us such that as a nation we must be committed to raising the level of productivity of the assets God has endowed us with.
The next 28 years have to be years in which we put the best attributes of Zimbabweans into good use and lift our country to the pedestal of greatness.
Following the formation of the Government of National Unity in early 2009, in less than 12 months the country recorded a 5,7 percent growth in 2009 reversing over a decade of economic decline.
The country recorded over 8,1 percent in 2010 and 9,3 percent in 2011. 2012 is expected to achieve 9,4 percent.
There is no question as to the fact that Zimbabwe is now on a strong growth path.
What is remarkable about this growth is that this has happened on the back of a cash budget with little or no international support.
Zimbabwe must take inspiration from this and boldly plot growth into the future with no mental inhibitions of the possibilities.
The theme for the CEO Roundtable is: “Towards a US$100 billion dollar economy by 2040”.
The CEO’s retreat seeks to get the country’s leadership looking straight through the windscreen of destiny and unearth the potential that the country has.
The retreat seeks to get all Zimbabweans to have a clean piece of paper and start stitching together the beautiful tapestry that will become Zimbabwe 20 years from today.
Our country 20 years from now will be a signature of our collective thoughts of today, we therefore must rise to the occasion and plan this future with precision lest the next 20 years will again be simply a passive result of other countries’ strategies and our reaction to these.
It is time as Zimbabweans we boldly put our differences aside, pick up our brushes and start painting the picture of the type of Zimbabwe that we want our grandchildren to grow into.
Ground to be covered
In 1980 The Economist listed Zimbabwe which had a GDP of US$6 billion as South Africa’s leading African trading partner with the Zimbabwean economy being 7,4 percent of the size of its southern neighbour whose GDP was US$81 billion.
Fast forward to 2010, SA’s GDP is estimated at US$354 billion against Zimbabwe’s US$6,7 billion.
To remain at 7,4 percent of RSA the Zimbabwe’s GDP needs to be US$26,2 billion, a far cry from its current size.
Zimbabwe is therefore currently only 25,6 percent of its 1980 potential. There is therefore serious catching up to be done.
Ironically, this catching up simultaneously presents a huge upside potential for Zimbabwe over the next 20 years to the year 2040.
Given the subsoil resources, tremendous human capital with unmatched resilience, we at KMFS maintain that with creative planning and a synchronisation of efforts by all stakeholders it is possible to surpass a 10 percent per annum growth target over the next 20 years to 2040 to reach a US$100 billion economy.
This kind of growth will not be achieved by error! It will only be possible through painstaking co-coordinated planning and serious engagements by all stakeholders.
Conclusion
Zimbabwe is on the threshold of serious growth and on a strong vein of economic potential.
The CEO Roundtable is a call to all Zimbabweans to put their hands on the arch of destiny and turn it towards prosperity, love and abundant wealth for posterity.