Zimbabwe poised for greatness

PLAYERS in various sectors of the economy have said Zimbabwe is poised for greatness following President Mnangagwa’s re-election for a second term amid a well-documented socio-economic growth programme he initiated under the Second Republic back in 2018.

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission on Saturday declared President Mnangagwa the winner of the harmonised elections held on August 23-24.

President Mnangagwa garnered 52,6 percent of the votes after obtaining 2 350 711 votes against 1 967 343 votes obtained by Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) leader Mr Nelson Chamisa, constituting 44 percent of the vote. Other presidential candidates shared the remainder of the vote.

The ruling party also won the majority in Parliament with 136 seats against CCC’s 73. In an interview, president of empowerment lobby group Business Economic Empowerment Federation (BEEF) Dr Solomon Matsa said he was delighted that Zimbabweans had given President Mnangagwa another five-year term to lead the country to prosperity.

He said President Mnangagwa has a vision on empowerment, economic development and inclusive growth. Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030, targeting a prosperous and empowered upper middle-income society rides on inclusive development that leaves no one and no place behind — the philosophy that President Mnangagwa has been advocating for.

“As BEEF, we would like to say congratulations to President Mnangagwa for winning the August 23 Presidential elections. His victory speaks highly of the faith we have in him as businesses,” he said.

Dr Matsa said BEEF is fully behind the leadership of President Mnangagwa and the ruling Zanu-PF party. He said they were given a mandate by President Mnangagwa to bring together authentic business people as it seemed they were not represented in Government or cycles of Government and businesses.

“We have a symposium called Talking to The Listening President where we go from province to province and business people have an opportunity to engage with the President and learn to emulate what he is doing on empowerment. With him getting a second term, we know that we will continue from where we left with plans to grow our businesses and the economy at large,” he said.

Dr Matsa said they were going to work hard, innovate and exploit every available opportunity to make money and prosper.

“Remember that President Mnangagwa in the last five years has actively pushed for the provision of resources, training and policies that promote women and youth empowerment. With that in mind, it is fulfilling to us that he has been given a second term and we will work hard complementing his Government which is pushing National Development Strategy 1 in line with Vision 2030,” he said.

Dr Matsa said BEEF was trying to bring together people in Zimbabwe and those in the diaspora to discuss issues affecting local business people.

Founded in November 2017 by local entrepreneurs, BEEF seeks to promote businesses and economic empowerment of businesspeople, including citizens in the diaspora.

“Under the leadership of President Mnangagwa most projects in housing, roads, mining, or agriculture are being spearheaded by locals in a move that saves the country millions of dollars and that is a clear indication that he is there to promote local companies. So we celebrate his re-election and we look forward to more business opportunities under his Government,” he said.

Local companies contracted for the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme have created both direct and indirect jobs.
Real Estate Developer and Construction expert Dr Tinashe Manzungu said the economy was set to grow further in the next five years under the leadership of President Mnangagwa.

Dr Manzungu who is a board member of the Africa Business Council and a director of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa Business Council said they were optimistic that the real estate sector would grow to greater heights with President Mnangagwa at the helm.

“We are very excited about this and we are sure that good times are coming. We know that President Mnangagwa had unfinished business and will use his second term in office to make sure the economy continues growing.

“When the economy grows, the ordinary people will also grow and that will spur infrastructure development from individuals building decent homes to companies embarking on big projects. Remember, with President Mnangagwa in power, our economy has been the fastest growing one in the region and we expect it to continue on that growth trajectory,” he said.

Dr Manzungu who is the co-founder of Zimbuild, a real estate business that has diversified to TM Group, an investment portfolio with interests in insurance and financial services, said pushing the “Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo/Ilizwe lakhiwa ngabanikazi balo” philosophy, President Mnangagwa is the right person to lead the country.

Property developer and miner, Dr Smelly Dube of River Valley Properties said President Mnangagwa had been instrumental in the growth of the construction and mining sectors much to the socio-economic growth of the country.

Dr Dube said President Mnangagwa has programmes and policies lined up in line with Vison 2030.

“There was need to think of continuity of Government policies and programmes and that has been made possible after patriotic Zimbabweans who share the same vision with President Mnangagwa re-elected him. We say congratulations to

President Mnangagwa for having been re-elected and we commend Zimbabweans whose votes made it possible for him to retain power,” she said.

National founding chairperson of Pastors4ED Prophetess Idirashe Dongo said she was happy that President Mnangagwa was re-elected in a peaceful election.

She said President Mnangagwa deserved to be re-elected as he has a vision to grow the economy.

“We congratulate President Mnangagwa for his re-election. As churches, we went and voted for him to retain his position because of the great works he has been doing. We are now food secure and there is massive infrastructure development in the country and it is only good that President Mnangagwa continues his good work in the coming five years,” she said.