adminCollen Mharadzano
THE nation celebrated its independence on Monday, April 18, 2016 with the theme: “Zimbabwe at 36-Celebrating peace and sustainable economic growth” amid fanfare and pomp in the various districts strewn all over the country with the main event being held at the National Sports Stadium where President Robert Mugabe addressed a capacity crowd.
In Nyanga, the Nyanga Country Club ground was a hive of activity as thousands commemorated this crucial day in the nation’s calendar. As the nation celebrated its independence, there are gigantic signs of quantum leaps in the socio-economic sectors which have the potential to propel the greater economic sphere of the country.
Yes, the country is under the brutal yoke of the heinous economic sanctions, but that alone should spur the nations to be innovative. For those under the illusion that the world order will morph anytime soon, the only salvation for any sovereign nation intending to usher economic opportunities for its citizenry, Zimbabwe included is to own its means of production and all essential economic processes.
This will enable any government to provide for its citizens hence triggering vast benefits to its populace. It will be folly for Third World countries to ever imagine the so-called developed nations surrendering its privileged status to any other competitor.
We are not talking of any war here, but rather the need for Third world countries to have economic freedom. This will never come on a silver platter. It will take painful decisions which involve even austerity measures which need the collective resolve of the nation.
It feels great for the nation to celebrate its 36 years of autonomy with various economic projects being pursued, the numerous energy deals being undertaken such as the Gaeresi Hydro Electric, Kariba Extension and the diesel powered electric project in Dema communal lands being cases in point. With sufficient energy, the economic wheels will gather momentum.
Given that Zimbabwe is endowed with abundant solar energy resources, it is critical that it is harnessed for the benefit of the people. Solar energy is renowned internationally for its effectiveness and also its pollution free pedigree adds the icing on the cake.
It is essential that Government continues to augment on the gains achieved this far in the energy sector as all economies elsewhere which are successful are driven by this sector.
Other than the new innovations, there is need to ensure that the main Kariba Hydro Power Station and the often fragile Hwange Power Station are maintained to ensure to inject stability and sustainability in the energy sector.
For the economy to ease past the take off stage, Government should ensure that the food silos are filled to the brim. This can only happen when there are sufficient rains hence the recent climate change require prudent planning. Essentially, measures have to be taken to ensure that water is harnessed into reservoirs for its further exploitation in the agriculture sector.
One is usually taken aback when stories from the country’s detractors begin to take root in the people that the country’s grain producing capacity has wilted due to the absence of former white farmers who were judiciously and justly removed from the land during the revolutionary land reform programme.
The then white farmers had no special skills other than enviable capital sources from their kith and kin that remain aggrieved to this day. The real owners of the land, the black majority simply need to continue soliciting for capital from friendly sources to enable the farming sector to regain its footing.
The agricultural sector has a reverberating influence to the economy, the sector provides raw materials to the industries and at the same time food to the populace.
The sector anchors the economy and it also creates enormous employment opportunities which will then act as a catalyst to rid poverty from the communities.
As we take stock during our independence celebrations, we should ensure that momentum is exerted in this pivotal sector.
Is not also the ideal moment to ignite the debate on the nation’s currency? Currently, the nation is using a basket of currencies with the United States dollars being the dominant currency.
Now the recurrent liquidity challenges limit and derail business transactions hence straining and to an extent strangulating the economy.
It is essential that the nation revive its productive capacity, starting as suggested elsewhere in this article with the agricultural sector. When all the productive wheels of the economy start to function, it only makes sense for the country to have its own currency. In that normal scenario, there will be no fear of economic reprisals since exports will naturally take care of the balance of payments demands.
It will be suicidal for the nation to fail to plan for the ideal situation which has to prevail when normalcy returns. As much as caution has to be taken into account, starting to discuss and exploring possibilities which are pragmatic is part of the journey to the Promised Land.
All the matters discussed above would have been a nullity had the gallant sons and daughters of the soil not sacrificed for the total liberty that we enjoy today.
The nation owes it to these departed and living heroes and heroines who took it upon themselves to emancipate the then enslaved populace.
As I observed the gratitude which the people of Zimbabwe have for the liberators, therein lays the opportunity for the country to tap from that unmitigated unity as a platform for positive socio-economic transformation.
Online Reporter