The ManicaPost
Freedom Mutanda
Post Correspondent
On Sunday, Zimbabwe will turn forty-one. Looking back at the past four decades, the country has been on an upward trajectory, albeit with some hiccups along the way.
As Zimbabwe gallops towards the attainment of Vision 2030, there are Doubting Thomases. But this is not a new phenomenon.
Even in the Bible as the Israelites travelled to the Promised Land over the course of 40 years, the doubting Dathans and Abirams had to be swept away for the good of the greater majority.
History is unambiguous and it is a fact that after a protracted war, Zimbabwe attained its independence on April 18, 1980.
From then onwards, the Government concentrated on social, economic and political transformation for the country to develop into the nation it is today.
As foreign economic giants were reluctant the spoils with the indigenes, Government’s interventions resulted in a growing middle class mostly populated by black entrepreneurs.
Now, Zimbabwe is a nation of hard workers. Everywhere they go, Zimbabweans leave a mark.
Zimbabwe’s greenbelts flourishing
On the agricultural front, the 2020/21 season appears to be a runaway success, thanks to the good rains and the twin Government policies of Pfumvudza and Command Agriculture.
The private sector backed Command Agriculture Scheme has resulted in so many successes. Indeed, without a sound agriculture strategy, the country’s economy would be in dire straits.
An agriculture expert, Mr Teramai Maposa, said principal export crops like tobacco and cotton have been bringing foreign currency into the country.
“Zimbabwe’s principal agriculture exports are tobacco (60 percent), cotton lint (10 percent), raw sugar (nine percent), tea and coffee and horticultural products,” he said.
Due to the Pfumvudza programme, farmers in Ngaone, Chipinge, expect a bumper maize harvest.
The country’s economy is now geared for sustained growth as it is agro-based.
Infrastructural development
Hospitals, clinics, schools and other infrastructure sprouted up in growth points as a way of arresting the rural-urban divide which forced many rural people to emigrate to urban centres.
Great success has been recorded in the education sector as thousands of schools and tens of universities have been established since the attainment of independence.
Re-engagement bears fruits
The First Republic had its successes, but there were areas of contestation with the international community, which left the country out in the cold.
However, the Government has taken all these challenges in its stride.
Soon after assuming power, President Mnangagwa therefore embarked on a charm offensive and this saw more nations warming up to the nation. Consequently, Belarus and other friendly nations delivered buses to the nation and that had a good bearing on the country’s public transport system.
Ms Olga Sanhete of Dangamvura said she was relieved of her budgetary nightmare owing to the Zupco intervention.
“If more buses are availed, the exorbitant commuter omnibuses will have to toe the line,” she said.
An efficient civil service
In spite of the Covid-19 lockdowns, the Government has never reneged on paying civil servants’ salaries.
Politics of confrontation appear to be a thing of the past as the Government always monitor the inflows into the Treasury before promising heaven on earth.
In the Second Republic, it is boiling down to the ‘eat what you kill’ principle so that the nation does not get into a bind by over-borrowing.
Zero tolerance to corruption
While the bane of corruption has always been a fly in the ointment, Zimbabweans have been allowed to play a role in unmasking the vice as they can telephone the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission from anywhere and make reports of corrupt activities.
A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step. While we may not be there yet, the economy is definitely on the rebound.
Devolution takes shape
In 2013, the Constitution was overwhelmingly adopted.
Among its key tenets was devolution.
Devolution empowers locals to be involved in the development of their respective areas. Consequently, huge projects have taken off with schools, clinics and roads constructed across the country.
Chipangayi Secondary School head, Mr James Dhube, hailed the program and said through devolution funds, a Science laboratory will be built at the learning institution, thereby paving way for the school to enrol A-Level students.
Mr Francis Muvhara, the School Development Committee chairperson, expressed the community’s gratitude.
A skilled young workforce
They say it takes two to tango.
The Government has a role to play in attracting foreign investment, but the ingenuity of entrepreneurs come from within.
An entrepreneur, Mr Phillip Matara said skilled young people need to create their own employment and work on building the economy.
“Jobs are scarce but it is possible to make ends meet by marketing our agriculture produce as we use the skills we acquired from school,” he said.
41 years after independence, the nation celebrates its achievements and looks ahead to the next fourty-one with enthusiasm.
The fruits of independence will be splurged at everyone.
Viva Zimbwabwe. Viva prosperity
