The Sunday Mail
The festive season will soon be over. For some the festive season is over already after spending and feasting recklessly during the Christmas holiday.
Let’s give it to Zimbabweans — they just love their fun and whatever the circumstances, they will come up with a plan to spoil themselves.
For Zimbabweans, there is nothing like a bleak festive season. This bleak festive season only exists in some newsrooms where pessimism has taken root.
Just a visit to the country’s growth points, holiday resorts, at the border, the airport, out-door leisure venues such as kwaMereki, Zindoga, Makoni, kwaZiko, at the lake, nightclubs, bottle stores and at the different churches is enough to confirm that Zimbabweans will stop at nothing to treat themselves.
Its our nature and as Zimbabweans we should be proud to be such a happy people, despite the challenges we face in life. As Zimbabweans we know that there is no need to be perennial cry-babies. As we prepare for 2015, Zimbabweans should carry on with the spirit of being a happy people and this will only be possible if we remove the blinkers of pessimism and light our lives with optimism.
While 2014 had its fair share of both economic, political and social challenges, the coming year promises to be a much better year. There are so many signs on the horizon and Zimbabweans should be ready to grab the opportunities. In 2014, investors clearly showed that they are seeing something good that is about to happen in Zimbabwe and they visited the country is droves.
Russia sent its Foreign Affairs Minister Sergei Lavrov and those familiar with the way President Putin conducts his business will tell you that whenever he sends such a high profile official, then you know something big is about to happen.
President Mugabe was invited to China and he signed about nine mega deals that focussed mainly on infrastructure development. China is now a major economic powerhouse and even the arrogant America acknowledges that its feeling the heat.
Now when an economic powerhouse like China shows interest to invest in your country and with the historical ties between Zimbabwe and China, Zimbabweans should brace themselves for serious investment. Even the UK, ooh yes, the stubborn UK sent a five-member business delegation to scout for business opportunities in the country. With the over a decade bilateral standoff between Harare and London, why would the UK suddenly see business sense in sending a delegation to Zimbabwe? Clearly, the enemy is realising that something good is about to happen in Zimbabwe and the enemy doesn’t want to be left out — what with China and Russia knocking on the door.
Turkey has also sent its delegation as the rush for Zimbabwe continue.
It even gets more interesting – the US, yes the mighty US, is lining up some of its investors who are set to visit the country in the new year. Reports from Washington say the American investors can’t wait to grab the investment opportunities in Zimbabwe.
Some international brands like KFC and Choppies are opening branches in the country and these renowned companies are not known for investing where they don’t see a profitable business future. But then the deal does not start and end with the investors coming into Zimbabwe. As Zimbabweans we have to play our part and for many years, this is where we have been found wanting. The days when we would sign agreements and immediately throw them inside the drawers are gone. The days when we would enter into agreements but quickly throw the agreements on the shelves are gone. Now is the time for action. Zimbabwe has to take advantage of the different investors who are knocking on our doors. There are many countries crying for investment and we should not waste time dithering and haggling over petty issues. Zim Asset will remain an economic blue-print if we continue with the attitude that Zimbabwe is loved so much such that investors will continue flocking as they are doing.
The investors need to see Zimbabweans, especially the Government playing its part. The time for cheap talk and politicking is over.
What is encouraging is that the President has over the past few weeks been cracking the whip and the clean up exercise has brought with it lots of confidence that at long last the country will have ministers who know that they are servants of the people. Isn’t it a tragedy that foreigners are seeing something so good about our country, yet we continue to moan and groan? In 2015, Zimbabweans should shake off the chains of despair and work hard to improve their lives. Something good is about to happen in Zimbabwe and don’t be caught off-guard. We don’t even need prophets to confirm this. The writing is on the wall.
