The Sunday Mail
Editor’s Brief
Victoria Ruzvidzo
Last week, I read a story in one of the agriculture magazines from South Africa which really left me wondering what exactly is wrong with us, Africans, both black and white. The article was attacking the success registered in Zimbabwe’s agriculture sector as a gimmick that had only been done to win elections.
We do not believe in ourselves or in our neighbour and we go out of the way to discredit each other. Any positive news is held with suspicion or dismissed outright despite hard facts on the ground. Oh my! We hardly celebrate success for each other
The magazine was perturbed by the fact that Zimbabwe intended to export 40 000 tonnes of maize to Rwanda, which they noted was the first maize export in 22 years. The article prophesied that although Zimbabwe was currently exporting maize, it would soon be importing some because all this was being done to deceive the electorate and not that it actually now had the capacity to feed itself and some of its neighbours.
I had to clean my prescription glasses several times just in case I was failing to see clearly and was, thus, imagining things. Why would someone be so mean? Why would a whole country lie about its statistics and even decide to export only to import the same product after elections? Would elections make us go so low as a country?
The magazine quoted one Dr Theo de Jager, Agri All Africa chairperson.
“. . . Zimbabwe’s Government maize export plans should be seen in the light of the upcoming national elections in August. This had obviously resulted in large-scale politicking and the fact was that the ruling party could and probably would use maize exports as an example of the country’s economic prowess.
“While Zimbabwe in all likelihood has enough maize to send to Rwanda at the moment, it is just as likely that maize will be imported as the season progresses,” De Jagger added.
With all due respect, these words are most unfortunate. Zimbabwe’s agriculture sector has been on a growth trajectory, achieving a 36 percent growth rate in the 2020/2021 season and has been growing at an average 6 percent since then. It hit the $8,2 billion agricultural economy that had been projected for 2025, two years ago. This season’s tobacco achieved a 295 million kilogramme figure, the highest in its 198-year history of production.
Last year, Zimbabwe produced 375 000 tonnes of wheat, the highest since 1966. It is a season of breaking records for real. But could all this be politicking?
Initiatives such as the Presidential Climate-Proofed Input Scheme, the Presidential Rural Development Programme and those for goats, poultry and cotton, among others, have yielded immense results.
These are not fabricated, but facts and figures, which are there for all to see. Irrigation schemes have been launched countrywide and testimonies from young and seasoned farmers alike fill acres of space.
Yes, doc, this might be difficult to believe or even process, but it is actually happening and hatisi kumira (we are not relenting). The sector is on a solid footing and so is the economy.
This year, Gross Domestic Product growth is expected at 5,3 percent, making this country one of the fastest-growing in Africa.
So, indeed, the election season has been upon us but to dismiss traceable achievements as politicking makes sad reading.
It is important that we celebrate achievements no matter how small, as we seek Africa’s rightful place on the global arena. Other countries have lessons to learn from the progress we have made and support from our neighbours and friends will surely come in handy as we head towards Vision 2030.
I am encouraged by the local business community. They are raring to go. They say time waits for no man. We have heard people say there is life after elections and, indeed, there is. Most parliamentary and local council results have been announced and chances are the presidential results will be out by the time this paper comes out. We wait.
In our business section, we carry a front page story where industrialists are buoyant about the second half of the year as a result of intervention by fiscal and monetary authorities over the past few months. Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries president Mr Kurai Matsheza said improved demand was keeping industry kicking despite high cost of production.
“The impact of the measures implemented by the Government has trickled down the whole economy, and they have managed to halt the free fall of the local currency, which was fuelling inflation,” he said in an update.
“In July 2023, Zimbabwe was now in deflation (from high inflation in June), with inflation recorded at -15,3 percent, shedding 89,8 percentage points from the June inflation rate.
“This is a remarkable turn of events, as it means that in the month of July 2023, prices declined and the purchasing power of consumers increased,” said Mr Matsheza.
Indeed, many are of that view.
This is the way to go. We need to work together in growing the economy and to desist from the polarisation that has obtained for too long. All Zimbabweans — regardless of colour, creed, political affiliation or any differences — need to be singing from the same hymn book and with a common goal of creating the Zimbabwe we want. The unwholesome talk we find on social media is not helpful. We have a country to work on. Together, we can face and defeat any challenges and even narrow differences as we go.
Peace
Zimbabweans have proved, first, to ourselves and to all and sundry that we are now a more mature and progressive country. There were fears of violence during the voting processes and the announcement of results but all has been peaceful. So far so good.
Let us maintain this peace so we have a conducive environment to propel the economy.
There are so many deals and projects in our pending baskets that demand our attention and the need for us to be sober. All sectors of the economy need positive energy to transform a lot of potential into reality.
We need to up our production figures. We need more productivity in factories and offices. The country is replete with opportunities that we need to seize and run with to gird our economy. The next five years require all hands on deck; they demand that we focus more on that which binds us than that which divides us. Progress and growth come if we make deliberate choices to achieve results.
Let us embrace, make peace and hold our hands as we walk towards success, leaving no one and no place behind. We owe it to ourselves and we owe it to posterity to take the economy to greater territories. We have the wherewithal to do it. We simply need to take the right steps.
Tidbits
“All our dreams can come true. If we have the courage to pursue them.” — Walt Disney, founder of Walt Disney World.
‘‘If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant. If we did not sometimes taste adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.” — Josh Billings
“Obstacles can’t stop you. Problems can’t stop you. Most of all, other people can’t stop you. Only you can stop you.” — Jeffrey Gitomer business trainer.
In God I trust!
Twitter handle: @VictoriaRuzvid2; Email: [email protected]; [email protected]; WhatsApp number: 0772 129 972.
