The Sunday Mail
Zack Murerwa
Come on Zimbabweans, let us put our thoughts together. Let us create an environment of peace and tranquillity. Let us move from the abyss of laissez-faire, business as usual approach.
A nation without a vision will move aimless and will not grow.
The vision of Zimbabwe being a middle-income economy within the next 12 years is a clarion call by President Emmerson Mnangagwa for us to prepare for positive economic transformation, better lifestyles, more jobs, better skills and consequently better individual and group incomes than what we have at the moment.
For the benefit of readers, the World Bank classifies countries as low, middle or upper-income.
A middle-income economy is one whose gross per capita national income is $1 000 to $12 000.
In simple terms, per capita income measures the average income per person per year in a given area.
Obviously a country’s gross domestic product and population have determining effects. For income per capita to be high there must be high productivity factored against a controlled population.
A simplified table below illustrates some countries and their classifications; the list is not all inclusive but for illustration purposes only.
Within each category the norm is to have sub-categories; for example low middle-income, upper middle-income.
The potential for Zimbabwe to move from low-income to high-income is huge given comparative advantages that the economy has. Firstly we have huge reserves of about 43 marketable minerals.
The current investment drive will obviously bring in investors in the mining sector and simple trajectory calculations on an exponential basis can bring total minerals income to four times what it is now.
Secondly, concerted and consistent efforts on increased agricultural output will make Zimbabwe the bread basket of Southern Africa, a position we held in the past.
This is achievable, given favourable climate conditions, the drive for maximum land utilisation, property rights and roll-over financing of agricultural activities.
A third area of comparative advantage is our excellent human capital base, a necessary ingredient to the growth process.
Our human capital development programme should move in tandem with technology, skills transfer and industry needs and this process has already started.
Lastly, our fourth area of comparative advantage is peace and stability, despite negative perception displayed by some sections of both the external and local media.
The above are necessary ingredients for drive towards a middle income status. Experience of other economies such as Kenya, South Africa and DRC have shown that economic transformation driven by a rigorous investment drive can change the economy.
Above all, as Zimbabweans we already have national values and visions to share.
Recently some of us we were surprised when one Professor Arthur Mutambara criticised the President for a national vision devoid of depth and substance.
Well, debate is good and healthy, but let us give credit where it is due. President Mnangagwa has already articulated the vision, and it is indeed a shared vision.
We should now be focusing on how we want to get there. We should now be debating what next after Zim-Asset.
Do we need a transitional plan to 2020 and thereafter what five-year or 10-year development plans? What do we need to do to realise the 2030 vision?
Come on Zimbabweans, let us put our thoughts together. Let us create an environment of peace and tranquillity. Let us move from the abyss of laissez-faire, business as usual approach.
Let us create the environment we see in our dreams and leave a legacy for generations to come. Together as one we can make it.
Zack Murerwa is MD of Stallone Consultancy and an economist. He wrote this article for The Sunday Mail. Feedback: [email protected]
