The Sunday Mail
ZIMBABWE marks 41 years of independence from colonial subjugation today against the backdrop of a vastly improved socio-economic environment, civil liberties, peace, stability and an economy on the brink of turning the corner.
All over the country, Zimbabweans will be converging to commemorate a special Independence Day despite the ever looming spectre of a Covid-19 pandemic which has largely been brought under control.
With gatherings curtailed, most will follow proceedings on national broadcaster, ZBC, through its various platforms such as TV, radio and online but this will not take the gloss off the pageantry of the occasion neither will it diminish the importance of the celebrations.
Zim @41 marks an important milestone in the history of Zimbabwe and for the majority black population, this is especially profound given the country’s ugly past of racial injustice and discrimination.
Giant strides made under the First and Second Republics in improving the lot of the black people of this country are immense notwithstanding impediments which threatened to derail the gains of independence.
The Land Reform Programme is the most important achievement of majority rule given the fact that the liberation struggle was waged mainly to recover land stolen by white settler colonialists. Its successful execution and conclusion, which has spawned a generation of economically empowered black people, is a shining example that political independence can be enhanced with economic independence with minimum disruption to the economy.
While Western nations led by former colonial master Britain, its main ally, the United States and other Anglophone nations such as Australia, New Zealand and Canada, sought to reverse the land reform programme through sanctions at the turn of the millennium, their machinations have come to grief as evidenced by the astonishing recovery of the Zimbabwean economy under the Second Republic after years of stagnation.
Slowly but surely, a new breed of commercial farmers is emerging from the ashes of white former commercial farmers whose allegiance was to Rhodesia under whose protection they thrived on the back of exploitation of black workers.
Across the length and breadth of Zimbabwe, young black Zimbabweans are taking to farming in numbers, debunking the myth that farming is not fashionable or is for older people. Under the Second Republic, Government support for agriculture has increased with inputs, machinery and other forms of support readily available. The mechanisation of agriculture will ensure improved yields and this year, a bountiful harvest is expected from the main cash crops such as tobacco, cotton, soya beans, maize, wheat and barley. The upturn in agriculture — the backbone of the economy — will have a trickle down effect on the wider economy and we can expect industry to ramp up production as raw materials are readily available particularly for the food sector. Already, the effects of an improved economy are being seen in supermarkets where local products are fast replacing imports at a very fast rate. This means industry is saving on scarce foreign currency while producing enough to satisfy local demand with the surplus reserved for export to earn the much needed forex. Other sectors of the economy such as mining are also thriving with small scale gold miners doing a marvellous job of producing for the nation. Their output now rivals major gold miners and with continued Government support, they will soon surpass the tonnage from established mines. Through its Zimbabwe is Open for Business mantra, the Second Republic has also attracted major investments into the mining sector with global giants and other conglomerates investing in platinum, coal, gold, diamond and other minerals. This bodes well for a growing economy which needs raw materials especially for key infrastructure projects.
The expansion and modernisation of key power projects such as Hwange thermal power station refurbishment and Kariba hydroelectric project testify to the Government’s commitment to ensuring that industry and other sectors of the economy are not hamstrung by power outages.
Government is also refurbishing major roads, rail, airports, borders and other key infrastructure in an unprecedented way since independence.
It has built dams in most provinces and this year might witness the completion of the Gwayi-Shangani dam, a project that has been on the cards for years.
In the financial sector, Treasury has tamed runaway inflation, pulverised the parallel market trade in foreign currency and brought a refreshing normalcy to the economy.
By introducing a weekly foreign currency auction, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) has stabilised the markets with the Zimbabwe dollar having found its range against the US dollar.
Industry, importers and exporters no longer prowl the streets for forex but are trading on a formal platform, allowing them peace of mind and security.
This allows for long term planning. On Covid-19, Zimbabwe is among the best African countries in terms of containing the pandemic. Despite limited resources, the country has managed to acquire vaccines for its population and has rolled out a vaccination programme to rival any in the world.
As a result, the death rate is low and new infections have been suppressed. In essence, Zimbabwe is among countries in the world that are poised for a massive economic take-off once the pandemic is tamed worldwide.
A stable peaceful environment, modern infrastructure, favourable investment climate in terms of laws and regulations, a young growing and hardworking population, fertile soils, good climate, abundance of natural resources and a Government that has demonstrated a willingness to reintegrate the country into the community of nations through its robust re-engagement policy and economic diplomacy.
So as Zimbabwe celebrates its 41st independence anniversary, we wish to applaud the Government of President Mnangagwa for staying true to the ideals of the liberation struggle and independence by solidly safeguarding the sovereignty of the country against its enemies and empowering its citizens.
The Second Republic has not only protected the gains of uhuru but has gone further to accelerate the process of economic independence by empowering Zimbabweans in various sectors of the economy.
With land now in the hands of the majority, the aim is to ensure that it is put to productive use to feed the nation.
President Mnangagwa’s administration has prioritised servant leadership and this is the bedrock for any democratic Government. We thus urge Zimbabweans to rally behind the Second Republic as it forges ahead with its programmes might witness the completion of the Gwayi-Shangani dam, a project that has been on the cards for years.
In the financial sector, Treasury has tamed runaway inflation, pulverised the parallel market trade in foreign currency and brought a refreshing normalcy to the economy.
By introducing a weekly foreign currency auction, the RBZ has stabilised the markets with the Zimbabwe dollar having found its range against the US dollar.
Industry, importers and exporters no longer prowl the streets for forex but are trading on a formal platform, allowing them peace of mind and security never seen before. This allows for long term planning.
On Covid-19, Zimbabwe is among the best African countries in terms of containing the pandemic. Despite limited resources, the country has managed to acquire vaccines for its population and has rolled out a vaccination programme to rival any in the world.
As a result, the death rate is low and new infections have been suppressed. In essence, Zimbabwe is among countries in the world that are poised for a massive economic take-off once the pandemic is tamed worldwide. The fundamentals are there.
A stable peaceful environment, modern infrastructure, favourable investment climate in terms of laws and regulations, a young growing and hardworking population, fertile soils, good climate, abundance of natural resources and a Government that has demonstrated a willingness to reintegrate the country into the community of nations through its robust re-engagement policy and economic diplomacy.
So as Zimbabwe celebrates its 41st independence anniversary, we wish to applaud the Government of President Mnangagwa for staying true to the ideals of the liberation struggle and independence by solidly safeguarding the sovereignty of the country against its enemies and empowering its citizens.
The Second Republic has not only protected the gains of uhuru but has gone further to accelerate the process of economic independence by empowering Zimbabweans in various sectors of the economy.
With land now in the hands of the majority, the aim is to ensure that it is put to productive use to feed the nation.
President Mnangagwa’s administration has prioritised servant leadership and this is the bedrock for any democratic Government.
We thus urge Zimbabweans to rally behind the Second Republic as it forges ahead with its programmes.
Zim @ 41, it is Uhuru
The Sunday Mail
ZIMBABWE marks 41 years of independence from colonial subjugation today against the backdrop of a vastly improved socio-economic environment, civil liberties, peace, stability and an economy on the brink of turning the corner.
All over the country, Zimbabweans will be converging to commemorate a special Independence Day despite the ever looming spectre of a Covid-19 pandemic which has largely been brought under control.
With gatherings curtailed, most will follow proceedings on national broadcaster, ZBC, through its various platforms such as TV, radio and online but this will not take the gloss off the pageantry of the occasion neither will it diminish the importance of the celebrations.
Zim @41 marks an important milestone in the history of Zimbabwe and for the majority black population, this is especially profound given the country’s ugly past of racial injustice and discrimination.
Giant strides made under the First and Second Republics in improving the lot of the black people of this country are immense notwithstanding impediments which threatened to derail the gains of independence.
The Land Reform Programme is the most important achievement of majority rule given the fact that the liberation struggle was waged mainly to recover land stolen by white settler colonialists. Its successful execution and conclusion, which has spawned a generation of economically empowered black people, is a shining example that political independence can be enhanced with economic independence with minimum disruption to the economy.
While Western nations led by former colonial master Britain, its main ally, the United States and other Anglophone nations such as Australia, New Zealand and Canada, sought to reverse the land reform programme through sanctions at the turn of the millennium, their machinations have come to grief as evidenced by the astonishing recovery of the Zimbabwean economy under the Second Republic after years of stagnation.
Slowly but surely, a new breed of commercial farmers is emerging from the ashes of white former commercial farmers whose allegiance was to Rhodesia under whose protection they thrived on the back of exploitation of black workers.
Across the length and breadth of Zimbabwe, young black Zimbabweans are taking to farming in numbers, debunking the myth that farming is not fashionable or is for older people. Under the Second Republic, Government support for agriculture has increased with inputs, machinery and other forms of support readily available. The mechanisation of agriculture will ensure improved yields and this year, a bountiful harvest is expected from the main cash crops such as tobacco, cotton, soya beans, maize, wheat and barley. The upturn in agriculture — the backbone of the economy — will have a trickle down effect on the wider economy and we can expect industry to ramp up production as raw materials are readily available particularly for the food sector. Already, the effects of an improved economy are being seen in supermarkets where local products are fast replacing imports at a very fast rate. This means industry is saving on scarce foreign currency while producing enough to satisfy local demand with the surplus reserved for export to earn the much needed forex. Other sectors of the economy such as mining are also thriving with small scale gold miners doing a marvellous job of producing for the nation. Their output now rivals major gold miners and with continued Government support, they will soon surpass the tonnage from established mines. Through its Zimbabwe is Open for Business mantra, the Second Republic has also attracted major investments into the mining sector with global giants and other conglomerates investing in platinum, coal, gold, diamond and other minerals. This bodes well for a growing economy which needs raw materials especially for key infrastructure projects.
The expansion and modernisation of key power projects such as Hwange thermal power station refurbishment and Kariba hydroelectric project testify to the Government’s commitment to ensuring that industry and other sectors of the economy are not hamstrung by power outages.
Government is also refurbishing major roads, rail, airports, borders and other key infrastructure in an unprecedented way since independence.
It has built dams in most provinces and this year might witness the completion of the Gwayi-Shangani dam, a project that has been on the cards for years.
In the financial sector, Treasury has tamed runaway inflation, pulverised the parallel market trade in foreign currency and brought a refreshing normalcy to the economy.
By introducing a weekly foreign currency auction, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) has stabilised the markets with the Zimbabwe dollar having found its range against the US dollar.
Industry, importers and exporters no longer prowl the streets for forex but are trading on a formal platform, allowing them peace of mind and security.
This allows for long term planning. On Covid-19, Zimbabwe is among the best African countries in terms of containing the pandemic. Despite limited resources, the country has managed to acquire vaccines for its population and has rolled out a vaccination programme to rival any in the world.
As a result, the death rate is low and new infections have been suppressed. In essence, Zimbabwe is among countries in the world that are poised for a massive economic take-off once the pandemic is tamed worldwide.
A stable peaceful environment, modern infrastructure, favourable investment climate in terms of laws and regulations, a young growing and hardworking population, fertile soils, good climate, abundance of natural resources and a Government that has demonstrated a willingness to reintegrate the country into the community of nations through its robust re-engagement policy and economic diplomacy.
So as Zimbabwe celebrates its 41st independence anniversary, we wish to applaud the Government of President Mnangagwa for staying true to the ideals of the liberation struggle and independence by solidly safeguarding the sovereignty of the country against its enemies and empowering its citizens.
The Second Republic has not only protected the gains of uhuru but has gone further to accelerate the process of economic independence by empowering Zimbabweans in various sectors of the economy.
With land now in the hands of the majority, the aim is to ensure that it is put to productive use to feed the nation.
President Mnangagwa’s administration has prioritised servant leadership and this is the bedrock for any democratic Government. We thus urge Zimbabweans to rally behind the Second Republic as it forges ahead with its programmes might witness the completion of the Gwayi-Shangani dam, a project that has been on the cards for years.
In the financial sector, Treasury has tamed runaway inflation, pulverised the parallel market trade in foreign currency and brought a refreshing normalcy to the economy.
By introducing a weekly foreign currency auction, the RBZ has stabilised the markets with the Zimbabwe dollar having found its range against the US dollar.
Industry, importers and exporters no longer prowl the streets for forex but are trading on a formal platform, allowing them peace of mind and security never seen before. This allows for long term planning.
On Covid-19, Zimbabwe is among the best African countries in terms of containing the pandemic. Despite limited resources, the country has managed to acquire vaccines for its population and has rolled out a vaccination programme to rival any in the world.
As a result, the death rate is low and new infections have been suppressed. In essence, Zimbabwe is among countries in the world that are poised for a massive economic take-off once the pandemic is tamed worldwide. The fundamentals are there.
A stable peaceful environment, modern infrastructure, favourable investment climate in terms of laws and regulations, a young growing and hardworking population, fertile soils, good climate, abundance of natural resources and a Government that has demonstrated a willingness to reintegrate the country into the community of nations through its robust re-engagement policy and economic diplomacy.
So as Zimbabwe celebrates its 41st independence anniversary, we wish to applaud the Government of President Mnangagwa for staying true to the ideals of the liberation struggle and independence by solidly safeguarding the sovereignty of the country against its enemies and empowering its citizens.
The Second Republic has not only protected the gains of uhuru but has gone further to accelerate the process of economic independence by empowering Zimbabweans in various sectors of the economy.
With land now in the hands of the majority, the aim is to ensure that it is put to productive use to feed the nation.
President Mnangagwa’s administration has prioritised servant leadership and this is the bedrock for any democratic Government.
We thus urge Zimbabweans to rally behind the Second Republic as it forges ahead with its programmes.
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