Mako Jerera
In the next 12 days, Zimbabwe will be celebrating its 41st independence.
As is tradition, the country celebrates self-determination and freedom through festivities around the country.
The liberation war gifted the country with iconic nationalist figures like President Emmerson Mnangagwa, uMdala Wethu Joshua Nkomo and the former President Robert Mugabe among others.
If we trace our history back, the likes of Mbuya Nehanda Nyakasikana and Sekuru Kaguvi need to be remembered with the prominence they deserve.
There has been consistent resistance towards the imperial overtures of the West from the onset.
When Zimbabwe redistributed its land under land reform, the former colonisers found a way to vent their frustrations against the land, pretending to care about the so-called property rights.
They laid illegal economic sanctions and they had an effect that it created a projection of gloom and eventually a need for a decisive leader emerged.
Someone who was not going to verbalise against them but formulate working strategies to respond to the injury which had been inflicted on the Zimbabwean economy for years.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has lived up to the expectation which met him as he assumed office.
There was need for someone who understands modern governance, but at the same time guarding jealously the jewel that is Zimbabwe.
President Mnangagwa was exactly what the doctor ordered for the great country called Zimbabwe.
Under his able leadership, Zimbabwe has made considerable strides.
President Mnangagwa used microblogging site Twitter to communicate some of the progress made so far.
“Two years ago today, I was inaugurated as your President. I vowed to serve Zimbabwe and its people so that we could move towards a more prosperous future. Here’s what we have achieved in this time.
-The $4.2 billion USD Great Dyke Platinum Mine is already under construction.
-Reintroduced the Zimbabwe Dollar, after 10 years of dollarization and relying on foreign currency.
-The $4 billion USD Karo Resources Mhondoro-Ngezi platinum project is ahead of schedule.
-Completed the Chiredzi-Tanganda Road, with the Makuti-Chirundu and Karoi-Binga roads currently under construction.
-Implemented a new school curriculum, so that every student is accommodated for.
-Compensation for former farm owners by 3.5 billion, ending years of disputes.
-Ranked third in Africa on budget transparency by the Open Budget Survey.
-1.8 million farmers trained for Pfumvudza.
-Subsidized agricultural inputs for vulnerable households.
-Robert Gabriel Mugabe Airport expansion is currently under construction
-$18 billion ZWL stimulus package, to help regenerate our economy post-COVID19.
-Dam projects in Causeway, Gwayi-Shangani and Marovanyati currently under construction,” President Mnangagwa said.
President Mnangagwa said the country is not without challenge but with the unity of purpose people can achieve more.
Despite our political independence the west tries to impugn in the economic emancipation by sanctioning us because of our land reform.
Zimbabwe has survived despite the seclusion from access to lateral funding and that we are now marching towards the Promised Land and then running down successful programs that have been part of 2020 and 2021.
The President`s clarion call has received energetic takers, Zimbabweans have begun working hard despite the Western made challenges that have confronted the country.
Without access to bank based financing, young people are performing miracles on land. For instance, Dr John Basera as the new Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement, Tawanda Runganga, Terry Map, to mention a few have put the country on the map.
Youths in Zimbabwe have engaged in vibrant income generating projects and forming clubs such as the Young farmers club. This intervention will aim to have the Young Farmers reintroduced thereby creating a means of livelihoods for the youths. The aim is for these young farmers to create means of sustenance for themselves which if properly managed will guarantee these youths income well into their future.
Also, Zimbabwe’s manufacturing sector capacity utilisation grew 10,6 percent to 47 percent in 2020 as local companies remained resilient to shocks induced by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Zimbabwe will rise again, against odds.
President Mnangagwa has begun working towards the realisation of an Upper Middle Income Economy by 2030, the preliminary work is there for everyone to see.
The sleeping giant is on course, a resurgence is imminent, it is a question of when, not if.
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