September 11, not the infamous and painful one of 2001 but 2008, will remain a permanent imprint on the minds of not only the resilient Zimbabweans but all peace-loving Africans and the world at large.
The eventual political settlement between MDC and Zanu (PF) heralds a new era of optimism and prosperity in the country. The apparent stalling of the power-sharing negotiations was but a pseudo-hurdle to the dawn of a rejuvenated African giant.
With its ample and superior natural resources, Zimbabwe’s flourishing economy has been hindered only by political wrangling for almost two decades.
The country is blessed with some of the best farming land, and abundant deposits of assorted foreign currency-earning minerals. Notwithstanding these natural gifts, Zimbabwe’s outstanding human resource bank and the rich social capital, unparalleled in the region, if not the world, provide the most efficient engine for the economic development vehicle.
Once revered as the bread-basket of Africa, for its outstanding ability to produce food crops in excess, not mentioning the world’s major cash crops such as tobacco and cotton, Zimbabwe has deteriorated into a country of chronic food shortages and a perennial importer of basic food stuffs, and is a needy recipient of donor aid.
The ailing agricultural sector, battered by the malevolent, recurrent droughts, a phenomenon of the ever-evolving global weather pattern, and the ill-planned and administered land reform, have rendered the population sheer beggars, who seemingly can barely fill their own tummies.
Catapult the economy
But with judicious planning and benevolent intervention, Zimbabwe’s agricultural sector presents a strong backbone to remedying this depressed economy. A resuscitated farming sector will undoubtedly catapult the economy to a vantage step on the ladder of development. It is therefore imperative that the incoming collective leadership prioritise revamping the most important organ of the economy (agriculture) in their bid to effect positive growth.
Land reform is, of course, an undisputed process crucial for the rectification of the inequitable, skewed land ownership situation (a legacy of the ruthless, selfish and greedy colonial masters) and requires scrutinisation.
It is widely believed that the process employed in the speedily implemented land reform in Zimbabwe has had more negative than positive repercussions on productivity. The politically motivated haste with which the reform projects were administered meant prolonged incubation devoid of results.
Without clear objectives, adequate resources and time devoted to an organised reform programme, agriculture became an undeserving victim of political debauchery. Ill-equipped and subsistence-oriented peasants were dumped on productive soils, which they could barely utilise, let alone eke out a decent living. While, the few politically networked individuals have had excessive support rendered to their ventures, though unscrupulously.
Compounded by the ever-deteriorating political instability, new farmers have been rendered sheer land occupiers with very little ability to produce any substantial crop and animal yields. In fact, most of these farmers have unfortunately become worse-off subsequent to resettlement. They have become helplessly vulnerable to abject poverty and food insecurity.
Support for resettled farmers
Urgent reorganisation and holistic support are imperative in order to stimulate farming in Zimbabwe. Resettled farmers require relevant and adequate support lest their enterprises fail to realise sizeable returns or break-even.
Without high returns, any agricultural enterprise is overwhelmed by the costs of production, rendering it unviable and unsustainable. This has been the latent feature of most, if not all, of the new farmers in Zimbabwe.
Sustainable resettlement and farming require committed political, social and financial exertion on the part of the reigning government. In spite of the so-called betrayal by the colonial master, Britain (who declined, in principle, to fund the chaotic and non-transparent land reform process), Zimbabwean leaders should live up to the ideals of a developmental state and steer the nation on the right trajectory.
In infancy, farmers’ businesses need to be nurtured through generous government support, since credit providers usually shun the risk of poor loan repayments. Timely and accurate dissemination of relevant farming knowledge, capital injections and product disposal support are essential.
Rejuvenation of the Zimbabwean economy hinges on a vibrant agricultural sector and its reorganisation and support are vital.
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