It is a great pleasure for me to be with you this morning to give you
my vision regarding the direction our economy is taking. What is clear
is that Zimbabwe belongs to all of us, its fate is in our own hands and
we all have a role to play in ensuring the success of our beautiful
nation. The key issue to consider is how we can best reshape our economic
destiny, and create a national economy which responds to the
expectations of our citizens for jobs, decent earnings, stable prices,
a bankable currency and that provides for sustained economic growth
and development.
All citizens of this country deserve, as a right, a stable economy
which can provide adequate goods and services at prices which are
affordable to consumers and viable to business.
Clear expectations
Zimbabweans have clear expectations on how their national economy
should function and be managed. As Prime Minister, I am committed to
ensuring that Zimbabwe once again assumes its position as a beacon of
economic growth, stability and production both on the continent and in
the region.
Ladies and Gentlemen, rebuilding our shattered economy is a priority
for every Zimbabwean and it must be driven by you the business
community. However, what you are able to achieve will be dependent on
the leadership role played by your government.
In this urgent and important process, we must be open and honest with
each other. The role of Government is to provide a stable environment
that facilitates the growth and development of business in line with
international standards and accepted norms that also serve to ensure
the rights and welfare of employees.
In creating such an environment, restoring the rule of law is both a
moral imperative and a business necessity. If business is the engine of
growth, then the rule of law is the fuel that drives that engine.
The rule of law is the catalyst that provides the foundation of
confidence for contractual dealings and
The Global Political Agreement, upon which this inclusive Government
is founded, calls for the promotion and adherence to the law, amongst
other essential requirements for an operational democracy.
Violations of the law
My office is committed to ensuring that these conditions are met
despite the fact that there continues to be blatant violations of the
laws of this country by some hardline elements.
We as Zimbabweans all have a role to play in ensuring that the rule of
law is applied and adhered to impartially for, as we have experienced,
if one sector suffers then we all suffer.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the uncertain political climate over the past
decade has created a negative image of the country internationally and
this has caused key international partnerships created over long
periods to be set aside or terminated to the detriment of the growth of
industry.
Only through restoring the rule of law can we remove the uncertainty of
doing business in Zimbabwe and restore investor confidence. The
restoration of the rule of law is also an essential factor in
attracting back to our country the millions of Zimbabwean economic
exiles who have the education, skills and determination that are
essential to reviving our ailing industrial sector.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the role of my Government in the national economy
remains that of creating an enabling environment for business and
labour to engage in the actual production and output of goods and
services. We are in the process of formulating and implementing
policies and regulations to enhance business confidence and wealth
creation.
Last month we launched the Short Term Economic Recovery Plan which,
coupled with the full implementation of the GPA, will provide the
framework for our economic recovery.
Sound management
Ladies and Gentlemen, today we face the challenge of demonstrating to
the rest of the world a politically mature Zimbabwe that can offer
greater opportunities for economic prosperity, political stability and
poverty alleviation. An economy that does not benefit its citizens can
neither guarantee political stability nor real harmony.
Zimbabwe is part of the global economy and as such we are seeking to
harness financial, technological and market opportunities, which grow
our economy. We have already started to build collaborative
arrangements with private investors, international co-operating
partners and financial institutions.
Coupled with this is our absolute need to commit ourselves to sound
management of the national economy. It is imperative that all partners
and stakeholders in the national economy act with a single resolution
and communicate their single determination to grow Zimbabwe's economy
and wealth.
Ladies and Gentlemen, we are all aware of the challenges facing us,
from acute balance of payments problems, brain drain, deteriorating
infrastructure, energy shortages, low capacity utilization in
manufacturing, low mineral production and continued deliberate
disruptions to the agricultural sector.
To overcome these challenges we must have a collective national resolve
to cooperate and create opportunities and partnerships which will
enable our people to benefit from the vast wealth potential which this
country possesses.
Working together as partners
Government alone cannot do it. Labour alone cannot succeed. Business
alone cannot succeed. Zimbabwe's economic stability requires access to
foreign markets, finance, technologies, skills and ideas, which are
only made possible by all the key stakeholders working together as
partners committed to our nation's development.
Ladies and Gentlemen, Zimbabwe is richly endowed with human and natural
resources to create sufficient wealth for all its citizens irrespective
of race, colour, tribe or creed.
Greed, economic opportunism and corruption have been our weakest link.
Rather than aspiring merely to be wealthy individuals, we should aspire
to be citizens of a wealthy country.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the National Economic Consultative Forum, must
advise Government as a stakeholder institution professionally and
without fear or favour. The NECF must come up with concrete advice on
policy interventions aimed at stabilizing and growing the economy and
Zimbabwe's goodwill in the international community.
As Government, our task is to ensure that the public sector delivers
quality services such as health, education, clean water, efficient
transport, communications and energy services.
Policy and institutional adjustments
The responsibility to save and protect the quality of life for all must
preoccupy us, the political leadership, irrespective of race, colour,
tribe, religion or political affiliation. It is a historic burden
borne by all those who offer to serve people. My Government has made a
serious commitment to make policy and institutional adjustments which
will drive a new development agenda that will sustain wealth generation
for our citizens.
However, any real, long lasting rebound of a successful economy has to
be accompanied by an equal if not more powerful value system. This
value system can only rest on the pillars of civil liberties, the right
of association and the right of civil society to challenge those
entrusted with governance.
In this, business must also share in the responsibility of creating the
future you want and put the long-term prosperity of the society ahead
of instant gratification of dividends and capital appreciation.
Corruption will not be tolerated and those that practise or promote
corruption will be actively sought out and prosecuted by this
government.
As the business community, you must commit to joining with us to
rebuild our society and our economy. You cannot choose the aspects of
the old way which you feel may be beneficial to you personally and
still hope to benefit from the new measures we are implementing.
Ladies and Gentlemen, let us use our combined national intellectual
capacity to create policies and practices that lead Zimbabwe to the
highest level of growth and development. All foreign direct investment
will be given the necessary courtesies and treated with professionalism
at all times but based on the rules and regulations governing such
investment. New partners will be sought and old partnerships
intensified.
Future of our children
Ladies and Gentlemen, we all know what is best for our families, our
businesses, our nation and our future. There is no logic in destroying
the future of our country and that of our children. Let us desist from
working towards the destruction of our country and our heritage.
Let us all speak with one voice and stand united regarding the Zimbabwe
that we want and deserve. A nation where business is encouraged to
flourish, the laws of the land are applied and adhered to and where a
person can find a job, feed his or her children and watch them grow and
prosper.
Ladies and Gentlemen, that Zimbabwe is possible, but it is not
guaranteed. Only by working together can that dream become a reality.
I look forward to working with you to make it so.
It now gives me great pleasure to declare the International Business Conference officially open.
I thank you.
Post published in: News