HARARE In a surprise move, Zimbabwe has dumped its much publicised Vision 2020 project which is now gathering dust "somewhere", Deputy Prime Minister, Arthur Mutambara “Vision 2020 is nowhere to be found and is probably gathering dust somewhere in someone’s office,” Mutambara said.
“We are now running with Vision 2040 which, we hope to implement as we go along. We need to come up with long-term visions which drive the country forward and not backwards.”
He said Vision 2040 would be implemented as soon as the “logistics are put in place” by the Government of National Unity of which he is a part. Mutambara is head of the Vision 2040 project which was crafted by the GNU, virtually dumping the “old but not used” Vision 2020.
He confirmed what everyone except Zanu (PF) has been saying all along, that international investors are shunning Zimbabwe because it has “conflicting investment regulations”. “We are not serious when it comes to investment,” he told NGO bosses gathered in Harare to discuss the Vision 2040. Mutambara also launched the “Buy Zimbabwe Campaign” headed by Sunday Mail Assistant Editor, Munyaradzi Huni.
The campaign paints the country as a lucrative investment destination – at a time when the Mugabe elements in government are threatening to nationalise mines and other major investments by western companies. “We are chasing away potential investment because our regulations are changed regularly and sometimes we do not stick to them,” Mutambara said. “Many times we are not very serious about what we do. International investors do not want to put their money where they are not sure about profit.”
He admitted investors are worried about the new Indigenisation Act and thought the GNU would grab their businesses, as happened with the land grab launched in 2000 by Mugabe and the late war veteran boss, Chenjerai Hunzvi. This effectively destroyed respect property rights, and saw lucrative commercial farms being grabbed from about 4 000 mainly white farmers.
The once prosperous agriculture sector has nose-dived by more than 80 percent as a result.
Mutambara said the Vision 2040 project would result in the country regaining its position as the bread basked of southern Africa as happened during the 1980s when it fed SADC. Zimbabwe has had several visions – all of which were dumped before implementation.
Post published in: Manufacturing