Nelson Chamisa
Some people have questioned Nelson Chamisa’s wisdom is saying his Government would introduce a bullet train in the first five years of getting into power. It is possible to get the bullet train running in less that 5 years of the MDC getting into power.
The fundamental question that people should have asked should have been whether the country needs a bullet train or not. I think we do. If one has been introduced in Morocco, a fellow African country, what is bad about introducing it in Zimbabwe.
In my opinion, a bullet train would be good for the country to improve the transport system. Faster travel is only possible through the plane, and many Zimbabweans may not afford the cost of flying on an plane for urgent business. I am assuming here that the bullet train will be slightly cheaper that the plan, enabling people who cannot afford to fly to use the train. I am sure the bullet train service between Bulawayo and Victoria Falls will make it easier for tourists, both local and international, to access one of the seven wonders of the world, and that will boost the country’s tourism industry, bringing in revenue in the process.
I am also sure that even those who think it is impossible to introduce the bullet train in the time frame given by Chamisa still see the benefit of introducing such a services. In my opinion, this is where Zimbabwe can invite investors to invest in infrastructure. Government does not have to wait until it saves enough money to be in a position to introduce the bullet train, but can invite the companies that produce bullet trains to invest in the country if it is viable. The trains will not offer a free ride to passengers, so investors only need to see how viable the business is to invest, and once they see the business being able to generate profit, they can invest willingly. We have the Diaspora Investment Consortium, for example, who are willing to invest in viable projects, or to court foreign companies willing to invest in Zimbabwe to do joint ventures. Government itself can also open to interested investors to invest in bullet trains.
I would like to encourage Chamisa not to be deterred by detractors and continue to spell out his vision, just like all others parties and candidates are free to spell out their visions. Locomotives for sure have no place in the future, and those who want to make quick gains to be seen to bringing in development have surely been left with egg on their face.
Go Chamisa Go. Know that there are many of us out there who are keen to explore the feasibility of those things that you are spelling out in your vision so that they are implemented for the development of the country.
Post published in: Featured
“If one has been introduced in Morocco, a fellow African country, what is bad about introducing it in Zimbabwe.”
“I am assuming here that the bullet train will be slightly cheaper that the plan, enabling people who cannot afford to fly to use the train.”
The presumption that if morrocco has a bullet train, so too should Zimbabwe is ludicrous. Morocco has had a stable economy for so long and has the economy to sustain it. in Zimbabwe you are depending on promises and assumptions at every level given the state of the economy and levels of unemployment. This to reminds me of a decade ago when mugabes salary was being negotiated and to come to a figure the salary of president nelson madela was used to show why mugabes was too low! mandela’s economy was strong and mugabes – a fraction of that was imploding, yet mugabe needed to be on par with mandela?
Second – since you are assuming – lets just call it a pipe dream. Companies willing to invest on such projects would need to see figures that justify their investments. Does current Zimbabwe have the passenger numbers to justify a bullet train – – an investment even first world countries like the UK with all their billions would rather cautiously approach?
Chamisa needs to stop making wild promises and instead sit down with subject matter specialists to work out how best to develop Zimbabwe. Before Zimbabwe indulgies in potential white elephants (a notorious mugabe weakness) it needs to concentrate on the basics such as the power supply – which is on the brink, water, road and other basic infrastucture. Buliding those alone will encourage tourism, more investment and buttress the economy for who ever is in power to start dreaming.
Water to curtail cholera outbreaks, Electricity, a Road from Victoria Falls to Harare (not through Bulawayo), jobs, jobs, jobs, JOBS, food, food, shelter
What an idiotic article. Tourists do not access Victoria Falls via Bulawayo. The vast majority fly in from foreign countries.
Absolutely no comment has been paid to the cost of development and balancing it against passenger. Trains such as this in Japan transport thousands of passengers every day – far more than could ever be the case in Zimbabwe.
Sadly this article amply denmostrates Chamisa’s grasp of economic fundamentals. It illustrates why I hope fervently that he does not win an election. Should he do so we are in for big trouble.
The Article is on point! There is no good vision at all there!..Article is even advising Chamisa know that there are many aspiring Leaders in Zimbabwe with visions!.. Take an example of Admire Phiri whose mobile money transfer service idea is now a globally helpful idea. This young man was also wise enough to come out with an innovative strategy of resisting corruption through adoptation of u.s currency. These things work and considering that Admire Phiri is working against selfish people, we can just say kudos kudos kudos