Academic Tinashe Eric Muzamhindo writes: On Tuesday evening, I followed the cabinet briefing proceedings led by Hon Mutsvangwa who happens to be the Minister of Information and publicity, I failed to get either meaning or logic, and to conclude that: is this what men and women are discussed the whole of Tuesday?

I thought it would be wise if they can put a draft or raka raka game in the cabinet, or any micky and mouse plonker so that they can spent the whole day pleasuring themselves.

I expected the following to be discussed :

1. 4.1 million people facing starvation. What are they doing about it?

2. National projects which brings Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). Case studies of other countries, for example power projects, etc.

3. Re-direction of expenditure into the mainstream of the economy. How do we boost the economy? Capital injection into critical sectors of the economy such as Agriculture, Tourism, mining etc.

4. Development partnership with potential investors and partners. They should be discussing business models which drive the market force and earn this country USD.

5. Tourism sector. We have one of the best resort areas such as Vic Falls, Kariba, how do we turn them into business models, commercialisation of those sectors to attract foreign direct investment

6. National Development Agenda in line with five year plan (2018-2023). We can never attract a single investor without any proper NDA. We need one.

7. Foreign Policy

8. Human Rights Obligations. Deal with that and update the nation

9. Policy inconsistencies

10. Research and Development Agenda must follow after proper establishment of neutral institutions which are not politically inclined to Zanu PF

11. Institutional reforms eg public sector. What have you done so far?

12. Corruption which is rampant across all the sectors of the economy.

13. Update of the 5.9 billion which went missing through the vehicle of Command Agriculture. There was no single invoice or voucher of that disbursement

I was very disappointed after following those proceedings, after I saw the Minister of Energy talking about raka raka things instead of updating the nation about :

1. New power stations and projects which attract investors.

2. Update on the Gwanda solar project. 7 million was chewed and nothing happened.

3. Reforming the energy sector

4. The latest appointment of the energy board.

5. By the way energy parastatals is a cash cow for lubricating the regime.

Chasi is now baptized into the system, he was busy campaigning on the social media before he became a full cabinet minister and most people they labelled him ” chibaba chibabest”, and some even suggested that he runs for Zanu PF ticket , 2023, now that he is baptized and he has been shown how it is done, he is now silent and he is just enjoying the gravy train.

Minister of Finance

We have become a laughing stock of the whole world. So far two countries have issued official conflicting statements over the budget statement released by Mthuli over figures . We have China and USA, and this is a bad signal that our finances are in wrong hands. Nobody knows how much this country is making and national debts and other critical issues. Even during Chinamasa period it never happened. Patrick must more professional and consistent. We were expecting the following :

1. Disclosure of the national debt.

2. Local and foreign debt and how we arrived on such figures.

3. How much aid we have received so far and how the money was used by the Government?

4. Corruption.

5. Short term recovery plan.

6. Where is the new currency which was promised?

7. The liquidity hasn’t improved and what is the problem?

8. Allegations from China and USA over aid figures. What is the signal? Could there be something wrong over the person handling state funds?

Coming to the minister of public works and National housing. I thought this ministry would be placed under local Government to cut expenditure. I laughed off when I heard the Minister talking about building flats for medical personnel around the country. Minister I expected the following :

1. Development partnership with potential partners around the globe on national projects which improve the livelihood of people. We can do well with bigger projects. We must think big and broaden our mind when we sit in those cabinet boardroom and discuss bigger projects, fellowship programs which can attract funding.

2. Identify land which can be built more housing units for civil servants who can’t afford housing schemes and identify local and foreign partnership schemes, this is what Zambia is doing and this is how it is done Mr Minister.

Honestly how can a minister sit comfortably in that boardroom to tell us about building two blocks of flats? So what is the difference between this minister and a primary school headmaster chairing an sdc committee on building one school block?

We need serious business in that boardroom !!!

Agriculture

We need to identify potential investors who can partner with us in the agro-based sector, we have so much potential in the sector, we can manufacture products, using a proper business model concept of a win -win solution and then this will creat employment for our local graduates and increase Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), and increase exports to deal with our balance of payments. We must identify key commercial farms that can be set aside for commercial agriculture and we must restore the glory of bread basket economy within the region.

Not to spent the whole day talking about Mugabe’s farms which he grabbed during the land reform program? The whole day bhakhiti??..

Mining

We need a proper mining investment policy. The current one is outdated and it must be reviewed. We have those boys with mabemba, killing people in Kwekwe, Kadoma, Chegutu, and I guess you know the commander of that project. There must be proper laws to deal with that. We have so much potential to turn around the economy. We need to come up with business models that can leave Zimbabwe richer with more capital injection etc

In a Nutshell

To be honest I’m so disappointed with what is happening in our country. What is being discussed in the cabinet board room every Tuesday? Unless you tell me there will be questions like how many farms do you have? Do you need another additional one? Did you manage to get inputs? What about latest V8 vehicles, was it a good model? What about you did you manage to get fuel coupons? What about stands and lithium project did you manage to squeaze yourself in? What are those Chinese and Russians saying?

So what is the discussion around the development of this country?

When are we going to develop Zimbabwe?

Anything meaningful remaining for this generation and the future?

Hameno !

Tinashe Eric Muzamhindo – D. Phil Cand

Muzamhindo is a Policy Advisor and leading Consultant in Project Management and he can be contacted at [email protected]