Phillip Mukarati
GWERU: The past three decades have seen Zimbabwe facing some seemingly insurmountable odds.
The socio-political environment has undoubtedly been one that needed innovative thinking and careful navigation by both local and government.
Businesses have been struggling in the face of debilitating economy and the country’s ostracisation.
It is a painful reality which confronts every socially and politically awake and conscious Zimbabwean that we, as a country, have, by and large, been set back by rampant corruption also added to poor international relations that have seen us victimised for seeking redress for historical economic and socio-political imbalances which had ensured the rightful heir to Zimbabwe’s wealth was excluded.
The corruption and subsequent redress of this injustice has consequently seen Zimbabwe being driven to the brink of economic collapse which has necessitated innovative and outside of the box political and economic engineering.
One indicator has been the launch and strategies collapses of our local currency in different forms.
The very nature of business and money markets dictates that transactors gravitate towards a strong currency and store of value.
As a result, the way Zimbabwe has informalised in terms of economic activity has given rise to an alternative monetary system which has been subversive to various efforts at redefining business in the economy.
Despite all these negatives we have witnessed innovations in terms of encouraging urban and rural development as well as youth empowerment.
In Chirumanzu for example, there has been significant progress in terms of rural electrification as evidenced by the stretching of the electricity lines into formerly dark places such as Mazvimba Primary School and business.
The construction of Nyautonge Secondary School which ensured students no longer have to wake up at 3 a.m to start the 10 km journey to Mukomberanwa High School or other far away schools from Gonamombe, Bhoroma and Nyautonge.
There has been a significant thrust towards the provision of health care within a 5 km radius with the completion of Hwata Clinic and the proposed clinic at Mazvimba in the pipeline.
Agriculture has been given a massive boost with the recommissioning of Holy Cross dam and irrigation scheme which also simultaneously empowers the rural community and the youth.
A sunflower oil press is set to be functioning soon at Charandura in Chirumanzu providing both employment and complimentary input alignment. Farmers in the environs and beyond have a unique opportunity to maximise on this factory. Soap production is also another offshoot that can come from the sludge.
The developments however can never overshadow dilapidating infrastructure that need urgent attention.
These negatives include road networks that disturb smooth flow of business, water plants that need serious upgrade to ensure availability of the precious liquid at all times to citizens and inefficiency in public offices that has created a loophole for officials to engage in corrupt actions.
At 45 Zimbabwe has been forced into a polarisation which government tries to debunk by deliberate policying towards national cohesion and patriotism.
As citizens, it then becomes incumbent upon us to do as much as is humanly possible for Zimbabwe.
Posterity will judge us harshly should we slacked in our efforts at fostering a culture of national pride; facilitating and creating an environment that fosters and sustains development.
At 45, Zimbabwe is a grown up.
It is every citizen’s responsibility to pull in the direction of local and national development in all facets of life.
Happy Independence Day Zimbabwe. Viva Zimbabwe!
