Zim Diasporans in UAE eager to invest back home
President Mnangagwa yesterday engaged Zimbabweans based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) where he emphasised the need for all citizens to play a part in the socio-economic development of their country despite their geographic location.
The engagement was part of the President’s deliberate policy of re-engaging Zimbabweans in the Diaspora under the Zimbabwe Diaspora Engagement forum that he started at the advent of the Second Republic.
Under the policy, President Mnangagwa meets Zimbabweans in the Diaspora on the sidelines of his international engagements wherever he goes.
Since then, the Diaspora engagement has become a key pillar that has been outlined under the National Development Strategy towards the national vision of achieving a prosperous and empowered upper middle income economy by 2030.
During his highly interactive engagement that was oversubscribed yesterday, the President said the national Constitution demands the involvement of all citizens in the formulation and implementation of national development plans and programmes that affect them.
President Mnangagwa had a busy evening yesterday meeting several business delegations in Dubai.
One of the delegations he met was from Invictus Energy Limited, the Australian firm prospecting for oil and gas in Muzarabani.
Proper citizens, added the President, will be remembered for their contribution to their
country and not for unfairly criticising it.
“You are as much a part of us as much as we will forever be a part of you,” said President
Mnangagwa.
“Each and every Zimbabwean therefore, whether living abroad or at home, has something to offer to achieve sustainable socio-economic development and growth of a higher quality of life for our people.
“This gathering therefore, is indeed an example that as a Diaspora community, you are available to play your part in building the Zimbabwe we all want. As such, I encourage you to strengthen your groups and associations within your various localities for a more coordinated approach to participating in the socio-economic development programmes and projects back home.”
Some of the projects that the Diaspora can consider are in line with the devolution agenda
that seeks to drive development from the grassroots, with the aim of achieving an upper
middle income society.
During the highly interactive session in which the President occasionally plunged
participants into fits of laughter with his jokes to break the seriousness that characterised
the start of the function, he thanked the Diaspora community for contributing to economic
development through remittances to their families, but advised them to consider
channelling some funds to the productive sectors.
Guests at the Zimbabwe Diaspora Forum at St Regis Hotel in Dubai, United Arab Emirates yesterday.
He said due to Zimbabwe’s isolation through sanctions imposed by the West principally
the United States 21 years ago, the leadership had psyched up citizens to participate in
national development through the mantra “nyika inovakwa nevene vayo”. The President
said he had added “Tisu vene vayo” to the ongoing call to action encapsulated in the
mantra.
The sanctions have caused untold suffering among citizens despite claims by the West that
they were targeted at selected national leaders.
President Mnangagwa explained that when a lion is hunting, it attacks the most important
part of its prey to fasttrack its death, which is what has been achieved by the sanctions.
Zesa lost over 400 engineers as the economy was affected, with some of them getting jobs,
ironically, in the US.
But the President said Zimbabwe had initiated a programme to lure the engineers back
home to help revive their country, and some had already returned.
With the return of the crucial skills, Zimbabwe expects to be energy self-sufficient in the
next two years.
Presently, a number of key projects to expand electricity generation are underway, with
the marquee project being the US$1,5 billion expansion of Hwange Power Station’s Units 7
and 8, which will feed an additional 600MW into the national grid at completion in the
next few months.
President Mnangagwa called on the Diaspora to bring back home the skills they have
acquired from their time operating in other countries.
During the question and answer session, most of the contributors sought to find out how
they can get land for farming and construction of schools and hospitals.
Dr Alan Nhapi, a medical doctor who has been operating in Australia for about two
decades, passionately appealed for land to construct a state-of-the-art hospital that
treats chronic diseases, either in Victoria Falls or near the Robert Gabriel Mugabe
International Airport.
In response, President Mnangagwa said: “It is not easy to promise a Head of State and not
deliver. I take the challenge. If you want land, come and we will give you State land in
Victoria Falls and even in Harare.”
The President tasked Health and Child Care Deputy Minister Dr John Mangwiro to work
with Dr Nhapi to ensure he gets the land for the construction of the hospital, much to the
appreciation of participants.
Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Development Minister Dr Anxious Masuka
said processes were underway to ensure multiple farm ownerships were eliminated while
those that cannot produce or are under-producing, get the licence of land that they
deserve.
However, he said some members of the Diaspora could start farming projects through joint
ventures.
A number of ministers including Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa, Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Minister Professor Amon Murwira, Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube, Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona, Industry and Commerce Minister Dr Sekai Nzenza, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Ambassador Frederick Shava, Youth, Sport, Arts and
Recreation Minister Dr Kirsty Coventry, Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister
Kazembe Kazembe, attended the engagement with the Diaspora.-The Herald
