News / National
Mugabe's govt must invest in research and development
06 Oct 2013 at 08:40hrs | Views
PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe's new cabinet must make a paradigm shift in order to reverse the slowdown of the economy and deliver essential services to the people.
Political scientist, Shakespeare Hamauswa said cabinet must be practical, with every member hitting the ground running in order to increase the fortunes of the economy.
He said many companies have now closed shop, with the country now importing products such as shoe polish and match sticks after their manufacturers relocated to South Africa.
"There is need to go on the ground to find out what is happening. This can only be done if there is investment in research and development," said Hamauswa.
"Without research, the government cannot come up with a viable policy with corrective measures."
Hamauswa said the government must also swallow its pride and re-engage with western countries which imposed sanctions, in order to attract more serious investors.
Some analysts said the Zanu-PF government must swallow its pride and climb down on hardliner and populist policies, which do not augur well for the economic development of the country.
Director of the Labour and Economic Development Research Institute of Zimbabwe (Ledriz), Godfrey Kanyenze said the government should stop mourning over the sanctions and instead put reforms at the centre of its agenda.
He said people were now virtually depressed because of the economic outlook, yet a liberation party [Zanu-PF] won elections resoundingly on July 31 on the back of promises to deliver.
"The would-be dragon slayer appears to be falling on his sword. You are saying the enemy is holding us but let's do away with excuses and take 100% responsibility for our destiny," Kanyenze said.
"We cannot outsource development and make all sorts of excuses for our own failures. None but ourselves will take us forward."
He said reforms should focus on minerals, governance and the way the country does its business.
Political scientist, Shakespeare Hamauswa said cabinet must be practical, with every member hitting the ground running in order to increase the fortunes of the economy.
He said many companies have now closed shop, with the country now importing products such as shoe polish and match sticks after their manufacturers relocated to South Africa.
"There is need to go on the ground to find out what is happening. This can only be done if there is investment in research and development," said Hamauswa.
"Without research, the government cannot come up with a viable policy with corrective measures."
Hamauswa said the government must also swallow its pride and re-engage with western countries which imposed sanctions, in order to attract more serious investors.
Some analysts said the Zanu-PF government must swallow its pride and climb down on hardliner and populist policies, which do not augur well for the economic development of the country.
Director of the Labour and Economic Development Research Institute of Zimbabwe (Ledriz), Godfrey Kanyenze said the government should stop mourning over the sanctions and instead put reforms at the centre of its agenda.
He said people were now virtually depressed because of the economic outlook, yet a liberation party [Zanu-PF] won elections resoundingly on July 31 on the back of promises to deliver.
"The would-be dragon slayer appears to be falling on his sword. You are saying the enemy is holding us but let's do away with excuses and take 100% responsibility for our destiny," Kanyenze said.
"We cannot outsource development and make all sorts of excuses for our own failures. None but ourselves will take us forward."
He said reforms should focus on minerals, governance and the way the country does its business.
Source - thestandard
