News / Regional
‘Complement human rights with economic empowerment’
20 Dec 2010 at 15:22hrs | Views
Professor Arthur Mutambara has attacked civil organisations and trade unions for "worshipping human rights and good governance" without advocating for economic empowerment of the indigenous majority.
Addressing diasporans gathered in the resort town of Victoria Falls for a Development Foundation for Zimbabwe (DFZ) conference on engaging the diaspora on Friday night, Prof Mutambara said: "There are reforms that are advocated by civil organisations like the ZimRights and ZCTU which do not benefit the ordinary Zimbabweans.
"They talk too much about human rights. I say do not worship human rights and good governance without complementing efforts on economic recovery. "Human rights and good governance are necessary but they are not sufficient for development."
He said even if Mr Bennett were to be sworn in as the Deputy Minister of Agriculture today, that would not help the country in any way.
"We need to be talking about entrepreneurships, about national economic strategies platform for ICTs. We need more emphasis on economic factors to develop the country," said DPM Mutambara.
He said diasporans should understand problems in the country and complement Government's efforts in addressing them.
"As people in the diaspora, you should invest in the country, help us get access to the ICTs, to the World Bank, you are there, link us with the institutions so that the country has access to global best practices."While you are out there, your mind should be located in Zimbabwe. You should come back home, take plunges and become partners in issues of national development."
Prof Mutambara said as long as the Zimbabwe brand was not doing well on the world market, Zimbabweans in the diaspora would never be respected.
"If the Zimbabwe brand is not doing well, you (diasporans) will also feel the effect, it is therefore our duty and obligation to see that Zimbabwe does well or we will never be respected anywhere in the world.
"So we need to resuscitate our brand because we have the potential to do well as we have the human capital and the resource base."
The conference was attended by about 150 participants based in the United Kingdom, United States, Australia, South Africa and Botswana.
Addressing diasporans gathered in the resort town of Victoria Falls for a Development Foundation for Zimbabwe (DFZ) conference on engaging the diaspora on Friday night, Prof Mutambara said: "There are reforms that are advocated by civil organisations like the ZimRights and ZCTU which do not benefit the ordinary Zimbabweans.
"They talk too much about human rights. I say do not worship human rights and good governance without complementing efforts on economic recovery. "Human rights and good governance are necessary but they are not sufficient for development."
He said even if Mr Bennett were to be sworn in as the Deputy Minister of Agriculture today, that would not help the country in any way.
"We need to be talking about entrepreneurships, about national economic strategies platform for ICTs. We need more emphasis on economic factors to develop the country," said DPM Mutambara.
He said diasporans should understand problems in the country and complement Government's efforts in addressing them.
"As people in the diaspora, you should invest in the country, help us get access to the ICTs, to the World Bank, you are there, link us with the institutions so that the country has access to global best practices."While you are out there, your mind should be located in Zimbabwe. You should come back home, take plunges and become partners in issues of national development."
Prof Mutambara said as long as the Zimbabwe brand was not doing well on the world market, Zimbabweans in the diaspora would never be respected.
"If the Zimbabwe brand is not doing well, you (diasporans) will also feel the effect, it is therefore our duty and obligation to see that Zimbabwe does well or we will never be respected anywhere in the world.
"So we need to resuscitate our brand because we have the potential to do well as we have the human capital and the resource base."
The conference was attended by about 150 participants based in the United Kingdom, United States, Australia, South Africa and Botswana.
Source - Victoria Falls
