Minister Chinamasa must be applauded

Despite financial constraints facing the nation presently, I give my credence and great honour to the Finance and Economic Development Minister, Comrade Patrick Chinamasa for working tirelessly in strengthening our country's ailing economy.

On a number of occasions, civil servants have been complaining and threatening to strike about payment of bonuses, increament in allowances and pay rise. However, Minister Chinamasa has been sailing through all this bravely and without losing his nerve.

Truthfully, Minister Chinamasa has for long been handling his ministry professionally. Cde Chinamasa, as a bee has been busy running up and down finding lasting solutions to restore the country's economy.

Civil servants have a pivotal role to play in the community and the nation at large. In fact, it is the role of civil servants to work and transform the fortunes of the nation. Minister Chinamasa and his ministry are indeed trying their level best to reward government employees monthly. Therefore, civil servants should conduct their business as normal and bear with their employer.

 It is imperative that Minister Chinamasa continues focusing his attention more on economic growth. This is because economic development is the most important means of raising people's incomes and reducing poverty in the country. It also creates more jobs and opportunities for people to support their families and build more stable futures.

It is of paramount importance for the country to promote economic growth through innovations and start-ups. Our nation should be developed through encouraging entrepreneurship and innovation, especially in this current economic downturn. As a nation, it is crucial that we pursue policies that promote innovation to ensure that there will be enough prosperity to carry on into the next generation. This is also in line Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (Zim-Asset) which advocates for innovation in all economic zones, be it in agriculture, manufacturing or health sector.

Local business people should try to utilize available resources to restore the economy. It is believed that communities with a strong base of locally owned businesses are also more economically stable as they are less vulnerable to fluctuations in the global economy. This is in tandem with the Indigenization and Economic Empowerment Act which is generally aimed at empowering indigenous people as well as seeking to bestow majority ownership and control of the country's resources to the black majority.

One of the most significant economic benefits of locally owned companies is that they recycle a much larger share of their revenue back into the local economy compared to trans-national corporations. Local retailers not only keep profits local, but they also support a variety of other local businesses.

Qualified and experienced personnel should assist to develop the nation through providing skilled services necessary for nation building. However, it is disheartening that most graduates upon completion their professional qualifications they migrate for greener pastures to neighbouring countries or abroad. If skilled personnel put their knowledge into practice, locally then the ability to innovate and strategic use of public policy will play a significant role in defining our manufacturing sector's competitiveness in the country and emerging economies going forward.

Zimbabwe is a country vast with mineral resources. The development of mineral resources is a key driver of the nation's economic growth. Mineral resources have the potential to transform economies and societies, including some of the country's remote areas, provided that the development is done responsibly and sustainably.

Through Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, government should continue enticing foreign investors and business people as a way of developing the countries' economy and strengthening business environment and increase in access to international markets and improve infrastructure.
For these and other economic pragmatic approaches, Cde Chinamasa should be highly praised.