Resolve past political conflicts

The success of the country's economic transformation by 2040 hinges on the willingness of the every Zimbabwean to embrace national healing and reconciliation as this is one of the major setbacks as a result of past political and social injustices.

Tribal and racial disharmonies have over the past 37 years remained unattended to and as the government comes up with new innovations to come up with strategies that seek to transform the economy, past political conflicts are still the major focus among many, including those in key positions of influence.

The government has come out in full force to initiate economic turnaround strategies but not much will be achieved because there was never any healing after the political conflicts that took place during the previous government.

Unresolved past political conflicts have brought anger and largely determine the way people behave and respond even to important issues.

Father Fidelis Mukonori stressed that as long as nothing is happening to people who were involved in corruption and any other form of wrong doing, the country will not make any progress.

"It has brought in a lot of anger and temper in the way we behave. The perpetrator has to accept the wrong doing, some people have never been punished even after stealing money and some people, those who flout the law should be punished. Delayed conflict resolution is justice delayed," he explained.

The local media plays a pivotal role in creating a positive image of the country and setting the agenda for key issues such as national healing, tolerance and social cohesion but tends to dwell more on politics and negative issues, notes past chief executive officer of Trust Bank Mr William Nyemba.

"One of the things that primarily drive confidence is the media and how and what is reported there it's political or business. With all due respect Mr President, we do have the electronic media, we do have the print. If you look at countries around us they have all embraced, they have opened up new television stations and that builds confidence," he said.

Zimbabwe International Trade Fair general manager Mrs Nomathemba Ndlovu feels enabling key sectors, commitment from all stakeholders and rebranding of the country are crucial if the government is to successfully achieve its economic turnaround strategy by 2040.

"If we can once again brand ourselves as a nation we will be in the right direction. I think we've got a lot of potential. Our country is rich with resources, natural resources and people and we're not leveraging it as much as we should," she said.

The CEO Africa Round Table is aimed at empowering local chief executives of both private and public enterprises with a wide range of packages including researched data, synergies and investment facilitation as they are key in closing the economic gap between the country and her regional counterparts.