Opinion / Columnist
Re-industrialisation of Zimbabwe Industries
28 Feb 2014 at 07:31hrs | Views
A report in the Sunday News titled "No database for Bulawayo closed companies" makes very sad reading indeed.
It is quite disturbing to hear the Minister of Industry and Commerce, who has been in office for more than 100 days, saying he has no database whatsoever for closed Bulawayo companies. This is clear testimony to the generality of Zimbabweans that the government has no clue on what is happening in industry. Worse still his statement comes barely a few days after a number of Zimbabweans perished in illegal mines in South Africa. Our children are perishing in lands far afield because our government has shown a deficiency of sagacity concerning alleviating poverty and creating employment for its citizens.
As far back as 2011, the government did acknowledge that there was massive de-industrialisation in our cities and other towns. Hence a ministerial taskforce was established to spearhead the revival of industry. Since then, Zanu - led by Robert Mugabe - came into power. They have not shown the willingness to resolve the industrialisation issue. The ZIM ASSET document has no credibility at all; it is a mere empty and cynical deception meant to serve the interests of a few black oppressors at the expense of the workers.
The ZANU (PF) government is not ready to deal with the real problems confronting Zimbabwe like the seriousness of job creation, work and poverty eradication. These are nowhere near its priorities. It is high time Zimbabweans realised that without a change in government Zimbabwe will remain a failed state. Just this year alone, more than ten companies have closed shop and thousands laid off. The present government should be held responsible for all this mess.
What concerns ZAPU is that the Zanu government has turned a deaf ear to the suffering masses. The civil service has not been paid their dues, the security people are being chased out of the barracks because the government has no money. Surely what has become of this senseless government? ZAPU is tired of this grandstanding by Robert Mugabe and his bandwagon. Our own children are dying as if we are in a war situation, just because of a few individuals who are hanging onto power.
The people of Zimbabwe are tired and what they want is food, shelter, jobs and security. The blame game will not bring any of these.
ZAPU stands by the oppressed masses. Be assured that the ZAPU government's main resolve will be to create employment, through the resuscitation of ailing industries across the country and building new industries around new technologies. This will be achieved by encouraging local and foreign investments.
It will also make sure it promotes and invests heavily in manufacturing. It shall put in place policies and measures to facilitate Foreign Direct Investment, to compliment local investment. It will also promote small to medium enterprises and help these to grow into significant employers of labour.
It is with this vision that ZAPU calls upon all Zimbabweans to hold this present government responsible and accountable for all this rot and clear it away.
Mjobisa Noko is ZAPU Secretary for Information, Publicity and Marketing.
Source - Mjobisa Noko
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