ED’s first 50 days, so far so good

Kudzanai Sharara Taking Stock
Today, Friday the 12th of January marks the 50th day since President Emmerson Mnangagwa took over the reigns as the country’s president, following 37 years of former president Robert Mugabe’s rule.

Popular opinion is that the country’s hopes and aspirations have been rekindled and now rest on President Mnangagwa’s shoulders. A lot is expected of him and just like any President in the World, he has set himself targets of things that must be accomplished in his first 100 days in office, and today he has reached the halfway mark of first 100 days in office.

His every move and indeed that of his wife is being monitored each passing day, with some wishing for him to fail although the majority of Zimbabweans across the political divide, have given him a lot of goodwill.

As much as we would want to take stock of the President’s performance at the halfway mark, we must hasten to say that he has his work cut out and positive change cannot be expected to have an impact in such a short time in office. The trail of destruction that his predecessor left in the country took approximately 20 years for us to be where we are today and it would not take 50 days for us to reverse and restore ourselves to the rightful path of economic prosperity.

What we can, however, still do, is to look at the direction he is heading to and see if there are any signs that he can take us to the Promised Land. And his steps so far looks like he is heading where everyone else is looking forward to — Canaan.

His inauguration speech, his first step, was full of hope and gave an indication that the president was determined to move away from his predecessor’s path to ruin. He was quick to declare that this country needed to access Foreign Direct Investment as well as create jobs.

This is contrary to the previous administration, where there was discord on whether the country needs FDI or not.

He also did not try to curry favour with the western world and for the avoidance of doubt he clearly pointed out that the principle of repossessing land cannot be challenged or reversed, but was also quick to warn that those who have the privilege to own it must show their deservedness by demonstrating commitment to the utilisation of the land now available to them for National Food Security and for the recovery of our economy.

Indigenisation laws have also been a thorn and probably an excuse by investors to bring in FDI, but President Mnangagwa, through the Minister of Finance has since repealed the laws with the exception of the diamond and platinum industries where the 51/49 percent threshold is still a requirement.

For those who have been advocating that the country needs to restore property rights, they might find comfort, again from his inauguration speech that: “Our system of economic organisation and management will incorporate elements of market economy in which enterprise is encouraged, and protected.” He added that there is need to run a national economy in which there is room and scope for everyone.

One common feature that has been consistently present in President Mnangagwa’s speeches is the need to turnaround the country’s economy. There are very few occasions if any where he has spoken and did not talk about issues to do with the economy. His ministers have also followed suit in line with the targets he has set for them.

Here are some of key issues and pronouncements during President Mnangagwa’s first 50 days in office:

• Cut back on Government spending: Zimbabwe’s Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa presented a National Budget for 2018 that proposed the retrenchment of some civil servants and a downward review on some benefits including fuel allocations as well as delegations to international conferences.
  It was also revealed that President Mnangagwa had approved a plan to downsize the country’s diplomatic missions, taking into account Zimbabwe’s current economic environment and affordability.
• Diaspora engagement: The President also engaged Zimbabweans in South Africa, to appraise them of the developments in the country and possibly deliver the message that they must now come into the broad economic calculus designed for our recovery and take off.
• Pro-business policies: In his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) he undertook to introduce pro-business policies to attract investment and revive the ailing economy. This is consistent with his inauguration speech where he said key choices will have to be made to attract Foreign Direct Investment to tackle high levels of unemployment while transforming our Economy towards the tertiary.
• Zero tolerance on corruption: His pledge to deal with corruption where he warned that grief awaits those who depart from the path of virtue and clean business seem to have been implemented with ZACC having brought to book several high ranking officials.
• No to farm invasions: On the land question the responsible minister has since said new farm occupations will not be tolerated anymore. We have also witnessed one or two white farmers returning to their farms. This is in line with the President’s call that complex issues of land tenure will have to be addressed both urgently and definitely, in order to ensure finality and closure to the ownership and management of this key resource which is central to national stability and to sustained economic recovery.
• Reforms in the education sector: This week he engaged leaders of institutions of higher learning where he called for the provision of education and skills that are relevant to the country’s immediate economic developmental challenges. The issue of the country’s education sector has been the subject of discussion as people questioned its relevance and fit to the country’s economic challenges and future prospects.
• Unresolved cash crisis: The currency challenge has however remained unresolved with price increases continuing despite calls by the President Industry players to desist from hiking of prices as this is hindering the government’s efforts to improve the nation’s economy. A plus for the president though is that he has so far refrained from calling for price controls.