Either Citizens Get Income from Businesses or from Politics. The Choice is Ours!

Professor Chinomona, 13/12/2020

If we don’t prioritize and focus more on industrializing Zimbabwe to grow the economy and create employment for citizens to get income, citizens will focus more on politics every day for political patronage and clientism benefits such as proceeds of corruption and selling out.

Among others, this may result in social and civil unrest as political polarization, anger, hatred and bitterness against each increase. Eventually the country will become ungovernable, and peace and development will be a nightmare!

Let us focus on industrializing Zimbabwe, first and foremost.

A Manufacturing sector led economic growth strategy is perhaps the only way out at this juncture. The market is there but products for local consumption and export are in short supply.

1. Fix the energy problem as a starting point.

2. Inject Billions into supporting the manufacturing sector and produce all basic needs using modern technology

3. Stop all importations of basic goods (import substitution strategy) and increase exports (export led growth) to generate more forex

4. Continuously fix problems in all important sectors of the economy that support the manufacturing sector, such as the Agriculture sector and mining sector.

5. Fix the financial sector problems by removing unnecessary transactions costs, and ensuring currency stability and availability to the public and business. Consider reducing taxes and interest rates to businesses.

6. Stop external borrowing and finance government capital and infrastructure development from mineral resources exploitation. Our natural resources exploitation should be the main source of revenue for now and not over-taxing citizens and businesses.

7. Curb corruption by ensuring transparency, accountability and harsh penalties for corruption in business, government and the public at large.

That’s my opinion!

Professor Richard Chinomona – Master of Business Administration Degree (Zimbabwe Open University). Master of Public Administration Degree (University Of Fort Hare-South Africa). Bachelor of Science (Honors) in Politics & Administration Degree (University Of Zimbabwe). Bachelor of Science (Special Honors) In Economics Degree (University Of Zimbabwe). Diploma in Project Planning & Management (University Of Zimbabwe). Certificate in Entrepreneurial Development Programme (University Of Zimbabwe)