Caitlin Kamba
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has declared a ‘Fourth Industrial Revolution’ as the Second Republic continues fight ‘tooth and nail’ to recover the country’s economy.
Addressing captains of industries and hoards of members of the public who attended the official opening of the 62nd edition of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF), President Mnangagwa challenged the business community to exploit the 4th industrial revolution, harness technological advancements and support government’s endeavors to migrate to a science oriented human capital base.
President Mnangagwa thundered “innovation is no longer a luxury for the future, but a necessity. Riding on the benefits of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, I call upon the business community and the manufacturing sector in particular to re-engineer every aspect of their process in line with present and future trends.”
He added that the looming realization of vision 2030 demanded that Zimbabwe holistically reinvents and reimagine the trade and investment trajectory of Zimbabwe.
The President also made a clarion call to reinforce the relationship between agriculture and the industrial sector as the former remained the cog of the country’s economy.
“It is important to reinforce the relationship between agriculture and industry. Industry must promote agriculture and vice versa. I challenge stakeholders to develop, adapt and implement responsive and complimentary strategies for both industry and agriculture” said President Mnangagwa.
President Mnangagwa applauded and acknowledged students from innovate hubs and Industrial Parks that showcased their innovations and interventions at the ZITF before reiterating that Government would continue to strengthen scientific institutional reforms for the modernization and industrialization of Zimbabwe.
The official opening was superintended by President Mnangagwa instead of the scheduled Uhuru Kenyatta who could not make it as Kenya was mourning former President Mwai Kibaki. President Mnangagwa observed a moment of silence for the fallen Pan Africanist icon before officially opening the ZITF.
