#ViewsFromMatopos
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has urged Zimbabweans in the diaspora not to live in the past, as they risk being left behind by the train to economic prosperity.
Speaking to the diasporans in the US, President Mnangagwa revealed that the 99 year leases were now bankable, re-alignment of the legislation key, together with the implementation of the diaspora vote by 2023.
“Never live in the past because the train would leave you behind. We are moving. Toramba tichingofamba, tichingofamba,” said a lively President Mnangagwa.
“We have already moved on, the ninety-nine year leases are now bankable and can be used as collateral,” he added.
He also hinted that non-productive farms would be repossessed.
“So it is necessary that before we take that farm, make it productive. You understand. I can assure you I would be transparent and I will say it publicly and I walk my talk.”
President Mnangagwa reiterated that the re-alignment of legislation to the Constitution would be completed during the first session of the 9th Parliament.
He said of the 206 acts that needed to be amended 152 had so far been completed.
“The alignment of legislation to the constitution which came into effect on the 23rd of May 2013. That Constitution was a result of an outreach programme which did not distinguish political parties but was an appeal to the entire citizenry of our people and we had our own home grown product the Constitution which came into effect in May 2013.
“Now the Ministry of Justice which I was myself minister identified out of the 300 statutes of our books 206 acts which required amendment, to accord with the Constitution. Out of 206 by the time I left as Minister of Justice and became Vice President we had amended 152 of the 206. I don’t know where they are now under the new minister.”
“So the process is going and I have no doubt under the first session of the 9th Parliament the balance would be completed. The desire is not driven by foreign interest at all … it is driven by the desire by ourselves as a people to meet the needs and aspirations which are enshrined in our constitution” explained President Mnangagwa.
President Mnangagwa was considering introducing the diaspora vote ahead of the 2023 harmonised elections.
“At the beginning I said wherever I went our people in the diaspora were begging me to make sure people in the diaspora vote. I have said as I made my presentation I agreed with that request but we were not able in the time available to have logistics put into place to implement that objective. We now have five years, well, we can now work on that objective and see whether we can implement it,” President Mnangagwa said.
