By Trevor Namenda
“Unless each man produces more than he receives, increases his output, there will be less for him and all the others. Produce, produce! The efficiency of most workers is beyond the control of the management and depends more than has been supposed upon the willingness of men to do their best”, once stated Forbes in one of his famous quotes.
The drive to increase production and restoring the bread basket of Africa pride of Zimbabwe has been the major thrust of the Second Republic under the leadership of President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
The initiative has received a wide spectrum of support from the progressive Zimbabweans who have heeded the call to increase agricultural production.
Government through the Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, Water, Climate and Rural Settlement has since started the Smallholder Irrigation Revitalisation Programmes (SIRP) meant to capacitate small scale irrigation schemes, a move which in itself gives a green light future for the agricultural production of the country.
More so, more apart from widening the democratic space by empowering the perceived marginalised groups of the society, the Government has also set the introduction of the Fisheries projects countrywide, most notably in Tokwe- Mukosi, which are meant to increase and secure food security. The picture being depicted by such a move being that, importation of goods will be a thing of the past in the nearby future.
Restoring the ‘bread basket of Africa’ pride is not a one man band undertaking, but involves collective action.
People based leadership denotes listening leadership. The Second Republic is trying to show positive steps in listening to the calls of the citizens whether pro or government critics.
“Our political leaders have great responsibilities, but as with many situations in life, people often rise or fall to meet your expectations. Our responsibility as citizens is to expect our leaders to lead and to give them enough support so that they may do so”, according to Paul Polmon.
Of late the rampant calls to end corruption have swarmed social media where enermies of production have since called on the Government to step down over alleged failures to run the country, and being labelled the authors of corruption. The question would be, does it mean the Government is an enemy to itself? The writer in this case chooses to differ somehow.
To claim that Government has failed to run the country is a total miscarriage of justice on the Second Republic given all the efforts underway to ensure the restoration of the socio-economic and political pride of the country. Anyone who sees the Government as a failure in today’s age is blind to truth that restoring what was destroyed in 20 years won’t happen overnight.
Economic stability of Zimbabwe goes beyond fighting for power and proving who is better than whom, but it simply needs coordinated efforts from every Zimbabwean, government cannot do it alone. This is the appreciation that is lacking in the opposition fraternity, whose focus is “kudira jecha” whilst celebrating the suffering of the majority so as to claim themselves as better than the existing Government.
The Bread basket status of the country has since been destroyed by the prevailing economic downturn over the past decades hence compromising food security.
The Second Republic to this day is saying NO to the degrading narrative on Zimbabweans globally, hence the calls for unity of purpose by President Mnangagwa.
““There is a need for mental reform along ethical lines that would produce in its turn an economic reform to benefit everyone. This would require a courageous change of attitude on the part of political leaders to enhance development”, Pope Francis once stated.
The Religious fraternity have also heeded the calls and today we see them preaching the gospel of unity and hardworking to increase production, and restore the pride of Zimbabwe. This openly has proved to be the voice of God. In one of his famous speeches President Mnangagwa said, “The voice of the people is the voice of God.”
