President Robert Mugabe yesterday acknowledged that political independence without economic empowerment was hollow. However, he did not come up with any new initiatives to get the country out of its present economic quagmire except reiterate programmes that the government has introduced but which have so far failed to kickstart the economy.
“Political independence without economic empowerment is hollow. It is imperative therefore that the dream of Africa’s founding fathers of achieving economic independence be realised. I am proud to say that our country is an example of efforts to see this vision being fulfilled. Through the historic Land Reform Programme, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Policy and now the current economic blueprint, Zim-Asset, Zimbabwe is indeed a shining example of what it means to be a free country which is in total control of her abundant natural resources, and in pursuit of sustainable socio-economic transformation for its people,” he told party supporters at his 91st birthday party.
While the policies and programmes could indeed propel the country forward, they have been bogged down by poor implementation, half-hearted commitment by the government, and a skeptical population that has no confidence that the present government can turn the economy around.
Harvard University Professor Ricardo Hausman said Zimbabwe had the potential to become the fastest growing economy in Africa in the years to 2020 and the sixth fastest growing economy in the world behind the world’s economic giant, China, followed by India, Thailand, Belarus and Moldova.
Almost two years have gone by since the study and the country is still in economic doldrums.
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