I spoke about the imperative of growing our economy by growing cash crops such as coffee and tea. The Tanganda tea estate in Chipinge has lots of potential for growth and can become a key nodal point for development and revenue generation both for the community and the country.
Given the crippling but legitimate strike by the country’s hard working nurses and doctors, I reminded the people of Chipinge of the fallacy by the current government that Zimbabwe is open for business when it is not open for health.
Our new incoming government will spare a thought for the desperate cries coming from throughout the country—especially this barren and desolate land of Chipinge that is crying out for attention from those occupying the lofty citadel of government.
We pledge that we will not fail them; that we will attend to the legitimate concerns of these underdeveloped communities.
Remembering the Lord in whatever we do
On Sunday, I left Mutare for Ruwangwe in Nyanga North near the border with Mozambique.
It is my maxim that whatever we do in politics or whichever vocation, we must never forget to serve and plead with our Lord in Heaven.
Before I left Mutare, I had the occasion to go church, where I joined other Zimbabweans in prayer.
Indeed, whatever our circumstances or social station in life, the Lord we serve is a God of eternal goodness and mercy. I saw the Lord’s grace at the church Mutare and had occasion to see His power at work.
Great and blessed things await this great country.
Rural Ruwangwe—an outpost and leeway to liberation
At Ruwangwe business centre in the mountains of Nyanga North on the border with Mozambique, I had occasion to interact with yet another teeming crowd exuding hope and unbridled optimism.
The people told me of their harassment by some traditional leaders who continued to demand the serial numbers of their voter registration slips. They told of dilapidated infrastructure, of the now impassable Bhinya road that links the area with Mayo, Murehwa and Mutoko. They recounted the sad story of how Nyanga, a once-thriving tourist destination, has become of shell of its former self owing to collapsed infrastructure and the poisoned politics that persists in the country despite the much-vaunted fallacy that Zimbabwe is now open for business.
The people of Nyanga of North said they were ready for a truly new dispensation that will be ushered in by the next election. They said all who must lead this country have to first pass through their area as Robert Mugabe and Edgar Tekere did way back in the 1970s when they passed through this area into Mozambique. Ruwangwe, they said, had always been a gateway to liberation and transformation icons and it was in that spirit that they were receiving me and other leaders.
They said they were heartened that I had also passed through their area to interact and share with them our policy ideas. This, they said, was ominous of the good times ahead for the country.
I felt humbled.
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