Key question every Zimbabwean community must ask itself

Of course, such far-reaching transformation benefits from an aggressive uptake of new, modern technologies and skills. We must become a society which befriends technologies, befriends cutting-edge technologies at that! Our forebears lived ahead of their times; they gave us countless monuments led by the Great Zimbabwe. They built enduring settlements using the most brittle medium: stone. They tamed stone to give us walls which have defied time and age. Built monumental structures slowly, painfully, determinedly: stone upon stone. They chiselled stone into form and shape which met and actualised their monumental vision. Not too far away from Mt Pfura is where they relocated to settle so the sinews of their State encompassed the whole territory. They never shunned technology of their time, which is how they became masters of hard, granite stone. It is an important lesson to us.

From them we learn the all-important lesson of dominion and creative stewardship through sheer ingenuity and hard work. Today we invest in our schools and tertiary institutions for technology to abide. We have embarked on innovation hubs; indeed, encouraged our youngsters to venture beyond known technologies so they break new ground. All this is in line with our ambition to grow a technological culture of inventiveness for the growth of our economy. Through new technologies, we will build modern monuments. To that end, we expect more from all our institutions of learning. More such institutions will be built so each district has a skills and technology focal point.

My vision is to see our rural areas transformed into industrial propositions, based on local factor endowments.

A key question each community must ask itself – with full support from our devolved Government approach – is, what can we do within our means and circumstances to create or add value to our communities and to our nation? What support do we need for that to happen? Support financial; support technological; support by way of research and development and, of course, support by way of skills and markets for finished goods. Only that way do we live true to our mantra of leaving no one and no place behind. I am happy that our rural communities are already beginning to witness the beginnings of industrialisation. This thrust must strengthen as we move into the future. Rural industrialisation should become the next greatest miracle Zimbabwe shows to, and shares with our African brethren. China did no less, and lifted millions out of poverty. Again, I expect more involvement of our tertiary institutions, which must engage in purposeful, community- and local resource-based research for rural industrialisation.

We all must cherish our Independence and celebrate it without let or hindrance. That way, all those who sacrificed for it will feel recompensed. They did it for you, for me and for all of us, so we grow and live a free and sovereign people. So we deliver and guarantee a handsome bequest to those who come after us, primarily the gift of a free and sovereign Zimbabwe in which hopes and dreams are realised; in which peace abides pasina mugumo! Total peace, including as we prepare for our Harmonised Elections which will come soon. Our elections must be held in peace and amity, with us all reminding each other there will always be a Zimbabwe roomy enough for us all, winners and losers, governing or governed alike. A country at peace, of peace, love, dreams, hopes and fulfilling development to all those ready to work and serve it with total loyalty.

By President Emmerson Mnangagwa for the Sunday Mail

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