Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa has hit the nail right on the head this time, if only his colleagues from the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front and the media could take heed. He says Zimbabweans should stop being obsessed with succession and focus on the economy and should stop discussing personalities but ideas. “It is very important for all of us, irrespective of political affiliation, irrespective of where you are coming from, to understand that the economy is all ours. It is our economy and it is for us to contribute constructively to its resuscitation, to its growth. If it is not resuscitated it means economic gloom for all of us. The potential for this country is enormous. We do not have to be poor in the country if we do the right things, if we assist each other to come up with correct policies that will be conducive to foreign direct investment. The less we talk politics and more economics, the better. I would want to see, as we go into the future, more discussion not on personalities but ideas. Visitors who come to Zimbabwe have a better perception about our country and ourselves than we ourselves. We speak so negatively about ourselves to the point where it is very dispiriting to say the least. As Government we welcome any positive contribution in our efforts to revive our economy and the media have an important role to play in that regard. The contribution of the media to Zimbabwe’s story both on the political and economic front has not always been constructive. What you write negatively about our country is amplified outside and where-ever I am going instead of talking and discussing business I am made to explain stupid reports made elsewhere about my country which have no basis. In fact, that is what bleeds my heart.”
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