MP says Mugabe’s 10-point plan is a sanctions buster

The Member of Parliament for Mazowe North Edgar Chidavaenzi says President Robert Mugabe’s 10-point plan which he unveiled in his State of the Nation Address is a sanctions buster and can change the lives of Zimbabweans for the better if it is implemented timeously .

“The President’s 10 Point Plan is a sanctions buster,”  Chidavaenzi said I his contribution to the President’ s speech at the official opening of the current session of Parliament. “Sanctions have caused untold suffering to our people irrespective of their political, social, spiritual and cultural affiliations.

“Madam Speaker, conformance and compliance to the 10 Point Plan in terms of timeous implementation will certainly change lives for the better. A better economy translates to a better people, a better people is a better life, a better life is a better Zimbabwe and a better Zimbabwe is a better buy Zimbabwe. The more we buy Zimbabwe, the more we can export and compete on the global village and strengthen our financial anchor institutions like commercial banks and the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe.”

Chidavaezi said agriculture was the backbone of the country but ity needed a new life, capital and technology. Without a vibrant agricultural sector, he said, all our efforts are in vain.

He therefore proposed the establishment of a National Agricultural Debt Assumption Bill as an enabler for a new start.

Full contribution:

MR. CHIDAVAENZI: Thank you Madam Speaker for allowing me to debate and contribute to this very important developmental address by the Head of State and Government, the Commander in Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Cde. Robert Gabriel Mugabe.

Madam Speaker, the alignment of our legislation to the new Constitution is not an event but a process which requires due diligence, hence, I would like to thank the Executive for the work done so far so good. However, an accelerated effort towards its total accomplishment is certainly greatly appreciated but must not compromise quality because the adverse effects are far reaching and long term.

Madam Speaker, I would like to comment on the ease of doing business as a tool and catalyst for economic recovery and social welfare emancipation. A better Zimbabwe for all Zimbabweans is a product of our collective dream, agenda, effort, thrust and responsibility. Therefore, we must collectively stimulate fresh capital injection, Direct Foreign Investment and local market liquidity.

Madam Speaker, the proposed One Stop Shop Investment Centre will go a long way in creating a conducive and attractive business environment and practice by eliminating bureaucratic delays, red tape and brown envelopes. The One Stop Shop concept is an effective corruption check point, hence, it must be implemented at all entry points, national border posts, taxation avenues and business interface. Madam Speaker, this will expedite confidence building and the establishment of Special Economic Zones. Special Economic Zones promote value addition, accelerated industrialization, technology transfer, skills development and deployment, employment creation and vast downstream opportunities.

Madam Speaker, all these efforts illustrate the Government’s commitment to fulfill its election manifesto and ZIM-ASSET in particular. The President’s 10 Point Plan is a sanctions buster. Sanctions have caused untold suffering to our people irrespective of their political, social, spiritual and cultural affiliations.

Madam Speaker, conformance and compliance to the 10 Point Plan in terms of timeous implementation will certainly change lives for the better. A better economy translates to a better people, a better people is a better life, a better life is a better Zimbabwe and a better Zimbabwe is a better buy Zimbabwe. The more we buy Zimbabwe, the more we can export and compete on the global village and strengthen our financial anchor institutions like commercial banks and the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe.

Madam Speaker, Zimbabwe has an agro-based economy; not by choice but by nature. We cannot fight nature. God given nature is actually a blessing. Madam Speaker, agriculture needs a new life, capital, technology and methodology. Without a vibrant agricultural sector, all our efforts are in vain. The already existing title deeds that new farmers surrendered to banks and are being held as non-performing loans must be given a new lease of life, so that they can start performing and add value to our economy now. They must provide national agricultural financial relief and space.

Madam Speaker, I hereby propose and recommend the urgent establishment and tabling of a National Agricultural Debt Assumption Bill as an enabler for a new start. We also need a comparative and competitive utilities cost structure that will leverage and lower input costs, increase capacity utilisation and product output.

At this juncture, allow me to conclude by emphasising that we must collectively …

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order, order. Hon. members, could you please allow the hon. member to be heard in silence. Please lower your whispers. I know you can whisper to each other but please there is a debate taking place. Hon. Member, you can continue.

MR. CHIDAVAENZI: Madam Speaker, at this juncture, in this fashion and manner, allow me to conclude by emphasising that we must collectively interrogate and consider issues to do with:

• Value addition and beneficiation;
• Value for money on local goods and services;
• Purchasing power parity (internationally);
• Consistency and persistence in policy formulation and implementation;
• Projects and programmes continuous evaluation;
• Value for money audits; and
• Corruption eradication.

Long live our economy, long live our motherland, long live our President, Comrade Robert Mugabe. I thank you.

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