We must believe in ourselves to win the fight against sanctions Mnangagwa says

In the meantime, we continue to open our mineral sector to countries of goodwill, while intensifying our ambitious programme to ensure greater value-addition for all our minerals. The ultimate goal is to build an industrial economy driven by our own finite resources, and which no power on earth can sanction. Our friend-to-all, enemy-to-none foreign policy, buttressed by ease-of-doing business reforms and goal, is gradually winning us foreign global capital and key technologies we need to realise greater value from our mineral resources. It is important for all actors in the mining sector to realise that their efforts do contribute in no small way towards breaking the siege laid on us through hostile sanctions.

Our industry, too, has a big role to play in the fight against sanctions. Merely by ramping up production, and by ensuring that more goods on our shelves are locally produced, our industry actually blunts those otherwise ruinous sanctions, while transforming the structure of our economy towards the tertiary. I am very happy that we continue to see more and more big industrial projects coming on stream, thus contributing towards the realisation of our Vision 2030, by which we envision Zimbabwe that is an upper middle-income society. Government is working flat out to ensure that the power needs for mining and industry are met affordably. We need both sectors to play a full part in our broad, proactive response to illegal sanctions.

As already stated, our biggest resource in the fight against illegal sanctions are our people. We must show faith in our people by giving them full space and support in pursuing their dreams and their creative urge. In the past two weeks, I had the pleasure to witness what our youngsters in tertiary colleges are capable of. At the Harare Institute of Technology (HIT), I saw an exciting research project which will see us producing lithium batteries key to the emerging global green economy. Similarly, at Bindura University of Science Education (BUSE), I opened a project which will manufacture chemicals we need in purifying bulk water in our towns and cities. Both projects are highly impactful and will reduce, to an enormous degree, our propensity to import. A national economy which evolves weaned from dependence on imports is better able to withstand exogenous pressures. Both projects show the value of belief in ourselves, and in extending greater support to research and development, R&D, in our struggle against illegal sanctions. Government must spare no efforts in supporting innovation hubs and all research efforts in our institutions. Quite often, the greatest blow against illegal sanctions comes from small research labs quietly tucked in small rooms, and manned by our unassuming sons and daughters.

As we commemorate the Sadc Anti-Sanctions Day, I want all Zimbabweans in the diaspora to know that they continue to have a huge role to play. They have been assisting in the battle against illegal sanctions through remittances which now exceed US$1bn. We appreciate them deeply. From my interaction with Zimbabwean professionals in the diaspora, I noted a positive desire not just to remit savings, but also to repatriate knowledge, skills, competences, expertise and experience garnered over the years in different parts of the world where our nationals continue to play leading roles. A Zimbabwe which recognises and welcomes back its sons and daughters, who until now have been living abroad, is a Zimbabwe less vulnerable to external coercive measures. I direct all our institutions to use the impending October 25 to reflect a little more and deeper on what more we as Government could and must do to attract this key national human resource, which is keen to come back home and to contribute.

Let me conclude by heartily thanking Sadc, Africa and the progressive world for standing with Zimbabwe in its fight against illegal Western sanctions. In return, Zimbabwe opens herself to you, as her friends and allies, to participate in the rebuilding and growing of a strong, sanctions-insulated economy. Together, we can forge lasting and mutually beneficial partnerships in key areas of our economy: agriculture, mining, industry, tourism and infrastructure development. The time has now come for us to turn our solidarity founded on protests and appeals, into more positive and gainful economic partnerships which help Zimbabwe plug any felt points of vulnerability to external coercion. Indeed, joint investments are now the new way of saying No! to sanctions.

By President Emmerson Mnangagwa for the Sunday Mail

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