Zimbabwe GDP has grown from $16 billion under Mugabe to $50 billion under Mnangagwa but what do we have to show for this?

If we are in the United Nations, we do not want any countries that are left behind.  As we work with others at all material times, we should know that we are Zimbabweans, we are going to use our innovation, we are going to revolutionise our minds.  We are a country that fought for its independence; we know the importance of freedom, hence we declared Zimbabwe will forever be sovereign.  So, these six policies about our country, which is our doctrine, we were able to have bilateral relations with a lot of countries so that they could come and we would work together from China up to Russia, Britain, USA and Canada.

This helped us so that I can answer the second rank of his question. Because of the Vision of His Excellency, the President, E.D. Mnangagwa, you observe that our economy, when we entered the Second Republic, we had a GDP of 16 billion.  At the moment, as for our economy, we now have an economy of more than 50 billion. It was because of the businesses that came to invest in this country, we are now making steel, which used to be made at Zisco Steel but it is now being produced at Manhize. All this occurred because we said we are a friend to all and an enemy to none.  Everyone can come and invest in Zimbabwe.

In 2024, we were able to export goods over seven billion, which means that our exports have grown up. In the Second Republic, we used to export USD 2 billion. So, there was more than 300% increase in the export figures. This means that this relationship that we are having with other countries and the peace that we have internally and amongst others, in terms of Section 64 of the Constitution, which says we should talk and live in harmony with others, we should meet in public parties that are the world over that involve themselves in peace. So, the President’s foreign policy has brought us development and our economy has grown but we are not going to sit on our laurels. We will continue working hard to ensure that our country’s economy is growing. We have a doctrine for the President, which I am lifting up here, it shows what we stand for as a country.  Inside the doctrine, there are six things; the country is built by its owners, we are a friend to all and an enemy to none, Zimbabwe is open to business is the third one, come and invest. Fourth, leaving no one and no place behind, let us work together. Fifth, the revolution for the minds speak, well knowing who you are and lastly, Zimbabwe will forever be a sovereign independent State. Due to the respect that we have bestowed upon ourselves, we have been able to lure friends. People do not come to people who look down upon themselves. So, we see the economy growing because no one wants to visit a fool. They want to visit people, normal people, because of this policy that has a lot of thinking in it.

HON. SEN. MAVENYENGWA: My supplementary question is that we once had those people who would want to come and invest in Zimbabwe, say that there were a lot of delays in setting up businesses and the taxes or the levies that they pay, what have you done to improve that situation so that investors can quickly set up their businesses? I thank you.

HON. PROF. MURWIRA:  Thank you for the supplementary question Hon. Senator Mavenyengwa that you want to find out about the delays in setting up businesses. The country is growing, so the country is developing. It can only develop by knowing what needs to be attended to. It can only develop if we meet the people and they give their complaints and you attend to them. If you are making a stool or a chair, they will say that it is hard. Then you iron out the creases until it becomes smooth. We have the Zimbabwe Investment Development Agency, ZIDA, to make it easy for one to set up his business. The plethora of licenses that we used to have, were reduced by His Excellency, the President so that one can pay the levies once and that you only take money from the investor through taxes. We are learning, Rome was not built in a day. What we saw five years ago and what we are going to see now and five years later should show the development in our society or in our country. We are developing and have accepted that we need to develop. So, we are attending to these problems and ensuring that we iron out all the rough edges. I thank you.

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