THERE is always an immediate rush when ZANU PF wins an election to tuck critical issues on the bottom list of priorities.
Such has been the case with the ruling Party’s massacre of Joice Mujuru’s stuttering Zimbabwe People First (ZimPF) party in the recently held Bikita West by-election where ZANU PF has gone to town celebrating that resounding victory.
Not that the Party must never count its gains, no!
But for now forget about that widely expected drubbing of the ZimPF and get on with the job at hand— rebuilding the economy.
Forget even about the 2018 harmonised elections for now because this is the year that ZANU PF must rise to the occasion and give all the attention to the pressing needs facing the country.
There is so much to do for ZANU PF.
Where the scourge of typhoid continues to wreak havoc in the country and where potholes have become a butt of sickening jokes, focus must without doubt be on these compelling issues.
The beauty though is, measures are being put in place to revive the economy.
Last week three missions from the World Bank were in the country to help it look at modalities aimed at improving the nation’s business environment climate, support reform of State-owned enterprises and efforts to strengthen the poverty and equity focus of public spending.
The country’s trust fund, the Zimbabwe Reconstruction Fund (ZIMREF), which was endorsed by the World Bank’s board of executive directors in 2014, was one of the major areas of focus during the multi-lateral institution’s visit to Harare.
One of its priority areas is that it seeks to contribute to the strengthening of Zimbabwe’s systems for reconstruction and development, with a focus on stabilisation, reform, development and poverty alleviation.
It runs up to 2019.
The World Bank teams were focusing on Business Environment, Financial Sector and Investment Policy (BEFSIP) technical assistance, capital budget technical assistance and the poverty monitoring and evaluation technical assistance.
The mission was led by Simon Bell.
It also focused on strengthening Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs)’ quest to access lines of credit.
BEFSIP is a World Bank-executed technical assistance programme, which aims to improve the business climate for the private sector, particularly for micro-enterprises, SMEs and agricultural small-holders.
The programme also seeks to strengthen the regulatory framework and financial infrastructure for expanded access to financial services and markets for micro small-to-medium enterprises.
The capital budget technical assistance focused on the Public Sector Investment Programme created to finalise and submit draft guidelines for public investment management.
The mission provided support to drafting of the Public Enterprise Corporate Governance Bill and the mission is led by senior specialist in government projects, Gael Raballand.
Warriors contribute to the nation’s agony
When they left for the 31st edition of the ongoing African Cup of Nations finals (AFCON) in Gabon, there was so much hope our moment of glory had finally arrived, but as has become the norm, the Warriors conspired to disappoint the nation.
For a few days, the agony of our economy had been temporarily relieved as we pinned our hopes on our boys.
Our problem is, we overrate ourselves. The media which has somehow failed to recognise that it is foreigners who are giving our economic outlook a brighter picture is to blame for not telling the truth that the Warriors are just not good enough.
The same media that once equated Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola with Warriors coach Kalisto Pasuwa forgot to tell us about our gaffer’s technical shortcomings.
Come on guys, patriotism doesn’t win you soccer matches, it wins you elections!
This writer is tempted to borrow from The Sunday Mail sports editor Makomborero Mutimukulu who duly described the Warriors as ‘mercenaries’.
While they might not necessarily be that, their shambolic lacklustre displays were disappointing.
This is just not good enough Warriors!
We are the masters of our destiny
One important issue to consider for Zimbabweans is that the rebuilding process of our great nation is the sole responsibility of us as a people.
But that has sadly not been the case with Zimbabwe and its people.
There is this fascination with what has happened in the Gambia where Yahya Jammeh was ousted in somewhat dramatic fashion.
There are these misplaced calls for the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to do what the West African regional bloc, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has done to Jammeh.
This, coming from people who claim to be ardent followers of ‘democracy’!
Zimbabwe has due processes from which those who agitate for ZANU PF’s ouster from power must follow.
We go for elections which are due in 2018 and that’s when they can throw in the hat and hope for better fortunes, which, if the Bikita West elections are anything to go by, will remain a pipedream.
The message for ZANU PF is that the vultures are hovering and lurking looking for an opportunity to capitalise.
The good work must continue and there must never be any distractions.
We are the masters of our destiny.
Let those with ears listen.