THAT there are so many things happening in our country is an inescapable reality.

We have fuel shortages, threats of job action and unwarranted price hikes, to mention but a few.

But, the way those stories have been told makes sad reading.

It seems as if there is anticipation from certain quarters that the Government fails.

We have:

Headlines which all but portray the country as a pariah state of some sort.

Headlines which present a dead country in the eyes of the world.

Headlines which present a malfunctioning country and economy.

A myopic mentality that is premised on boosting certain political careers, all at the expense of people’s suffering.

That is wrong. 

And that is not going to work. 

What is going to work is capitalising on the many gains and positives that have been generated in the economy.

We need these to build a functioning economy that benefits the populace.

We need these positives in order to develop an all-inclusive economy that brings positive and tangible spin offs to the majority.

The starting point towards this thrust is boosting our manufacturing sector so that we create a larger tax collection base for Government.

Using that model, we can boost our exports and generate the much needed foreign currency.

The argument by some in our midst that dollarising the economy is key to developing our economy is not only wrong and misplaced, it is founded on nostalgic grounds where fundamentals of the so-called Inclusive Government era have not been fully explained.

We should tell each other the compelling fact that during that time little, if anything, was put towards boosting agricultural and mining activities.

The farmers and miners who today bring a huge chunk of the much needed foreign currency received no support at all from those who claimed to be bringing financial discipline to the economy.

Today, under the new dispensation, that financial discipline is what is anchoring the prevailing discipline in the market with farmers and miners receiving support from Government.

Let us build on that.

Our country is not going to be built on lies and negativity.

It is going to move forward through honesty and transparency.

This is what President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been doing through his policies.

When those who criticise the policies that are being implemented by Government do so, they should always be on the side of the truth because it is that truth that will shape our destiny.

This farming season has been affected by the devastating effects of El Nino.

It is a reality that will confront every citizen of this country.

And there are many lessons to be learned from the impending disaster.

But one of the key lessons that we have learned is that we need to immediately embark on a de-siltation programme.

This will help increase our catchment areas and boost agricultural productivity.

We also need to invest heavily on irrigation.

President Mnangagwa’s visit to eastern Europe will assist in that regard.

Belarus, for instance, is a serious agricultural and mining equipment making country.

Let us take advantage of that in order to boost our irrigation.

For now, let us face the facts and be objective about our country.