THE year 2015 comes to a close and it was fruitful.
We did and continue to do battle on many fronts.
And we have recorded notable victories.
The most important thing is that we have not allowed challenges to bring us down.
We have maintained our pride and dignity as a people in the face of challenges that would break the average person.
But we are Zimbabweans and we are not average people.
Giving up and giving in does not define us, it is not who we are.
Zimbabwe is a nation forging ahead, a country that no longer places or sees Europe and America as the centre of human experience, human existence and human development.
Illusions and delusions foisted on us throughout the years of colonial bondage and even beyond in the so-called era of globalisation are that history starts in Europe, all science starts in Europe and all development starts in Europe.
But we know better.
I would like to believe that many of us, not just a few but many of us, have debunked this theory.
The year 2015 is the period where our aspirations and objectives have come to fruition.
It is the year that even the doubting Thomases have come on board, joining the rest of us who have never stopped believing.
This year we have witnessed action, the type which transforms lives for generations.
One just had to hear the presentations made at the just ended ZANU PF 15th Annual National People’s Conference.
Most interesting were the presentations made by the authorities responsible for steering the economy.
Zimbabwe is an wakening giant.
The numbers of companies that have received support and resuscitated strengthen our faith.
Early in the year we had very strong signals that the country’s economy would record significant growth.
And towards the end of the year with the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping the signals became a clear picture.
It is not wishful thinking to say we now have everything in place.
Everything is in place; work has begun — the kind that re-writes a country’s destiny.
Again I reiterate that the ball is now in our court.
As a nation we boast a high literacy rate on the continent.
We have abundant natural resources yet to be fully exploited.
As a nation we enjoy a stable and peaceful environment.
Of late we have accessed some funding to carry out critical work that will accelerate economic growth.
We are expanding and refurbishing our power plants to increase generation capacity and ensure that all sectors of the economy get adequate energy supply.
We are investing in solar and other renewable sources of energy.
Many are keen to do business with us, not just the East but the West that snubbed us in protest of our empowerment programmes.
Day-in-day-out they are coming into the country from Western citadels expressing interest to do business with us.
These deals worth billions are set to transform not just the economy but the lives of the average man and woman.
It is up to us, the country will be what we make it to be.
The country’s economic growth hinges on our willingness to follow through and work on policies that will help us move forward.
Those bent on sabotaging economic growth must not be tolerated.
In 2016 let us fire, arrest and punish those who seek to derail our train.
Hatichina nguva yekutamba/akusela sikhathi sokudlala.
It is time to work, to work for Zimbabwe, for future generations.
Ngatishandirei nyika macomrades/ asisebenzeleni ilizwe lethu mahlabezulu.