The ManicaPost
THE new trajectory, which the country adopted with the coming in of a new political dispensation demands a hands on and well co-ordinated approach to economic resuscitation.
It is against this background that we find reason in calls to have the Manicaland Business Forum as a way of creating a platform for the exploration of ways and solutions to economic woes bedevilling the country.
Sadly, calls for the formation of the Manicaland Business Forum have been made for a long time now and nothing has been done to realise this goal.
Several key stakeholders from diverse sectors have called for the establishment of the Manicaland Business Forum but somehow willpower is lacking.
Therefore, the idea has no one to implement. It is known that Manicaland has diverse economic sectors that range from timber, tourism, mining to agriculture among many others but resources in these sectors have not been exploited optimally.
This explains why people in Manicaland are still buying bread that is baked in the capital while farmers are using fertiliser manufactured elsewhere even though the province has abundant phosphate deposits.
Big time business ventures such as diamond cutting are still a pipe dream for Manicaland in the absence of a forum that sits down to explore ways of establishing such industries here. Given that background only, the importance of forming the Manicaland Business Forum cannot be overemphasised.
There is no doubt that the new political dispensation brought hope for an improved performance of the economy thus President Mnangagwa actually pointed it out in his inauguration speech that it would no longer be business as usual.
The immediate formation of the Manicaland Business Forum dovetails into the sentiments expressed by President Mnangagwa, as it ensures collective effort in resuscitating the economy.
The Manicaland Business Forum provides an opportunity for various key stakeholders to congregate and explore ways of getting maximum benefits from the resources that abound in the province.
One of the major challenges that we have always faced in our efforts to revive the economy as a province in particular and as a nation at large is the disintegrated approach in search for solutions.
This is one of the major benefits of a provincial business forum, as it helps think tanks from various sectors to come to a round table and exchange notes on ways of reviving the economy. More importantly, the need to have ideas being relayed in a decentralised forum cannot be overemphasised, as it helps fast track the implementation of solutions on the ground.
What is more encouraging and touched us the most is the new political will to have the formation of the Manicaland Business Forum established.
Elsewhere in this newspaper, the Minister of State for Manicaland Affairs, Cde Monica Mutsvangwa is quoted expressing her willingness to have the Manicaland Business Forum in place.
In fact, Cde Mutsvangwa demonstrated her zeal and unmatched enthusiasm to see the formation of the Manicaland Business Forum by offering to have its secretariat under her office.
It only makes sense for every other progressive citizen in the province, as well as those who trace their roots to the province to join hands and help Cde Mutsvangwa in the establishment of the forum.
It is often said that the reason evil prevails is that good people do nothing about it and in the same measure, our economy is failing to perform simply because those that have the knowledge to turn it around have not bothered to sit down in serious engagements such as the Manicaland Business Forum.
One hopes that the renewed vigour to have the Manicaland Business Forum will see its formation well before the end of this year.
