Give credit where it’s due

THIS article attempts to highlight some of the good work that the government is of late undertaking.

THIS article attempts to highlight some of the good work that the government is of late undertaking.

Progressive economists have always argued that in an underperforming economy, State spending may raise the citizens’ buying power by way of creating jobs, thereby reducing unemployment. When a government takes this route it is said to be developmental in approach.

Government spending can be consumptive or developmental. Under the current economic malaise, developmental spending is advisable. In South Africa, there is a lot of infrastructural upgrading taking place. It is pleasing to note that the Zimbabwe government is investing in road networks.

Usable roads make movement of the public and goods easy, safe and fast. Even more pleasing, is the fact that for the first time in the political history of Zimbabwe, a deliberate decision has been made to kick start the road network upgrading from Plumtree in Matabeleland South via Matabeleland North, the Midlands, Harare, Mashonaland East up to Mutare.

This is indeed a national project, to which a good number of provinces benefited. It is encouraging to hear that plans are underway to upgrade the Beitbridge to Victoria Falls Road. Recently, the Transport minister was quoted in the local paper informing the country that a $750 million loan has been clinched with the DBSA Bank. This is great news given the state of the economy.

It is no secret that Zimbabwe is very good at coming up with brilliant proposals. The major problem is on implementing high sounding proposals. On the road network upgrading, the decision to contract a well resourced company like the Group Five is commendable.

The country’s greatest unmaking is to do with tendering procedures. At times companies of no repute are given jobs ahead of professional firms.

Failure to disclose interest by individuals compromises the tender adjudication process. Recruitment is another area that needs special attention.

Using the road network as an example: A quota system may be used especially in the recruitment of unskilled labour. The project must be planned in such a way that each province benefits by way of seconding own (unskilled) manpower to the project.

Alternatively, a skills data base could be established, such that in a situation where the province has all the required skills, it must be given the opportunity to lend its expertise.

Besides promoting a sense of belonging, the province if so recognised will tend to develop a culture of loving own country.

This disbanding of big companies has created opportunities for indigenous players to come aboard. One is now faced with the problem of balancing the act.

On one hand there is need to resuscitate disbanded firms, while on the other indigenous practitioners may resist or block the revival of industry or other entities for fear of losing out business.

The big question is: Are we singing from the same hymn book in as far as revival of industry and other infrastructure is concerned?

Maybe, in order to minimise this element of business rivalry, there is need to revisit the Parliament Act(s) that deal with road, rail and air transportation. There was once a time when a certain category of goods were carried by rail only leaving others to road and air transporters.

The advantage of using the rail is reduction of heavy trucks on the roads, thereby elongating the lifespan of roads as wear and tear would be minimised.

Once upon a time, it was said:- “Masvingo nekapeti” and for a worthy change, it is now “KoBulawayo ngekhaphethi emnyama”, meaning to (Bulawayo on a black carpet).

Development needs to be rotational in approach. As alluded to earlier on, the government has done well, in as far as road networks upgrading is concerned.

Key to the sustained continuation of this noble encounter are professionalism in tendering, quota system, spread of recruitment provincially, declaration of individual or organisation interest (recusal) and using similar criteria in embarking on other projects.

In this way, the “Buy Zimbabwe” buzz word would get buyers and Zimbabweans would start loving and being good salespeople for their motherland. Long live Zimbabwe.

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