"Shared Vision" will turn around economcy

....In his address, the President acknowledged t hat Zimbabwe's economy had suffered from the effects of drought and sanctions, resulting in shortages of food, medical drugs, electricity supply and steep rises in prices of basic commodities. "In response to these challenges, Government has adopted the National Economic Development Priority Programme to stabilise the economy in the next to six to nine months by focusing on food security and increasing agricultural production, foreign currency generation and mobilisation through the full utilisation of the idle capacity in all sectors of our economy, accompanied by aggressive marketing of Zimbabwe as a conducive investment destination," President Mugabe said.

Umm...you're taking over all the mines from outside investors, but you expect them to invest more money? HELLO...

...Minister Gumbo, who chaired the Press conference, started by chronicling the background to NEDPP, which took him close to 30 minutes. As he went through the document, all faces were filled with great enthusiasm....

A thirty minute speech...MEGO....must look enthusiastic...must look enthusiastic...zzzz....

One couldn't help the feeling that the new plan would completely change the face of the economy. From the captains of industry led by Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries president Mr Patison Sithole, to the ministers -- among them Dr Herbert Murerwa, Mr Didymus Mutasa, Mr Kembo Mohadi -- and the Reserve Bank governor Dr Gideon Gono, it was just what the doctor ordered.

Mr Gumbo did not monopolise the Press conference but opened it to his colleagues to add their voice to the new document jointly crafted by the Government and the private sector. After the conference, my mind was refreshed. I was filled with renewed hope that our economy can be revived within a very short space of time, not completely turned around, but we expect some positive developments. The perceptions that I had before have completely vanished. I thought disappointingly that I have not been playing my role, either in my capacity as a journalist or as a patriotic Zimbabwean to help revive the economy.

You're right. Any journalist who writes this type of asskissing article is NOT helping your country...

Forget about foreign currency shortages or inflation hovering over 900 percent, our economy is still vibrant and requires a little push to bring it back to its former glory. However, the biggest challenge, and one that could undermine the noble goals of this document, might be lack of commitment by stakeholders in particular and Zimbabweans in general.

There is need for shared vision and to adopt unity of purpose. It's high time we buried our differences and start working towards a common goal. Yes, on paper, the NEDPP, is quite excellent just like -- I suppose -- itspredecessors, but effective and collective implementation is the key, anchored by a common vision. Implementation should not be left to President Mugabe or his Vice Presidents, Ministers Gumbo and Murerwa or Dr Gono but should be embraced by the totality of all Zimbabweans, who should join hands and pull in the same direction. Everyone has a role to play if we are to turn around the economy. ....

Ummmm....how? Any details?