ZIA Network

Understanding and Embracing the New Dispensation in Zimbabwe

25 March 2009

Mr. Speaker, Sir, Cabinet Ministers, Honorable members of Parliament I rise to make my maiden speech in this august house. We are at a stage in our country where we are building bridges. We are at that juncture where we have found each other. We have come together; we must stay together, work together and deliver on the promise of our revolution. This is national interest time. We have embarked on an irreversible process of inclusiveness with the clear understanding that the GPA of 15^th September 2008 is the only workable arrangement in our country.

Deputy Prime Minister Mutambara, Honourable Ministers, Business Leaders, Invited Guests:

I welcome this opportunity to speak with you today on the issue of creating Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) to unlock the development potential of our nation and enhance the ability of this new Government to deliver much needed services to the people of Zimbabwe.

We are all aware of the devastating impact of the past decade of economic decline on Zimbabwe’s service delivery capacity and infrastructural base.

Deputy Prime Minister, Professor Arthur Mutambara, Minister of Industry and Commerce, Professor Welshman Ncube, All Ministers here present, the Chairman of National Economic Consultative Forum, Dr Robbie Mupawose, Captains of Industry both local and international, Union Leaders, Ladies and Gentlemen.

It is a great pleasure for me to be with you this morning to give you my vision regarding the direction our economy is taking.  What is clear is that Zimbabwe belongs to all of us, its fate is in our own hands and we all have a role to play in ensuring the success of our beautiful nation. 

Master of Ceremonies, Minister of Labour and Social Services, Honourable Mparirwa, Honourable Ministers, Acting Director of the ILO Sub-Regional Office, Mr. Tabi-Abodo, Trade Union and Business Leaders, Ambassadors, The UN Resident Co-ordinator and Representatives of other International Organisations, Senior Government Officials, Invited Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen:

I would like to thank the Minister of Labour and Social Services, the Honourable Mpariwa and the Acting Director of the ILO Sub-Regional Office, Mr Tabi-Abodo, for inviting me to join my colleagues from Government, and representatives from Labour and Business in commemorating the 90 year anniversary of the International Labour Organisation.

Your  Excellency, President Mugabe, Vice President Mujuru,  Deputy Prime Minister Khupe, Deputy Prime Minister Mutambara, Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Invited Guests;

There is no other group of people in Zimbabwe today upon whom the success of the Global Political Agreement rests as heavily as it does on our shoulders. We who are gathered here today, hold the future of our nation in our hands. Our actions over the next months will dictate whether Zimbabwe grows and prospers or resumes its economic and social decline.