As the dust settles on the shock transition that swept Emmerson Mnangagwa to the presidency of Zimbabwe in November last year, he has earnestly set about repositioning the southern Afrikan state vis-a-vis the international community. Firstly, he recently promised “free, credible, fair and indisputable elections within “four to five months.” (1)

 

Other measures touted include rejoining the Commonwealth and setting up a special tribunal to determine compensation for former white commercial farmers stripped of land since 2000. (2) Some observers see the recent case of white farmer Rob Smart, for whom President Mnangagwa personally oversaw the giving of land to as a statement of intent. (3) However, this has raised concerns about whether the gains of land reform process are now in jeopardy. The new president has sought to allay those fears:

“Zimbabwe’s historical realities and the fact that dispossession of ancestral land was the fundamental reason for waging the liberation struggle means that land cannot be reversed.” (4)

 

It is clear from recent pronouncements and activities that economic recovery is the main priority. Coming after decades of “immoral” (5) sanctions that were “too big a toll” for a country to be carrying for so many years (6) could no longer be endured. One argument is that the indelible association of Zimbabwe with Robert Mugabe meant that no easing of Western (USA/UK/EU) sanctions were possible with him at the helm. (7)

 

Consequently President Mnangagwa is making a concerted effort to make a clear and unmistakable distinction between himself and his predecessor. For example the president is going to great lengths to declare Zimbabwe “open for business,” while rolling back elements of the indiginisation programme that proved so electorally popular in 2013. (8) “Under the amendment, instead of their being a 51/49 percent indigenisation threshold for all partnerships with foreign companies, this will now only apply to two minerals in the extractive sector – diamonds and platinum. (9)

 

At the recent Davos World Economic Forum in Switzerland, the Zimbabwean government was openly courting foreign investors and by all accounts there was a fair amount of reciprocation with confirmed meetings with a range of global business giants including Phillips, New York head quartered global management consulting firm McKinsey & Company, Royal Dutch and Indian company Ashok Leyland, who proclaimed Afrika as “the next growth frontier.”:

“At present we are just in love with Africa. We see a great future and we feel we have to help and support its economic growth.” (10)

 

Additionally, the UK based business intelligence consultancy firm, Alaco Limited forecasts that President Mnangagwa ”could turnaround the country’s economy and may deliver sufficient economic gains in the next few months.” (11) All of this is a startling contrast to the ”basket case” and “shambles” country’s economy was being referred to as as recently as last November. (12)

 

Up to now much of the focus for the new administration has been on foreign investment from large, multinational corporations from Europe or Asia. If Zimbabwe and indeed Afrika is “the next growth frontier” there should be little reason why Afrikans cannot be part of the success story.

 

It seems clear that there is scope for Afrikan multinationals but what of smaller scale enterprises? There could be scope here thanks to ahead of the curve initiatives like Mother Earth Minerals and Mining Services (MEMAMS) headed Sisters Makkedah Idawah, Zauditu Ishuah, Benji Warrior and until her untimely passing, Chipo.

 

This community enterprise began operating in the Zimbabwe mining sector, describing itself less as ”foreign investment” than an holistic “Economic Deliverance Project.” Through it’s vision to ”Inite Afrika” MEMAMS advocates the Afrikan world community thinking globally and putting our resources in the Motherland. (13)

 

Another project, also currently focused on Zimbabwe is Starlight Global, helmed by Sis. Shanice Lindsay who combines informative trips with prospecting investment opportunities. The next trip is scheduled for October 2018 (14).

 

in terms of investment, it will be interesting to explore whether modest enterprises can gain a foothold alongside international conglomerates. Or perhaps there may be scope for consolidate some of these modest initiatives into something more substantial. If others can be ”just in love with Africa” perhaps it’s time to Afrikans themselves to demonstrate its love in more meaningful ways.

 

(1) Jason Burke (18/01/18) Zimbabwe president promises ‘free and fair’ election in five months. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jan/18/zimbabwe-president-pledges-free-and-fair-vote-in-four-to-five-months

(2) Ibid

(3) Peta Thornycroft (07/12/17) New regime in Zimbabwe hands back land to evicted white farmer. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/12/07/new-regime-zimbabwe-hands-back-land-evicted-white-farmer/

(4) Farirai Machivenyika (19/01/18) ED launches investment policy. http://www.herald.co.zw/ed-launches-investment-policy

(5) Ijabla Raymond (24/11/17) Did Mugabe Destroy Zimbabwe Or Did Western Sanctions?. http://saharareporters.com/2017/11/24/did-mugabe-destroy-zimbabwe-or-did-western-sanctions-dr-ijabla-raymond

(6) Bernard Mpofu (09/12/10) ‘Sanctions too big a toll for Zim.’ https://www.theindependent.co.zw/2010/12/09/sanctions-too-big-a-toll-for-zim/

(7) Joe Brock and Ed Cropley (05/09/17) Behind the scenes, Zimbabwe politicians plot post-Mugabe reforms. https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/zimbabwe-mugabe-farming/

(8) Rangu Nyamurundira (12/08/13) Indigenisation won the vote. http://www.herald.co.zw/indigenisation-won-the-vote-2/

(9) Machivenyika. Op cit.

(10) Happiness Zengeni (24/01/18) Global business giants line up to meet ED. http://www.herald.co.zw/global-business-giants-line-up-to-meet-ed/

(11) Mthandazo Nyoni (25/01/18) UK report tips ED to revive economy. https://www.newsday.co.zw/2018/01/uk-report-tips-ed-revive-economy/

(12) The Straits Times (16/11/17) From bread-basket to basket case: Zimbabwe’s economy in shambles as Mugabe era draws to an end.. http://www.straitstimes.com/world/africa/from-bread-basket-to-basket-case-zimbabwes-economy-in-shambles-as-mugabe-era-draws-to

(13) Afrika Speaks with Alkebu-Lan (01/02/16) Will we ever achieve Economic Empowerment in the UK? Pt 2. https://alkebulanrevivalistmovement.wordpress.com/2016/02/01/afrika-speaks-will-we-ever-achieve-economic-empowerment-in-the-uk-pt-2/

More than 100 UN peacekeepers ran a child sex ring in Haiti. None were ever jailed. https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2017/04/12/un-peacekeepers-child-sex-ring-left-victims-but-no-arrests.html

(14) Starlight Music Academy (23/12/17) Zimbabwe 2018. https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/5dc8d1_b7c7cdceaa9249bdb4ecd85d78d7bbbf.pdf

 

we ask the question:

 

Is Afrika ”Open for business” for us?

1) Was the Change in leader necessary for Zimbabwe’s economic survival?

2) With all the European multinational corporation interest is there scope for modest Afrikan investors?

3) Are YOU ”just in love” with Afrika?

4) Has the media shaped our view of the economic viability of Afrika? Is it shaping it now?

5) Do you know how to go about investing in Afrika?

 

Our very special guests:

 

Sis. Shanice Lindsay: In addition to manager of Starlight Music Academy, a platform for engaging young people and Starlight Global, an Afrikan investment and tour company, Sis. Shanice holds a Masters Degree in Public Sector Strategy and has over 30 years experience in a professional capacity, executing Economic Development, Regeneration, Business training, Business start-ups, Equal Opportunities and Community Engagement plans, across the public, private and charity sectors. She is also an independent film maker and hosts the Afrikan Empowerment Zone show every Wednesday from 10am to 1pm on Galaxy Radio.