PRESIDENT Mnangagwa will deliver Zimbabwe to the promised
land because of his clear economic vision, his tough anti-corruption stance and
his sound re-engagement drive, Tanzanian Ambassador to Zimbabwe Professor
Emmanuel Mbennah has said.
In an interview with The Herald, Prof Mbennah, whose
country recently became an upper middle class economy, said President Mnangagwa
has laid a solid foundation that will make Zimbabwe the Jewel of Africa.
“I really commend President Mnangagwa for the works he is
doing. He is focused on the progress of the country, obviously, the challenges
are not few, but he is working very hard.
“Some things that I can identify with Tanzania is the
ardent fight against corruption. It does not matter who it is. If anyone is
found on the wrong side of the law, action is taken, people are arrested and
taken to court and that is very much what Tanzania has done especially during
the tenure of President Magufuli.”
Corruption, Prof Mbennah said, was a problem in many
countries and President Mnangagwa was doing all he could to show his resolve in
dealing with the scourge.
President Mnangagwa has vowed to stamp out the scourge of
corruption that permeates all facets of life.
So far President Mnangagwa has relieved two of his Cabinet
ministers of their duties after they were implicated in corrupt dealings.
Several former senior Government officials, who have been
implicated in corruption are either serving or have cases pending before the
country’s courts of law.
With the President sending the right signals that have won
him global recognition, Prof Mbennah said it is incumbent upon the country’s
populace, including those in the opposition to be united.
“My call to the people of Zimbabwe is to rally behind the
President and support him because he means well for the country. He gives his
best and success will come and we are already seeing the signs, but people of
Zimbabwe including those in the opposition will have to support the President,”
he said.
He decried the country’s opposition, which perpetually
agitates for unrest and consorts with foreign nations to cause pain on
Zimbabweans through imposition of illegal sanctions, saying they should instead
focus on the country’s development.
“In Tanzania we have opposition parties, but it is very
clear that people in the opposition consider Tanzania first. We may have
different ideas and different ideologies, but we are here to give everything to
the development of the country.
“My appeal to the people of Zimbabwe is build Zimbabwe,
don’t pull it down, you don’t have another Zimbabwe. Building means building,
you cannot be destroying one side and say you are building. There are a lot of
things I see on social media that are destructive (and) will not take Zimbabwe
forward.”
On patriotism, Prof Mbennah said it was obligatory for
every Zimbabwean not to speak ill or his or her country. He said Zimbabwe was
endowed with a highly-educated populace, hardworking and very intelligent.
“If the people put their heads together Zimbabwe will be a
shining star not only in the region, but also internationally. My appeal to
Zimbabwe is to keep working hard and for everyone to stand behind the
President. The opposition should also contribute towards building Zimbabwe.
“We need to be wise in dealing with those who purport to be
our friends. They are only friends because they want to benefit. There are so
many good friends that Zimbabwe can count on and not those who are working
against the Government,” said Prof Mbennah.
Despite the fact that the country’s opposition parties are
throwing spanners, Ambassador Mbennah said the re-engagement drive was bearing
fruit.
“The efforts of the Second Republic are very clear. Efforts
of re-engagement are bearing fruits and most world nations are coming closer to
Zimbabwe including the UK. The recent lifting of sanctions against some banks
is also a good sign for Zimbabwe”.
Ambassador Mbennah said the John Deere farm mechanisation
facility was an indicator of the positive outcome of the country’s
re-engagement drive. Herald
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