Zimbabwe is moving on from a dark past of fiscal failure, corruption, and economic mismanagement. Investor confidence is rising now that President Mnangagwa is at the helm of the country.
It is just over 100 days since he took office, and he has made it his policy to make the country attractive to investors, respect human rights and stimulate the economy. So far he has taken some small, but important steps to ease the lot of his people. These include free health care for the young and the elderly, the removal of most police roadblocks and spot fines.
Zimbabwe President Mnangagwa making the right moves
He has seen to it that some high profile people have been arrested on charges of corruption, all of which are vast improvements on his predecessor, Robert Mugabe. Al-Jazeera reports that he has already had some externalised funds returned to the country and cut new deals with countries such as Belarus, Russia, and China. He is also looking to revamp the almost defunct railways.
Capital is not pouring in yet, but there is a flurry of international organisations and individuals visiting the country to look for opportunities.
Zimbabwe, confidence by investors is rising
The confidence rising is not confined to foreign companies, and sources say that Zimbabweans themselves are looking forward to the future.
Admittedly, the cash crisis is still biting hard, and the USA won't lift sanctions, at least not yet. But the Zimbabwe Mail reported that former United States ambassador to Zimbabwe, Charles Ray has addressed a congressional committee saying, “If we truly want to see Zimbabwe develop to its potential, we must be prepared to work with the winner of a credible, nonviolent election, regardless of the political party.”
Medivac company sees an opportunity
Zimbabweans are looking to the future with renewed hope, and some of them are making positive plans to begin negotiations with government departments.
A source told this reporter that Knight Draw Investments, Pvt Ltd, Zimbabwe, is looking to start a medical evacuation company. They strongly feel that the country is starting to show signs of a renewed prosperity in the months and years to come. They are negotiating with Airbus, via a director resident in Lyon, France, for a fleet of H135 helicopters for the purposes of medical evacuation via air along the country's roads.
The source says that so far they have been in discussion with the government's Civil Protection Unit and have reached out to health officials who were keen to engage in discussion with the private sector. If all goes well, they hope to be operational before the year ends, providing necessary permits are rubber-stamped.
Room for airlines in the country
On another note, there are proposals that a new private airline should be started. The company envisions provision of domestic, regional, and perhaps even international flights. Investors are interested in such a business opportunity even though it is early days yet.
It is hoped to provide local flights to Kariba, Victoria Falls, and Bulawayo out of Harare.
If planned negotiations and hopes come to any fruition, they may look at expansion into regional airports in Malawi, South Africa, Botswana, and Namibia. There is, of course, the potential for long-haul flights to China, France, Dubai and London, UK.
Zimbabwe - a lot rides on the elections
Zimbabwe is not out of the political woods yet, although President Mnangagwa appears to be trying to make meaningful changes. There is an election still to come, but on the ground, there is optimism with many citizens feeling that they don't care who rules the country as long as they create employment, bring prosperity, prevent corruption, stop police brutality, and hold regular free and fair elections.
There is good reason for investors to be interested.
In the early 1990s, Zimbabwe was booming across the tourism sector. As Charles Ray pointed out, keeping Zimbabwe cash-starved is not the way to improve the lives of Zimbabweans. The outcome of the elections is, therefore, greatly anticipated, and if President Mnangagwa continues with his current reforms, he could very well be voted into power.
Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, President Mnangagwa said, "We want to have free, fair, credible elections, free of violence." He added that he would welcome international observers.
