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Naturally, she spoke glowingly about their project, which has been dormant for some time due to some issues. She is one woman exuding such passion to see the project back to life again. She was quick to explain why and she had all the facts on her fingertips. Certainly, Green Fuels is richer with such a committed person.
She said her project fitted well in a project called Zimbabwe!
We spoke about the possibilities in this economy, the challenges that are constricting progress and a whole host of issues as we enjoyed our lunch.
The discussion really got me thinking that there are so many possibilities in this country that have not materialised because of one reason or the other. Lilian even mentioned the fact that Zimbabwe could soon become self-sufficient in terms of fuel once the Chisumbanje project roars back to life.
She said there was so much scope in reviving the biodiesel plant that has become a white elephant just outside Harare. Her explanations made great sense and really showed that there is so much on the table for this country but somehow the mathematics has just not been adding up.
A project called Zimbabwe is a viable one that any banker would want to finance. Its stock inventory looks impressive, its figures on the income statement and the balance sheet are not easy on the eye but facts on the ground show that panel-beating its business plan and an injection of fresh funds will give impetus to its economy.
There are a number of pockets and areas that, if implemented efficiently and effectively, will transform this project into a buy for any investor. I have already touched on the Chisumbanje project as one such project that could feed into the country’s vision..
Indigenisation
There is no doubt in our minds that this is one strategy that is set to transform Zimbabwe’s economic landscape in a significant way. Empowering a nation’s citizenry is the best that any leader can do.
Indigenisation could unlock a lot of value, monetarily and otherwise that is resident in the economy. It could be in terms of skills and the brains to run viable ventures that will contribute significantly to the Gross Domestic Product.
There is so much scope for an expeditious, but well-calculated format to implement the programme without necessarily scuttling other efforts to grow the economy. However, there has been so much positive and negative energy that has been expended over whose formula, among the promoters, should be followed.
From where we stand, indigenisation is far above individuals and any dissenting parties need to come together to map a way forward. I am in no doubt that the current debate on the implementation matrix is meant to help the economy at large, hence the nation, so it is critical that the focus, as discussions progress, should remain on the project called Zimbabwe.
The economy is replete with opportunities, be it in mining, agriculture, tourism, manufacturing and others from which Zimbabweans can benefit through indigenisation and economic empowerment.
It would be a sad day for our country if disagreements or turf wars currently engulfing the process were to yield nothing for the economy. The current negative energy should be transformed into kinetic energy to help sustain the process.
Of course, we take comfort from the fact that indigenisation is not an event but a process. Do we make the cake bigger first? Do we first share what is already on the table? Or do we do both at the same time? Food for thought. But everything must be done to ensure that the project called Zimbabwe benefits from this process.
A shift of the mindset
Zimbabweans are hospitable and patriotic people that love a good life. While exogenous factors such as sanctions and the global economic instability have had a bearing on our economy and, therefore, the quality of life for the generality of Zimbabweans, a significant chunk of our challenges should be accounted for by the attitude that some exhibit towards the project called Zimbabwe.
In Government, private sector or civil society many have been destroying where others are building through corruption, greed, selfishness and acute myopia that seems to have afflicted many of those that are in influential and decision-making positions.
An already precarious state of affairs has been worsened by those that seem to worry about themselves and how they can enrich their lot at the expense of the project called Zimbabwe. If we all put our heads together and seek to contribute towards the shaping this project we will achieve much.
If we go in opposite directions we can only decelerate the construction of the project called Zimbabwe. Right from the worker on the shopfloor to the Government official in his well-ventilated office, from the street vendor to the chief executive in a well-furnished office, we all should strive to contribute positively to the project called Zimbabwe.
Aggressive marketing
I was disappointed by news coming out of Berlin,  Germany, last week that only a few tour operators made it to the tourism fair in that country, leaving the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority stranded as tourism wholesalers required more information and direct contact with tour operators. With the UNWTO General Assembly a few months away, local operators should have taken this grand opportunity to sell our resorts to the millions of visitors and operators at the fair.
Zimbabwean operators should have gone there in their numbers to claim a fair share of the US$1,3 trillion that global tourism earns directly every year.
This is the time that we should be aggressively marketing the country, promoting the brand called Zimbabwe.
The global stage is a place where only the fittest survive. Any sulking or complacency by any play will only lead to its presence on that stage diminishing. So let’s all pull our socks to ensure no amount of bad-mouthing or anti-Zimbabwe crusade will submerge the project called Zimbabwe.
Next week we look at other aspects of this project called Zimbabwe.
In God I trust

l Email:[email protected]