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The Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation is certainly a brilliant document but it will amount to nothing unless we seek the face of God as a country

Victoria Ruzvidzo Business Focus
“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14.)
This is a profound verse in the Bible that could be a guiding principle for Zimbabwe at this hour.
As stated in my instalment last week, people are going through challenges that threaten to sink them into oblivion.

Some of you may be wondering now as to what the Bible and its contents have to do with the economy and everything else, but the truth is God has everything to do with all this.

He is the Creator of Heaven and Earth and all that is within. So things have to be done according to his plan and purposes if we are to yield much.
The challenges obtaining in the economy are surmountable but they now require a higher power to bring things to normalcy.

The Government, the private sector, civic society, the academia need guidance from God in strategising the best way out.
It is about time that the country’s leadership – political or otherwise – turned to God to salvage our situation.

As a country, collectively and as individuals, we have faltered before God. In fact we do so every day.
We have made corporate or individual decisions or choices that have not been in line with the will and purposes of God in our lives. We are certainly all not infallible.

But if we want the situation to change, we have to turn back to God and give the men and women that God has blessed this country with, their rightful position.
The situation is desperate but needs not deteriorate. We have a God who has plans to prosper us and not to harm us.

This same God always gives us choices but this time we have to choose right and seek His face and no other solution.
The Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation is certainly a brilliant document but it will amount to nothing unless we seek the face of God as a country.

The resources and the wisdom required to operationalise it are there in abundance but we can only access them if God becomes the centre of things in this country.
The truth of the matter is that without God, all our efforts will be in vain. That is a fact we cannot afford to run away from.

Psalm 127:1 says: “Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it. Except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. (King James Version)

In Zimbabwe we have seemingly tried everything that we possibly can.
We have a list of economic turnaround strategies that we have tried to implement but produced expected results just like all other human efforts.
But we have not diligently sought God. Something we must deliberately decide to do as a nation.

I rest my case!
Herewith some responses from last week’s column on the liquidity crunch and attendant challenges:

Valentine Makore wrote:
“The current liquidity crunch is only one of plethora of challenges that we face as a nation. No single company or individual has been spared from the  quagmire we all find ourselves in. We are monsters of our own destiny and it is only up to us to get ourselves out of these seemingly endless challenges we face.

“Unemployment in the country is at on all time high; those that are employed are either not getting sufficient remuneration to cater for the most basic of needs or are busy filling up their own pockets to the detriment of the whole country through corrupt and speculative activities.

“Children are dropping out school at alarming rate because of lack of funds for fees, teenage pregnancies and early marriages are now common place, retrenchments and company closures are not helping this already bad situation.

“I have come to realise though that singing about and highlighting our challenges, magnifying them, will not get us the desired results, and will not put food on the table or our kids in school.

“We cannot, indeed hide from our perennial challenges but decisive action and not just wallowing in self pity is what is required to get us out of this mess while Government leadership is essential for drafting and implementing any economics plan. There is need for a broader all-stockholder approach if we are to win this battle.

“We will do well as a nation to keep in mind that ours is a country blessed with a vast array of natural resources and a people that are among the most educated in the world. For us to see what we are truly capable of and realising our true potential, what we need is a massive attitude adjustment and to realise that no matter how strong and well-intentioned our efforts, they remain canal and lack heavenly wisdom for only God can deliver us from problems of this or any magnitude.

“We need to all concentrate on the task at hand and come up with the relevant weapons of warfare. The sun’s rays do not burn until brought into focus, so let us all attain and maintain a high level of focus that will see us reach that high we see at the end of this very dark tunnel.

“We need to see the opportunity out of every calamity but above all we need to look up to the heavens for God knows the plans he has for us as a country, plans to prosper us and not to harm us.

“We shall be victorious by God’s Grace.”
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Another reader had this to say:
“Hi my sister. I hope I find you well notwithstanding the present challenges you so eloquently brought to the fore in your article last week.
“I am never one to give praise liberally and those who know me can attest to this fact. But I also give credit where its due, in moderate doses, I have to say.
“There are a number of issues I found salient in your article and kindly allow me to comment.

“Things are tight for the generality of the populace. I do admit that there are some who are thriving in this situation and I am equally aware that it’s the exception not the norm.

“Companies, communities, families, households, marriages and individuals will testify to the hardships they are experiencing. You rightly mention that Zimbabweans are resilient. We definitely need this attribute in good measure.

“I am told that a rough sea makes a great captain. Perhaps tough or rough times make great citizens.
“More importantly, we need to dig deep into ourselves and find ways to navigate the challenges. It does not help matters when our import bill is US$7 billion against US$3 billion exports as you rightly informed us.

“Our dear nation will always be in dire straits if productivity is low. We need to get our priorities right and channel all available resources to improving production levels.

“Simple economics or observation dictates that no economy can thrive in the absence of high production levels. And I can confess I am no economist by training.
“I particularly liked your emphasis on action as opposed to rhetoric.

“Results come from action and not intention. No matter what the potential, if there is no goal-directed action, the results we desire will not be forthcoming.
“A number of challenges are emanating from the liquidity challenges.

“I am a fan of Oliver Mtukudzi and in one of my favourite songs from him he sings ‘Wongorora Chikonzero Chaita Musoro Uteme’, which translates to ‘address the root cause of the problem and not just the symptom’.

“I will give you credit for your articles which touch on issues that affect and afflict us as Zimbabweans from a business or economic point of view.
“Keep up the good work Simpson Takaendesa”

In God I Trust

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