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The Herald, July 3 1981

CONTROL and ownership of the country’s economic resources must be in the hands of Zimbabwean nationals, Mr Moton Malianga, Deputy Minister of Economic Planning and Development, said yesterday.

He told the CZI congress that unless this was achieved within a reasonable period, “we will have succeeded in creating conditions of revolution and political and economic instability to the detriment of the country and industry.

“Past policies on training and staff promotion in industry and, indeed, the whole economy, have been biased in favour of a minority of the population, and expatriate personnel.

“As part of the programme to redress existing imbalances, the Government will adopt policies that will encourage the training and upgrading of local personnel, particularly black Zimbabweans.”

Mr Malianga was one of several Cabinet Ministers who spoke on a wide range of industrial and financial issues at a question-and-answer session of the congress.

LESSONS FOR TODAY

Nationalist and freedom fighter, Cde Malianga, who died on January 15, is one of Zimbabwe’s founding fathers.

He was among the surviving members of the first generation of nationalists. The media is full of examples when late President Robert Mugabe, walking down memory lane, never failed to mention Cde Malianga’s name. He always celebrated his contributions since he entered the political arena.

Other than being declared a national hero for his tremendous contribution to Zimbabwe’s Independence and his post-independent work, it’s now up to Zimbabwe’s historians and other academics to write about the meaning of the legacy bequeathed by these brave men and women. As mortals, they made mistakes, but their contributions cannot be eclipsed by those errors.

Economic reform is the goal of every new government. They ensure that they craft smart economic policies that will result in productivity, job creation, wealth creation among all citizens.

The first Republic did that despite facing a myriad of challenges and resistance. The most important resource — land, is now in the hands of the majority.