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(DAILY MAIL ZM) ‘Landlocked no curse’ – Mugabe

‘Landlocked no curse’ – Mugabe
August 5, 2012 | Filed under: Local News | Posted by: web editor
By CHARLES MUSONDA

PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe has said Zimbabwe and Zambia should stop looking at their ‘land-locked’ geographical position as a curse and work to turn it into an economic opportunity.

Officially opening the 86th Zambia Agricultural and Commercial Show in Lusaka Saturday, Mugabe suggested the southern African neighbours start considering themselves as “land-linked” as opposed to “land locked”.

“Being at the heart of the southern African region,” President Mugabe said, “Zimbabwe and Zambia offer a good location for regionally targeted industrial investments and infrastructure development projects.”

He added that opportunities for investors to undertake infrastructure development projects that are critical for industrial development and facilitation of competitive trade abound for the two neighbours.

“It is important for our two countries to prioritise inter-related infrastructure development projects in the transport, communications and energy sectors in order to increase the competitiveness of our productive sectors and facilitate trade,” Mr Mugabe said.

He said this when he officially opened the 86th Zambia Agricultural and Commercial Show in Lusaka yesterday on invitation from his Zambian counterpart Michael Sata.
President Mugabe restated that the government and people of Zimbabwe are profoundly thankful for the invitation to participate and preside over this year’s important agriculture event.

Mr Mugabe said the theme of this year’s show, ‘Building on today’s Prosperity’, is appropriate as it rightfully points to the Zambian economy’s potential in Southern Africa and the rest of the world.

“I am pleased to note that Zambia has continued to maintain a trade policy aimed at enhancing productivity and competitiveness of Zambian products, on both the domestic and international markets, in order to achieve higher levels of economic growth and development,” he said.

Mr Mugabe called for diversification of economic activities in the agricultural, mining, manufacturing, and service sectors by placing increased emphasis on value addition.

“Dependence on the production and export of primary commodities, whose demand and prices are externally driven, will not lead us to the economic growth paradise that we so desire,” he said.

On this score, Mr Mugabe is pleased to note that Zambia’s industrial policy aims at improving and facilitating investment in the manufacturing sector, which will lead to increased value addition and manufactured exports, job creation, and generation of foreign currency.

By using the same policy direction, the Zimbabwean government is also committed to driving the country through economic empowerment for the majority of its people.
“We therefore welcome bona fide investors from all over the world who wish to seize the investment opportunities in various sectors of our economy on a win-win basis for the benefit of our country and her people,” he said.

He added that the volume of trade between Zambia and Zimbabwe is continuously increasing and rose to US$300 million last year, up from US$220 million in 2010. President Sata toured the show also.

And KAPALA CHISUNKA reports that five companies have been awarded in different categories in this year’s 86th Agricultural and Commercial Show. The Zambia Sugar Plc walked away with Best Overall Exhibit, while the Zambia Information Communication and Technology Authority (ZICTA) was awarded for the best interpretation of this year’s theme.

Best International Exhibit went to Afrox Limited and Commercial category’s men in Zambia trophy went to Sylva Catering Services while Eastern Province walked away with the National Productivity award in the Agriculture category. The Cattle Competition Category was given to Zambeef.

Meanwhile, President Michael Sata and visiting Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe toured the stands separately.

The two Presidents then proceeded for lunch hosted in their honour before returning to the main arena in the afternoon for the official opening of the show.

Labels: INFRASTRUCTURE, MICHAEL SATA, ROBERT MUGABE, ZAMBIA AGRICULTURE AND COMMERCIAL SHOW

posted by MrK @ 7:16 PM