By Nick Mangwana
MY party Zanu-PF has provided the media with so much to write about. What, with
so many sound bites and catch phrases entering our lexicon! In the last few months we have been reminded that there is something called
“Gamatox”, we rolled our eyes in nostalgic trance. Trying to remember what in God’s name that actually is.
This was a follow-up to the boosting of our
ontological knowledge through “Weevil/ Chipfukuto”.
For those who are thirsty, there is “Mazoe Crush”.
If you missed that one, you definitely now know what a “Lacuna” is. Then to cap
it all “Gay Gangsters”! When it comes to our revolutionary party you are never
far away from drama and theatre.
But nicely tucked away or flying off the radar in this Zanu-PF word stock are “Value addition and Beneficiation”.
We even had the generosity of giving the phrase to
Sadc in August 2014.We felt the region had a few things to learn from
us. During the term of our chairmanship of Sadc that will be our catchphrase
until the region is in total harmony with it. The reader should try this; Google “Value Addition
and Beneficiation”. You are sure to find either Zimbabwe or Zim-Asset
coming up in the suggestions. In this I take pride.
We have scored another first. Yes, I say another because we also gave the world
“Indigenisation”. The reader is challenged to try that one as well.
Zimbabwe will emerge in most, if not all hits.Why is this important, you may ask?
How does this help feed families?
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| SADC is adopting a similar approach with President Robert Mugabe leading the way. |
How does this help fulfil those job promises? The
answer is in that these are the words at the heart of Zanu-PF policies.
How can it not be important when commercial mining
has been happening in Zimbabwe since 1888 and yet Zimbabwe has little to show
for it?
This was when that trickster Charles Rudd, acting
on behalf of Cecil John Rhodes, used subterfuge to gain exclusive control of
Mashonaland and Matabeleland mining rights.
This was the beginning of the exporting of primary
minerals from Zimbabwe. We fast forward to this day; Zimbabwe is leading the
resource-rich Africa in saying this cannot be allowed to carry on.
The indigenous population needs to benefit from
what is extracted from their territories (Indigenisation). But not only that, the mines should process these
minerals in Zimbabwe and beneficiate them in Zimbabwe (Value Addition and
Beneficiation). This will boost the value of those minerals as well
as create downstream industry and employment. Yes, part of those 2,2 million jobs depend on this.
You may not like Zanu-PF. It is your right. But
surely, you would struggle to find fault with this policy.By all means, please enjoy our drama and everything
else that we do, but you surely would have difficulties in finding any
malfeasance in this noble policy. How can you?
Nigeria is one of the world’s top producers and
exporters of crude oil.Ironically, it is also a top importer of petroleum
and allied products at extortionate rates. How can they solve this absurdity?
The only answer to this irregularity is beneficiation.
Cote d’ivoire is the world’s best cocoa producer .
Ghana is number 3. Cocoa is the biggest ingredient in chocolate. How
many of us have ever eaten a Ghanaian chocolate? In fact, the best producers of chocolate are
Switzerland and Belgium. All from imported cocoa beans!
If that situation is not anomalous, then I don’t
know what is. Let us bring it closer to home a bit. Zimbabwe has the second largest platinum reserves
in the world after South Africa. Are we even in the top ten league of producers
of catalytic converters, laboratory equipment, electrical contacts or
electrodes?
Are we even producing, dentistry equipment or
platinum jewellery? For these are the things that platinum is used for. The
answer to these question is not in a yes or no. The answer is value-addition
and beneficiation.
Granted there is always a large gap between
Government policy and public opinion.So one has to understand the cynicism of some of
our compatriots. How can we not empathise with that cynicism, when
there seems to be a war of attrition within my party?
We should surely print tickets and start charging for some of this entertainment we provide.
But one clever person said that, the cure of
cynicism is to engage honestly. Yes with honest engagement one would notice that
behind all the comedy and farce the Zanu-PF Government is addressing these
travesties in resource politics.
It has pushed the platinum producers to build a
refinery plant.Whenever platinum is refined there are other
benefits. Platinum is normally associated with other base metals like iron,
copper nickel and cobalt, as well as gold and silver.This list is quite long and includes other metals
like iridium, ruthenium, iridium and osmium.
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| Whilst the drama is keeping some people entertained: a platinum refinery is being built in Zimbabwe in pursuit of Value Addition |
Without our own refinery our platinum will continue
being refined in South Africa and we will lose the value and benefit of those
other products. With more positiveness, one would also notice that
there is a policy intent to build a university for Value Addition and
Beneficiation.
Surely one cannot find anything amiss with this
policy too. I have been asked many times why I am a member of Zanu-PF. The answer for me has been quite easy. Of course,
Zanu-PF is all I have been all my life by familial default. But it is policies like these that made me buy my
first card decades ago. It is polices such as these that make me pay my
subscription every month.
It is these type of empowerment ideologies that gives an opposition party its worst nightmare. For how can one oppose these?
How can you say this is wrong and win an election?
If you say it’s not wrong then what are you opposing?
One can contend that, it is the epitome of
mediocrity to just to oppose for the sake of having an opposition.
For beyond all the Zanu-PF drama, the fury and sound bites there is a sound policy.
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NONE-BUT-OURSELVES CAN BUILD A SUCCESSFUL ZIMBABWE.
TOGETHER WE CAN
Visit: ZANU PF UK Official Website.
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Nick Mangwana is Chairman —
Zanu-PF UK . He can be reached on info@zanupf-uk.com
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