Mnangagwa happy with FDI surge

Published: 29 January 2018

President Emmerson Mnangagwa says foreign direct investment (FDI) amounting to US$2,4 billion that has been injected into the country in the past two months already surpasses yearly capital that used to come into the country in the past.

President Mnangagwa said this when he met Zimbabwean professionals resident in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and Zimbabwe embassy staff yesterday.

The interactive meeting was also attended by the First Lady, Amai Auxillia Mnangagwa.

"There have been a lot of enquiries coming in from different quarters and prospects for economic revival are looking bright," he said.

The President implored Zimbabweans to identify areas that they can participate in especially in the agriculture value chain, infrastructure rehabilitation projects, manufacturing, tourism and mining for them to be able to compete with multinational companies which are showing a keen interest to invest in Zimbabwe.

Mnangagwa also said Zimbabwe will soon go for elections, which must be held in a free, fair, credible and violence-free environment, adding that the country's re-engagement is anchored on the promise to hold elections when they are due.

The president also noted that there is no need to shut away those who are interested in observing the elections.

He however explained the issue of diaspora vote, saying at the moment Zimbabwe does not have the capacity to allow Zimbabweans living outside the country to vote but it is an area that his government will pursue in future.

Even though Zimbabwe has registered significant progress with regards to participation of women in politics in the country, women's participation in government at all levels remains extremely low and the President urged women who have what it takes to become active players in politics.

President Mnangagwa is in Ethiopia to attend his first African Union (AU) Summit and he took the opportunity to brief Zimbabweans on the path that his government is taking to revive the economy and the smooth transition that occurred in Zimbabwe in November last year.

Last week, he took his re-engagement campaign to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where he witnessed the great enthusiasm and excitement that opportunities available in Zimbabwe are generating among foreign investors.
- zbc