The Sunday News
Mthabisi Tshuma, Sunday News Reporter
THE Government’s global campaign targeting Zimbabweans in the Diaspora to invest in the country as part of the nation’s rebuilding exercise has been heeded by Diasporas based in the United Kingdom with some coming up with a platform to initiate development in Matabeleland.
Matabeleland Development Initiative (MDI) founded by Mr Freeman Ncube and Mr Vusani Khumalo both based in the UK, is targeting to invest in educational, health, among other sectors mainly in the Matabeleland region.
The move is a stamp of approval on President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s call that “Zimbabwe is open for business” and that Diasporans should take a leading role in investing back home.
MDI chairman Mr Ncube said his organisation was non-political and was aimed at making sure people from the region take part in developing the country.
“We are a non-political organisation though we are working with the local Government structures, community organisations, among others as we eye to develop the Matabeleland region.
“We have more than 15 organisations in the Diaspora and 2 000 Diaspora individuals who are MDI members with interest to invest in Zimbabwe.
“We are working with established organisations and individuals on the ground as collecting data on where we can chip in.
“We do not want an influx of organisations focusing on one sector but we aim at having a balanced oriented development of our country,” he said.
Mr Ncube said they have organised a business gala meant for businesspeople to interact and share ideas.
“We are having a business gala on May 18 here in Bulawayo and we are calling investors to take it as an opportunity to meet other businesspeople and those from Government.
“Guest speakers for the day include UK-based economic investment specialist Dr Sean Sibanda, Dr Nkosana Moyo (not the politician), Deputy Finance Minister Terence Mukupe, among others,” he said.
On the same day, MDI will also host an educational indaba at the Large City Hall where they will interact with teachers’ unions, teachers, academics, civic organisations, pupils and donor members of the community.
MDI executive director Mr Khumalo said some of the projects that have been lined up for the programme would be unveiled at the business indaba.
“We established this organisation in November and since then doors have opened for us.
“We have met and partnered other stakeholders in other developmental projects set to take place in the region and we are going to unveil to the public those projects on the day of the business interaction meeting,” he said.
Senior Principal Director and Head of Public Affairs in the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC), Ambassador Mary Mubi recently said that the country needs to look at the changing desires in the market place.
The OPC has been co-ordinating information from the provincial and national committees in order to come up with communication products for different audiences.
The captured information will form the basis for the national campaign, which will in turn feed into the global and the Diaspora campaign. -@mthabisi_mthire
