The Sunday News
Emmanuel Kafe, Harare Bureau
ZIMBABWEANS using social media to denigrate the country and downplay its development lack vital understanding and should consider becoming economically productive in order to build the nation, United Family International Church (UFIC) leader Prophet Emmanuel Makandiwa has said.
The Second Republic under President Mnangagwa, said Prophet Makandiwa, was undertaking transformative developmental projects that have placed the country in good stead for rapid economic growth. He was speaking before thousands of congregates attending the UFIC Easter Conference in Chitungwiza yesterday.
Prophet Makandiwa likened the constant belittling of one’s own nation to a foreign audience through social media to a disease resulting from the “manifestation of a curse”. He said, for some, unfairly criticising Zimbabwe had become an occupation.
“The problem with being a critic is that criticising can develop and eventually become a passion, and from being a passion it eventually becomes a commitment, and it then becomes an occupation.
My heart bleeds a lot when I look at the next generation drowning every single day in this situation in this quagmire called social media.
No one can ever convince your children that having access to a smartphone doesn’t mean that you have access to smart thinking. That is why sometimes we say the things we say.
Having access to the internet does not mean you have access to wisdom.
Every man now has his own opinion. I am encouraging you my brothers and sisters to focus and look at what has been done so far.”
Prophet Makandiwa stamped his seal of approval on Government’s development of key economic enablers such as roads, the Beitbridge Border Post and the Hwange Thermal Power Station.
He said the rehabilitation and construction of new roads was already helping save lives.
He said there was an unfair expectation on President Mnangagwa to deliver in five years developmental projects that have a decade-long gestation period.
The ongoing expansion and modernisation of the Beitbridge Border Post, pointed out Prophet Makandiwa, was a bold declaration of President Mnangagwa’s intent to create an economic climate that is conducive to investors.
“Now you look at the Beitbridge Border Post; if you are into trucks you will agree with me that your truck would be stuck there for six days. But if you look at how Government has managed to modernise that port, it now takes you less than 20 minutes (to pass through). There is nothing that says do business in this country, which is more than the creation of such an environment at the port. To me, that is a statement.”
He said the President’s campaign for next year’s general election will be greatly aided by the developmental projects being undertaken by his Government.
“Even if you desist from campaigning, let the works speak for you. I cannot look at such a road and remain quiet.”
Prophet Makandiwa explained, in lucid detail, how the expansion of the Hwange Thermal Power Station was set to transform Zimbabwe into an electricity exporting nation soon.
He said the establishment of innovation hubs at all State universities will be the cornerstone of the country’s industrialisation agenda.
President Mnangagwa’s ability to ignore rabid critics while continuing to deliver progress was a clear indication of a hard-working, committed and God-given leader, emphasised Prophet Makandiwa.
“Your ability, Your Excellency and honourable Vice President (Dr Constantino Chiwenga), to be able to concentrate on your work and allow all of us to bark whilst you are concentrating on your work, is a God-given ability. Not many can do that. Many of us feel like retaliating, but you keep on focusing on your work. We are going to give you our support, we are your children we are your sons and daughters.”
He also praised Government for its handling of the Covid-19 pandemic thanking authorities for implementing measures that safeguarded lives and the economy.
