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Zim Has Potential to be Middle-Income Economy:Khama

Former Botswana president Retired General Ian Khama has said Zimbabwe, just like Botswana is able to reach a middle-income economy by depoliticising economic development issues.

The former president was guest of honor at the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries congress in Bulawayo.

Khama expressed confidence in Zimbabwe’s ability to retain its economic well-being.

The three-day congress is running under the theme “From dialogue to implementation-time to act”.

“I’m not here to lecture Zimbabweans about how to run their economy,” said Khama.

“I believe you already have all you need in terms of natural resources and are very innovative.

“This country has contributed a great deal to the development of Botswana and can do the same for itself”.

He said the best way to fight corruption is to uphold transparency and implement policies that nature good governance.

“In Botswana, we made use of an independent entity that is in charge of procurements,” said Khama.

“No member of the cabinet, president nor permanent secretary is allowed to secure any procurements.

” The set committee has its own appeal board when people have queries.

“Ministers, deputies and permanent secretaries should be independent of making decisions involving mega tender deals in a bid to eradicate corruption”.

Khama said Botswana has won the corruption war “through prudent macroeconomic policies, good governance, strong checks and balances-notably for showing public accountability and rules for public accountability”.

We minimised on public spending and general economic management,” he said.

Khama said the diamond-rich country has managed to establish healthy foreign currency reserves and securing a strong stable currency and an independent reserve bank.

“The country has appreciated the role of the public sector in economic works and diversification in job creation and poverty eradication,” said Khama.

“We have a board called Business Botswana that engages the cabinet, captains of industries and civil society to discuss how best to manage and take care of each other’s concerns:.

Khama said Botswana has since been ranked by the international transparency board as the least corrupt African country and 32nd in the world.

“This is a huge achievement, from being termed one the poorest countries to such economic development,” he noted.

“All that is needed is policies and programs that will bring about a culture of good governance in order for you to succeed.

“Economic growth should be driven by the private sector with the government acting purely as the facilitator”.

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