Thread by @lilomatic

1/ #LEADonNationBuilding
As the world continues to focus much of its attention towards the current unrest due to Covid-19, Labour Economists and Afrikan Democrats (LEAD) is busy trying to come up with solutions that can see Zimbabwe emerging as a victor.
#TogetherWeCan

2/ We have to foster a culture of consuming local products and not imports, to save foreign currency and encourage innovation. The government has to create more enticing incentives for local innovation, production and problem solving, while penalizing nonproductive imports.

3/ The process of building innovation requires our citizens in other parts of the world to systematically gather and transfer information, industrial secrets, blueprints, technology, designs and trade secrets from leading institutions across the world, into a technology...

4/...intelligence data center, to build the nation’s intelligence and innovation institutional memory for learning, emulation and reverse engineering. This is how Israel and apartheid South Africa built their nuclear industry during the to surprise the world with nuclear...

5/...capabilities in 1966 and 1979 respectively. As LEAD we believe that if we are to survive and compete as a nation, we have to copy what the developed world did and not listen to what they tell us to do implying that we must acquire knowledge, technology and innovation by...

6/...any means we can and emulate. Government must consider legislating and introducing incentives accordingly for example awarding tenders based on rewarding those who invest a higher proportion of their wealth to buying machinery, production, innovation and problem solving.

7/ Zimbabwe should invest in capacitating &empowering patriotic citizens who will have a lifetime commitment of reinvesting in the country, developing it technologically, defending & fighting to ensure that it is the best at everything it does, like the Americans and Israelis do.

8/ By implication therefore, the country should only give strategic economic opportunity to patriots who have the understanding & commitment to the national vision & interests. In turn those patriots have the obligation of raising and mentoring the next generation of patriotic...

9/...nation builders without trying to be successful alone. A perception based on the lessons learnt from the generation of @mmawere & Daniel Shumba among others who benefited immensely from the country but have failed to give back to the nation during this time when the Zimbabwe

10/...needs wealthy patriots to assist  the nation. Worse still, some of them are effectively working with the enemy to undermine the country. A patriot can not just be someone who makes money and then brings back taxes or investment that sucks wealth out of the country.

11/ Real patriots have to bring back reinvestment, knowledge and technology that industrializes, transfers technology, creates jobs, mentors new entrepreneurs, solves our national problems by advancing industry, building capacity & competences that leverage production, import...

12/...substitution, job creation and defense capabilities of the republic.
As Labour Economists and Afrikan Democrats we do hereby call upon all citizens such as Strive Masiyiwa to use their influence and capabilities to make Zimbabwe the leading technology hub in Africa.

13/ This can be done through companies like Econet establishing research &development facilities in the country, to employ the best talent from across the world, to transfer skills & innovate IP in Zimbabwe. People must start realizing that giving money to relatives for a funeral

14/...but none to start businesses in the family, is not patriotic return to the country.

However, it is of paramount importance to note that the solution is the government actively empowering the most patriotic people, who in times of need will be willing to lose everything...

15/... to save the country. People who will leave the country to take from other countries to bring back and invest just like what the Europeans do for Europe.

Giving back to community and country is an integral part of the national building philosophy we seek to promote.

16/ We encourage people to have a sense of responsibility to develop their communities by giving back and contributing to improve the facilities they benefited from, for future generations to benefit.
#TogetherWeCan make Zimbabwe great again.