The Foot on the Pedal
摘要
In the chapter, a number of selected flagship projects currently underway in the economy are highlighted. Their main aim being to breath a new lease of life to the economy. For example, in 2018, through the Public Sector Investment Programmes (PSIP) and the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme (ERRP) $175 million towards several infrastructure projects. At a macro-level the upgrading of the Chirundu Beitbridge highway amounting to USD 400 million at the time of writing of this chapter is a significant milestone. The chapter also looks at developments in other sectors such as agriculture as well as energy, all aimed at rewiring the economy. However, the chapter highlights two fundamental concerns towards the various efforts at reviving the economy: (1) Whether the foot has enough energy which it carries with it as it presses on the pedal? and (2) Whether the foot will be able to press on the pedal consistently so as to apply balanced pressure as the economy is steered out of the many challenges. Consistence, transparency and commitment will be instrumental in ensuring that the economy recovers the lustre of the days gone by. The chapter winds up by exploring how inflationary pressures building up, alongside revenue leakages through smuggling and corruption are serious headwinds which have the impetus to disturb the foot on the pedal.