By Staff Reporter
HARARE — Over 100 participants from various Christian denominations gathered at the Rainbow Towers in Harare today for an economic empowerment business workshop organized by the Destiny of Afrika Network (DANet).
The event, which primarily targeted women, youth, and marginalized community members from across Harare, provided business training and announced impending micro-loan distributions to assist participants in launching and expanding enterprise ventures.
DANet Founder and President Rev Dr Obedia Musindo emphasized that the mindset of Zimbabweans has fundamentally shifted from political agitation toward economic self-reliance.
”At a time when others are calling for demonstrations, we are busy engaging people on how they can make money,” said Rev Musindo. “People are no longer interested in demonstrations that yield nothing. They want programs that help them earn a living. The era of marching, toy-toying, and parading along the streets is long gone.”
Economic Pragmatism and Vision 2030
Rev Musindo stated that the general populace is becoming increasingly economically conscious, moving away from temporary handouts (“handy pockets”) toward sustainable business endeavors. He argued that economic participation has surpassed partisan politics, noting that corporate leaders and entrepreneurs across political spectrums are actively hiring regardless of political affiliation.
According to Dr. Musindo, this shift aligns directly with national development aspirations under Vision 2030:
- Financial Inclusion: Expediting loan access for micro-entrepreneurs, women, and youth.
- Infrastructure Growth: Capitalizing on ongoing developments in Harare, including smart housing projects and urban development.
- Job Creation via Agriculture: Leveraging nationwide development drives, such as the government distribution of 35,000 tractors across districts, to stimulate employment.
”Vision 2030 is about how every person can find an opportunity to do something meaningful,” Musindo stated. “If anyone wants to venture into politics today, they must speak the language of money-making to the people rather than calling for street marches.”
Sharp Rebuke to Opposition Figures
During his speech, Rev Musindo issued a scathing critique of opposition figures—specifically targeting Tendai Biti, Jameson Timba, and Rev Mutata—arguing that political agendas devoid of economic empowerment have lost all relevance among the public.
Highlighting what he described as the end of street-protest politics in Zimbabwe, Musindo invoked the memory of the late opposition founder alongside current figures to illustrate his point:
”Morgan Tsvangirai who started demonstrations is now an ancestral spirit of his family, and as I am speaking, Biti and Timba will soon become ancestral spirits of their own families,” declared Musindo.
He advised Tendai Biti to abandon politics altogether and focus on legal practice, alleging that despite acquiring funding over the years, opposition figures failed to deliver tangible development for Zimbabweans. He added that even Nelson Chamisa recognized the shift in public sentiment by choosing not to participate in street demonstrations.
”Politicians must understand times and seasons,” Musindo remarked, commending President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s leadership for appointing young, dynamic ministers to Cabinet and focusing on tangible economic output. “People are sick and tired of rhetoric. If you are seen marching in the streets in this era, you are lagging behind. The goal for everyone reaching 2030 is to have built something meaningful for themselves and their families.”
The workshop concluded with DANet leader reiterating their commitment to rolling out financial disbursements and business monitoring to ensure the newly trained participants effectively launch their commercial projects.
