THE maintenance of political stability is Govern-ment’s singular priority and investors are welcome to exploit the vast array of opportunities on offer in Zimbabwe, President Mugabe has said.

Addressing Zimbabwean and Chinese businesspeople at a State banquet hosted in his honour at Grand Central Hotel to mark the end of Zimbabwe’s National Day celebrations here yesterday, the President chronicled the path Zimbabwe took to set up the inclusive Govern-ment.
He also highlighted Government’s achievements in fostering an investor-friendly, socio-economic and political environment in Zimbabwe.
‘‘Political stability in Zimbabwe is a singular priority for Government and we are committed to this value.
"Without peace and stability, we are only too aware that everything we build, everything we do, can easily go up in smoke.’’
The inclusive Government, President Mugabe said, was committed to keeping the Zimbabwean economy on a growth path by building on the positive policy measures adopted under the Short-Term Emergency Recovery Programme adopted in March last year.
‘‘A number of positive policy measures were adopted under the programme. These included, among others, the adoption of a multi-currency regime, broad-based liberalisation measures, cash budgeting, removal of exchange controls and price distortions that were blamed for the soaring inflation,’’ he said.
The implementation of these policies, the President said, had led to a number of positive spin-offs among them:
l Macro-economic stability;
l Increase in capacity utilisation;
l Introduction of cash budgeting; and
l Improved social service delivery particularly in the education, health, water and sanitation sectors.
‘‘Having succeeded in stabilising the macro-economic environment . . . Zimbabwe is thus inviting investors to come and explore the opportunities that are available.
"The investment opportunities in Zimbabwe are enormous and our message to potential investors worldwide is to invite them to come and see what we have. We can guarantee that they will not be disappointed. The natural resources
in our country and the region, in such areas as energy, mining, agricultural production and tourist attractions are legendary.
"The service sectors have already provided lucrative investment opportunities, particularly in the areas of tourism, construction, telecommunications and financial services where certain sections of the private sector, by operating in various countries as one company have helped to pave the way for deeper and broader regional integration.’’ Infrastructure, President Mugabe said, is the backbone of any economy and investors in this sector are particularly welcome to partner Zimbabwe in its development.
Zimbabwe’ infrastructure, particularly its road and rail network, took quite a battering from the ravages of the illegal economic sanctions that constrained Government’s capacity to maintain existing infrastructure or expand the network.
‘‘The critical areas for investment in infrastructure include either the development of new, or rehabilitation of existing transport and communications networks, together with increased power generation and interconnectivity.
"In this regard, investors can target roads, railways, ports, inland terminals, ICT infrastructure, power generation plants and power transmission grids,’’ he said.
President Mugabe highlighted how Zimbabwe’s membership of Sadc and Comesa provided investors with access to a wider market comprising 24 countries.
‘‘As a region and as Comesa, we have acquitted ourselves very well following the launch of the Free Trade Area on 31st October 2000. Intra-Comesa trade has increased almost five-fold since.
‘‘The private sector has welcomed the FTA and utilised it because it offers a large market of some 420 million customers and a combined GDP of over US$392 billion; clearly typifying a market that is ready to support bigger trade volumes and investment in various sectors.’’
The Zimbabwe Cultural Ensemble whose captivating dances made some diners forget their plates entertained delegates.
Giving a vote of thanks, Industry and International Trade Minister Welshman Ncube thanked the people and Government of China for assistance rendered to Zimbabwe.
He echoed President Mugabe’s call for investors to come and explore the opportunities prevalent in Zimbabwe.
The seven-member Zimbabwe ministerial delegation, along with captains of industry and parastatal heads, will this morning hold a business forum with potential investors here to explore Zimbabwe’s investment potential.