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CPIA statement on the republication of a book by Leonard Tsumba
Centre for Peace Initiatives in Africa (CPIA)
June 15, 2010

The Centre for Peace Initiatives in Africa (CPIA) has done it once again, always keeping its hand on the pulse of the Zimbabwe Nation. Aware that there is an immediate issues that confront our nation, that of economic recovery, CPIA is publishing the second edition of its book on The Restructuring and Reform of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe by its Eminent Person, Dr. Leonard Tsumba.

Realising that economic recovery is imperative for Zimbabwe, CPIA decided to continue to proffer solutions on the way forward for the nation to be great once again. After CPIA published the first edition of its Book on The Restructuring and Reform of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe in April 2009 it requested Dr Tsumba to prepare the second edition. The economy of Zimbabwe had tumbled. Once the bread basket of Southern Africa, Zimbabwe found itself importing food from inter alia Malawi and Zambia, the countries it had led when the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasalad was created in 1953-1960. Where do we begin with the rescue measures? It is the view of Dr Tsumba that the beginning of recovery after a calm political environment has been established begins with the Restructuring of the Reserve Bank. Whether we like it or not, we as a nation cannot do without a Central Bank. We are reminded that when the American Revolution had succeeded there were some revolutionaries who thought a central bank would undermine the fruits of the revolution others thought it could be used as a political weapon but in the end there was consensus that America could not be a great nation unless it had a well structured central bank.

True to Zimbabwe we cannot achieve our economic recovery without a well run Reserve Bank. Like in any other country that goes through economic traumas and political upheavals the Reserve Bank has been called rightly or wrongly to step in and attempt to rescue the nation. Dr. Tsumba concludes that a reserve bank must know the limits of its powers. Unless it does so it undermines itself as a vehicle of economic stability.

Dr Leonard Tsumba should know best. He was the second Governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe. He held that post for ten years after serving another ten years as the General Manager and Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank. His time at the bank is the time Zimbabwe had flourished. We have asked him to add his insights and recommendations in this second edition.

In our view as said above, we believe that the imperative for Zimbabwe is economic recovery. Some of our colleagues seem to believe that the imperatives are a new constitution and elections. How easy would it be to write a new constitution and how enjoyable would it be campaigning for elections if our nation was enjoying economic stability.

The book to be released soon by CPIA is a must read for anyone interested in Zimbabwe. There should be a copy in every university and school library and on the shelves of every reading household.

The book will be in most book stores around the world and available for purchasing through the internet. We invite advance purchase for the book. The book will cost $20 in book shops but will cost $15 through the CPIA website or a direct call to CPIA's Public Relations Officer, Ms. Rena Chitombo on: +263 913 552 504 or +263 712 751 016 Email: chitombo@cpia.org.zw or rchitombo@yahoo.com

Visit the CPIA fact sheet

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