guest column:Archford Chikawa The five-year plans are a series of social and economic development initiatives issued since 1953 in China establishing foundations and principles of Chinese communism, mapping strategies for economic development, setting growth targets, and launching reforms. This article intends to summarise the first five-year Chinese plan (1953-1957) and how Zimbabwe can take a leaf from its long-time all-weather friend. Chairman Mao Zedong and other Chinese revolutionaries embarked on an intensive programme of industrial growth and socialisation. For this purpose, the administration adopted the Soviet economic model, based on State ownership in the modern sector, large collective units in agriculture, and centralised economic planning. This was manifested in the first five-year plan. In terms of economic growth, the first five-year plan was successful. Key industries, including iron and steel manufacturing, coal mining, cement production, electricity generation, and machine building were greatly expanded and put on a firm, modern technological footing. Industrial production increased at an average annual rate of 19% between 1952 and 1957, and national income grew at a rate of 9% a year. Agricultural output increased substantially, averaging increases of about 4% a year. Like China, Zimbabwe’s NDS1 vision 2030, meant to transform the economy into middle class, is brilliant. However, it is my opinion that government strategies must be revisited. A clear policy on property rights is essential. The late Greek philoshopher Aristotle argued that “property should be private but the use of it common”. Equip farmers with leases so that they can secure loans from investors to fully utilise the land which is a common thing to all farmers. If agricultural production increases, Zimbabwe will have something to offer as a signatory to AfCTA and as a regional trading partner. Thumbs up to the new dispensation for choosing to compensate Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreements farmers as a way of respecting property rights. Aristotle himself highly disapproved of usury and cast scorn on making money through a monopoly. Aquinas (1225 –1274) dealt with the concept of a just price, which he considered necessary for the reproduction of the social order. Similar in many ways to the modern concept of long-run equilibrium, a just price was just sufficient to cover the costs of production, including the maintenance of a worker and his family. It is my humble request to Finance minister Mthuli Ncube to consider his stance on a free market as it does not favour a just price. Aquinas taught that high prices in response to high demand were theft. Free market promotes monopoly and corruption in business. China had to regulate production of goods, services and market prices through centralised decisions from the government which Zimbabwe must adopt. Precisely, Jean Buridan (1300 – 1358) argues that aggregated, not individual, demand and supply determine market prices. For him, a just price is what the society col