Harare — THE Zimbabwe International Investment Conference ended in Harare yesterday with Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara assuring investors of political stability in the country during and after the tenure of the inclusive Government.

Deputy PM Mutambara told more than 400 delegates and investors attending the conference that the Global Political Agreement signed between Zanu-PF and the two MDC formations was not clear on the life-span of the inclusive Government as was being claimed in some sections of the society.

"If you look at the Global Political Agreement, there is nowhere it says the life-span of the inclusive Government is going to be 18 months or two years. The agreement is silent on that. Stability is guaranteed in the next five years and forever. So please, there is going to be stability in the country . . ."

Deputy PM Mutambara said parties to the agreement were currently working on constitutional review process that should create a conducive environment for elections.

"After the constitutional review process, the principals would then meet to decide if there is need to go for elections but I do not see us going for elections in the five years as long as things are going well for the country," he said.

His remarks follow assurances by President Mugabe on Thursday that the conference should project Zimbabwe as a conducive investment destination in sub-Saharan Africa.

In an earlier interview, Deputy PM Mutambara hailed the convening of the conference that had shown the world the direction the country was taking.

"What we have managed to showcase is on the way we are conducting our programmes and that is the 'Team Zimbabwe' approach."

He said the involvement of both Government and the private sector in promoting investment in the country was ample testimony that Zimbabweans had decided to share a common goal of taking the country forward. Deputy PM Mutambara hailed the participation of the country's political leadership and demystifying the issues that have been happening in the country.

"We have been upfront on the challenges we are facing and our commitment to solving these challenges. The participation of Cabinet ministers also brought clarity and honesty on the part of Government to bring confidence to the investing world out there," he said.

Officially closing the conference, Deputy Prime Minister Thokozani Khupe said Government had convened the indaba as part of efforts to increase the GDP share of investment from 4 percent to 25 percent.

She said the participation of various foreign observers was an indication that Zimbabwe would soon make a return to the world map.

"The addresses by the principals has reaffirmed the irreversibility of the inclusive Government (while) the sanctity of property rights was guaranteed by the ministers."

Deputy PM Khupe said the economic development being experienced since the formation of the inclusive Government also indicated that Zimbabwe was ready to do business with the world.

Economic Planning and Investment Promotion Minister Elton Mangoma described the two-day conference as successful.

He said the conference was officially opened by President Mugabe and attended by PM Tsvangirai and Deputy PM Mutambara indicating that the inclusive Government worked as a team.

Minister Mangoma said this had shown the people that the country's political landscape had changed.

"It has shown that the inclusive Government is there and is not reversible, that the past is gone, and people should start focusing on the future," he said.

Minister Mangoma said there has been a clear and consistent message from President Mugabe, PM Tsvangirai and Deputy PM Mutambara that they wanted the economy to move with Government playing a facilitatory role.

He said the country's investment policies were robust and ranked among the best in the world for anyone who wanted to do business in Zimbabwe. Minister Mangoma said the conference fundamentally changed the outside world's perceptions on the country and the way Zimbabweans viewed themselves.

He described the inclusive Government as a team "that will speak with one voice and in one direction".

More than 400 local and international investors took part in the conference held under the auspices of the Short-Term Emergency Recovery Programme and the 100-day Action Plan that is expected to turn around the country's economy.