Will D-Wave Systems Produce A Robust Quantum Computer?

In a prior post entitled Emergence of 'Super-Quant' Funds, I enunciated that D-Wave Systems, a precocious Canadian start-up, is currently at an advanced stage of creating a cutting-edge processor that uses a computational model known as adiabatic quantum computing (AQC), to solve complex search and optimization problems. If everything progresses smoothly, D-Wave Systems-created quantum computing solutions should be commercially available in the foreseeable future.

Underpinning the tremendous computational puissance of D-Wave Systems' computing solutions, is a processor that is fabricated using a super-conducting metal called niobium. When chilled to near absolute-zero temperatures, specifically when it is chilled to a temperature of 9.2 Kelvin, niobium loses all its electrical resistance and starts to behave like matter at its most rudimentary level, i.e quantum mechanically. Hence, this super-conducting property of niobium allows D-Wave Systems to fashion 'normal-sized' circuits, using currently-existing lithography technology, that operate using the principles of quantum mechanics (when chilled to ~9.2 Kelvin), i.e. they behave like 'circuits of atoms'.

This all resonated well with me until I encountered Sir Roger Penrose's Interpretation (The Penrose Interpretation) about the mass-scale at which standard quantum mechanics will fail. According to a Wikipedia Entry:

• "Penrose's idea is a variant of objective collapse theory. In these theories the wavefunction is a physical wave, which undergoes wave function collapse as a random process, with observers playing no special role. Penrose suggests that the threshold for wave function collapse is when superpositions involve at least a Planck mass worth of matter. He then hypothesizes that some fundamental gravitational event occurs, causing the wavefunction to choose one branch of reality over another. The exact way in which this choice happens he doesn't specify in any mathematically precise way.

  Accepting that wavefunctions are physically real, Penrose believes that things can exist in more than one place at one time. In his view, a macroscopic system, like a human being, cannot exist in more than one position because it has a significant gravitational field. A microscopic system, like an electron, has an insignificant gravitational field, and can exist in more than one location almost indefinitely."

Hence, this implies that any system above the Planck Mass, which is ~1e-8kg (According to Suzanne Gildert), fails to maintain coherence for any measurable amount time, due to the onset of gravitational interactions. Thus, this means that the mass of a system has a bearing, or an impact, on its ability to maintain quantum coherence.

According to Suzanne Gildert, one molecule of a niobium contains ~ 6e23 conduction electrons which have a mass of ~ 5e-7 kg. Since 5e-7 kg > 1e-8kg, any macro system fashioned from niobium may fail to maintain quantum coherence because of the onset of gravitational interactions. Hence the question (which is the title of this post): Will D-Wave Systems Produce A Robust Quantum Computer?

In my opinion: The D-Wave Systems' quantum computing solution has better chances of maintaining quantum coherence (being robust) in a zero-gravity chamber!

Ticking Xenophobia Time Bomb

Somalia exists in a de jure capacity; which is generally characterized by eras of relative stability under ineffectual governments, that alternate in succession with periods of extreme civil pandemonium. The inherent geo-political instability of Somalia has had a continuous depreciating-effect on the infrastructure and social institutions of the nation. Thus, this has forced a great proportion of Somalia's populace to migrate to other countries in search of more fecund pastures (a better life).

Hence, Somalia has a large and growing diaspora community, which mainly inhabits Yemen, northeastern Kenya, and Djibouti. Recently, there has been a steady and constant stream of Somalians to Southern African countries, and a growing proportion of Somalian migrants has made the choice to drop anchor in Zimbabwe.

Interestingly, the Somalian cohort that has recently settled in Zimbabwe is demographically homogeneous and bears the following characteristics; male and ranges between 16 to 35 yrs of age. Furthermore, the group that has settled in Zimbabwe is highly ethnocentric, and has failed to assimilate into the broader Zimbabwean society.

Currently, it is widely understood that Zimbabwe has an unemployment rate that is hovering around 85%, and thus, Zimbabwe offers the new community of migrants few employment prospects. The social welfare system in Zimbabwe is also currently in a moribund state, thus, the Somalian refugees cannot depend on it for sustenance. Therefore, the Somalian refugees usually live in squalid conditions in Zimbabwe, and go around in large groups, begging for alms from ordinary Zimbabweans: they survive by mendicancy. Evidently, the welfare of Somalian refugees in Zimbabwe is poignant.

Usually, the standard pitch for soliciting assistance is phrased as follows: "Hungry, Hungry... Stomach empty". Hence, when Zimbabweans refer to Somalian refugees, they opprobriously term them "Hungry, Hungry".

On a typical week-day, Somalian refugees go from door-to-door (in the neighborhoods close to their camps) with water bottles, begging for victuals; - which they are begrudgingly given by their Zimbabwean hosts. To state it unequivocally: Zimbabweans generally view Somalian refugees as pests, and this negative attitude has strong chances of begetting a xenophobic episode, like the one we witnessed in South Africa last year, that may materialize in the form of mob-organized pogroms (of Somalian refugees).

In a country with an escalating crime rate (Zimbabwe), a haggard-looking cohort of young men, that aimlessly loiters around, is the prime suspect when any incident of crime manifests itself. Hence, Somalians who generally travel in tight-knit groups that are largely comprised of males, are usually suspected to be the perpetrators of most incidents of vice. For instance, I was recently informed of a horrendous incident in which a six year old girl was gang-raped by a group of young men over a six hour period. The prime suspects in the incident were individuals from a group of Somalian young men, who happened to be loitering in the area. Why? Only because the girl was gang-raped and the Somalians were in a 'gang'.

Hence, the general prevalent attitude among Zimbabweans who live in proximity to refugee camps is that: 'Somalians should go back to where they came from'. This is, in essence, a xenophobic attitude, that fuels gruesome incidents like those we witnessed in South Africa last year. Therefore, it is of paramount importance for Zimbabwean authorities to dispel this attitude before it burgeons an admixture of circumstances that would fuel xenophobic violence against Somalian refugees.

Xenophobic violence would shatter Zimbabwe's public image, which would in turn, have an adverse impact on efforts to attract investment into the beleaguered nation. Hence, evidently, the negative perception of Somalians has to be managed sooner rather than later.

Effects of keeping foreigners out of Wall Street

Vermont Independent politician, Senator Bernie Sanders, and Iowa Republican politician, Senator Chuck Grassley, sponsored a provision for the TARP stimulus package that will prohibit any recipient of TARP funding from hiring H-1B visa holders.

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Pundits and charlatans in the fields of Economics and Finance, all concur that a nation's financial services sector aids efficient allocation of resources among competing needs in an economy. Social scientists also assert that the level efficiency of any organization, or economic sector, is largely a function of its employees (its human capital mix). Hence, this implies that any policy that affects the human-capital mix of entities operating in the financial services sector, like the Sanders-Grassley provision, would consequentially affect the efficacy of financial intermediation in the economy. Thus, this simply means that the TARP provision sponsored by Messrs. Sanders and Grassley, has the potential to either: mutilate the already beleaguered U.S. economy, or; revitalize the currently anorexic U.S. economy.

Underlying the said TARP provision, is the noble desire to minimize the stiff labor-market competition—from foreign-born business school graduates—faced by hordes of laid-off U.S. financial sector employees. However, this may be a well intended, but ill-advised provision, that may flounder in achieving its envisaged objectives. Otherwise stated: this TARP provision has strong chances of attenuating the foundations supporting the hegemony of the U.S. financial services sector, thus; enfeebling the U.S.'s avant-garde status in the global financial services sector.

The quintessential feature of financial markets during the last two decades has been increasing Globalization: financial services firms increasingly engage in cross-boarder transactions that breach cross-cultural and linguistic boundaries. To effectively navigate these socio-cultural boundaries, an entity needs to be knowledgeable in the business practices, and prevalent cultural trends in the foreign operational environments. Furthermore, it is also essential for an entity to have a rolodex of on-the-ground contacts that expedite transactions in the foreign operational environments. Thus, investment entities circumnavigate socio-cultural barriers that impede cross-boarder transactions, by enlisting the services of foreign-born United States of America-educated individuals.

Hence, the dominant trend on Wall Street for the duration of the last decade, has been to hire people who: can speak the languages spoken in foreign target business environments; have a plethora of contacts in the foreign target business environments; have experience in executing transactions in the foreign target business environment.

Therefore, restricting recipients of TARP funding from enlisting the services of foreign-born, but U.S.-educated-persons, effectively encumbers them from engaging in cross-boarder transactions, at a time when local business opportunities are dwindling. This limits the exploitable opportunity-set available to recipients of TARP funding. Hence, it is evident that the Sanders-Grassley TARP provision has strong chances of undermining the profitability, and recovery prospects of TARP funding recipients.

Quantum Computing: Parallel Universes (Revisited)

Every denizen of this planet has encountered this phrase at least once: "Your life is the partial expression/partial product of the choices you made from the time you were conceived up to this present moment". Conversely, it also holds that: "Your life is the partial expression/partial product of the choices you didn't make from the time you were conceived up to this present moment".

...This may seem like an astute play of words, but this example will illuminate on what I mean:

On a planet located in a distant galaxy that is 124 light-years from the Milky Way, there are only two distinct species of intelligent beings: Zoogles and Boogles. Zoogles are different to Boogles and, in fact they can be regarded as extreme opposites. Zoogles don't commingle with other Zoogles, and Boogles don't commingle with other Boogles. The inhabitants of this weird planet hang out in pairs (a Boogle and a Zoogle), with their perfect opposites. Hence, this means that any being you encounter on that weird celestial body is either a Zoogle or a Boogle. Which, therefore, implies that a Boogle is any randomly selected intelligent being on the planet who is not a Zoogle, and vice-versa.

Let us postulate that the distant planet is the multiverse, or grand universe of the totality of choices you could ever make, and couldn't/didn't make in your life, and that the universe, or subset illustrating the choices you actually managed to make is represented by the Boogles, and that the choices you didn't or couldn't make are represented by Zoogles. If someone knew every single Zoogle on this planet, and knew their individual character traits, he/she could work out the individual character traits of all Boogles, without even meeting a single Boogle (remember: Boogles are the extreme opposites of Zoogles), but then he'd/she'd be still left with the task of appending the character traits he/she arrives at, to individual Boogles. If he/she had additional information on Boogles and Zoogles that associated which each other, the task of appending the character traits he/she arrives at, to individual Boogles becomes easier. Therefore, the example simply serves to illustrate how an object can be abstractly constructed, when information on the particular object is lacking, from information on its perfect opposite. Hence you can see why it is also true that: "Your life is the partial expression/partial product of the choices you didn't make from the time you were conceived up to this present moment."

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More on choices: Everyone has a specific choice they made, that changed the course of the rest of their lives. For Bill Gates, his life-changing choice was to create software called BASIC for the MITS Altair 8800 - which, in essence, laid the foundations for Microsoft: a company that made him a billionaire.

If Bill Gates hadn't decided to create software for the MITS Altair 8800, what course would his life have taken? Would his life be like what is right now?

Of course it wouldn't, it would have taken a totally different course. That is in essence, what the term 'parallel universes' in quantum computing seeks to describe - different future 'realities' that a particular organism would find itself immersed in--or different realities it would experience--because of minor variations in the organism's present and past environmental circumstances (that may/may not be partially shaped by the choices the particular organism makes). These different realities are as infinite as the choices an organism makes during its lifetime, and are termed parallel universes in quantum computing terminology.

Makes sense now?

LinkedIn Poll: Would you Consider Investing in Zimbabwe Right Now?

The Poll is accessible here

The results so far:

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Creating Synthetic Human Brains

The human brain is a prodigiously convoluted and intricate three-dimensional structure. Furthermore, it can also be said that the human brain is, in essence, a 'plastic' organ which is made-up of a densely interconnected network of neurons and synapses, that miraculously orchestrates itself to produce; cognition, emotion and the coordination of locomotion.

Currently, we only possess a superficial level of knowledge on the human brain, and thus, most theories on cognition and the functionality of the human brain are just as speculative as geographical theories on plate-tectonics.

Interestingly, there is currently a school of thought in the field of computing that asserts that it is feasible to bring into being—using our current level of knowledge on the functionality of human brains—super-humanly intelligent complex-systems (that are of course, modeled on the human brain).

However, I doubt if significant headway can be gained using the aforementioned approach to designing intelligent systems; - as our current comprehension of the human brain is somewhat constrained. Hence, this implies that any intelligent system we design based on our current knowledge on the functionality of the human brain, would be brittle and lacking in robustness. However, that doesn't mean that the bio-inspired approach to designing intelligent systems has to be abandoned all-together.

For the bio-inspired paradigm of creating super-humanly intelligent complex systems to be feasible, we have to start by perfecting our knowledge on the functionality of the human brain. Craig Venter has contributed inordinately to our knowledge on human brain genes, and to our general knowledge on the human genome (FYI: He also increased the number of known genes on the planet by ten times). One of his noteworthy contributions to science, was the creation of a new partially synthetic species of bacterium; derived from the genome of the bacterium that causes urinary tract infections. He achieved this with the aid of a fast method for synthesizing a genome from scratch. Hence, simply put: Venter's achievements grant us the power to understand, and manipulate the building blocks of life in furiously unfathomable ways.

Therefore, I firmly believe that if we conflate his technology for creating synthetic lifeforms (like Mycoplasma laboratorium) with currently-existing stem-cell technology, we'll be able to create, from scratch, a synthetic somewhat-functional equivalent to the human brain (that we can draw additional insights from). Indeed, this is a mammoth and almost insurmountable task, but I believe that it is feasible to achieve this with the current level of technology.

If we attempt to create a synthetic functional equivalent to the human brain, our failures would quickly-indicate the flaws and gaps in our current understanding of the human brain, which would help us to fine-tune our design approach in an exponentially self-reinforcing cycle. Hence, it is evident that this would continuously-increase our potential to bring into being more robust, bio-inspired-superhumanly-intelligent systems. Furthermore, such a project would help us to develop effective therapies for terminal ailments like Alzheimer's disease and other mentally debilitating conditions.

Otherwise stated: undertaking to create a bio-inspired synthetic functional equivalent to the human brain would increase progression in the fields of computing and mental health-care.

So, let us do it!

Resurrecting Zimbabwe's Educational System

"Zimbabwe's educational system is, in essence, 'dualized': there is the private-schooling system that caters for 5% of Zimbabwe's students—who are typically from extremely affluent backgrounds; and then, there is the public-schooling system that caters for 95% of Zimbabwe's students—who are typically from low-to-middle-income backgrounds. Curiously, the Zimbabwean private-schooling system 'programs' its students for a life of mediocrity at the very least; and contrastingly, the public-schooling system 'programs' its students for a life of mediocrity at the very best. Hence, evidently, educational inequity is one of the nation's greatest injustices."

— My Abstract Description of Zimbabwe's Educational System

Background facts:

• Since the beginning of 2009, half of Zimbabwe's children of school-going age have not attended school.
• Over 50% of Zimbabwe's schools are currently closed.
• Zimbabwe's public school exams still remain uncorrected; the results of which, were due during the last month.
• According to United Nations statistics, school attendance in Zimbabwe fell by 20% in 2008.
• Zimbabwe's teachers are currently being paid USD100 per month, and have refused to resume conducting lessons until their demand to be remunerated USD1 200 per month—in line with the South African average of teacher remuneration—is met.
• In February of 2009, teachers were paid the Zimbabwe-dollar equivalent of USD2.
• Half of Zimbabwe's 120 000-strong teaching force has left the Zimbabwean teaching profession.
• According to Senator David Coltart, the country's Education Minister, the Zimbabwean educational system requires an immediate financial injection of USD400 million. So far, the Zimbabwean Ministry of Finance has only been able to provide one-hundredth (USD4 million) of the required financial injection.
• Public schools spent an average of just USD0.18 per student last year, down from an average of about USD6 per student in 1991.
• The average class size in Zimbabwe's public-schooling system currently stands at 50 students per class.
• Public schools (which are run by the Zimbabwean government) in Zimbabwe typically charge between USD50-and-USD150 per student per term (1 Zimbabwean term ~ 3 months).

Please Note: Statistics are according to Karin Brulliard's (a Washington Post Foreign Correspondent) March 1, 2009 article titled As Once-Admired Schools Wither, Zimbabwe's Young Are Left Idle.

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Since 1998, Zimbabwe's educational system has been unraveling in tandem with the country's beleaguered economy. Shockingly, an educational system that burgeoned forth an adult literacy rate that is currently hovering over 90%—the second highest in Africa—is now in a pitiful state of decay. Currently, Zimbabwe's educational system is generally characterized by; a mass exodus of proficient teachers to neighboring countries in search of more fecund pastures (brain-drain), and an acute-shortage of material resources that aid the delivery of educational services.

According to the 1992 Economics Nobel laureate, Dr. Gary Becker (of the University of Chicago), the human capital value of any random person ranges between USD500 000 and USD5 000 000. Therefore, the exodus of an estimated 60 000 skilled teachers from Zimbabwe's educational system translates to a loss of between USD30 billion and USD300 billion of value from the Zimbabwean educational system's human capital balance sheet. To put it into perspective, Zimbabwe's GDP for 2007 (According to the C.I.A. World Factbook), stood at USD6.186 billion, hence, the human capital leakage in Zimbabwe's teaching profession translates to between 4.85 and 48.5 times Zimbabwe's 2007 GDP. Evidently, it is of paramount importance for the Zimbabwean government to implement measures to arrest, and reverse, the tremendous loss of value from the Zimbabwean educational system's human capital balance sheet.

Refreshingly, the new Zimbabwean Education Minister, Senator David Coltart, recently announced a USD400 million plan that will see Zimbabwean teachers being remunerated along the lines of the South African average remuneration of teachers. When fully implemented, the plan will help to eradicate, albeit in a small way, the financial push-factors that motivate Zimbabwean teachers to relocate to neighboring countries. However, functionaries in Zimbabwe's educational sector also need to focus their attention on attracting an increasing proportion of Zimbabwe's graduates to the teaching profession.

I'll address how they can achieve this in the remainder of this script.

...Attracting Human Resources to The Educational Sector

Economists, from different walks of life, concur that a decade of persistent economic free-falling has left Zimbabwe with virtually non-existent; industrial, service and agricultural sectors. During the said period of economic decline, the Zimbabwean educational sector has been steadily churning-out a stream of graduates from its institutions of higher learning. Hence, this implies that Zimbabwe currently has multiple batches of graduates from its institutions of higher learning, and a shrinking spectrum of opportunities to offer them. Or, otherwise stated: Zimbabwe's economy cannot absorb its tertiary educational sector's graduates.

Whilst this is extremely unfortunate indeed, the new Zimbabwean government (of national unity) can channel Zimbabwe's plethora of multiple-batches-of-graduates-with-no-jobs into plentiful teaching opportunities available in its primary and secondary educational sub-sectors, thereby helping to reduce the Zimbabwean educational sector's present human capital deficit.

Interestingly, this can be achieved by creating a movement modeled on the Teach for America initiative, that will enlist Zimbabwe's most promising future leaders (recent graduates and skilled professionals), to commit to teach for a minimum of two years in Zimbabwe's (urban and rural) primary and secondary schools. Additionally, the Ministry of Education can invest in the training and professional development necessary to guarantee the new recruits' success as teachers. For the process to be smooth-flowing, an innovative and attractive cocktail of incentives can be employed (e.g. tax holidays, free health care, subsidized housing, hefty grants) to induce the flow of graduates into the teaching profession.

To conclude, it is my sincere hope that the changes I suggested will be implemented to expedite the recovery of Zimbabwe's educational sector.

Zimbabwe: Creating Prosperity

"Zimbabwe's current socio-economic state is anomalous; never before have I encountered a country that simultaneously tells, through its economic indicators, conflicting tales of shocking abject-poverty and exponential-wealth-creation. Indeed, Zimbabwe's current socio-economic state is like a bitter-sweet broth, which leaves one in a state of sensory bewilderment upon sampling it."

— My Abstract Description of Zimbabwe

The monumental 11th of February, 2009, swearing-in ceremony of Zimbabwean Prime Minister, Mr. Morgan R. Tsvangirayi, and Deputy Prime Ministers; Professor Arthur O.G. Mutambara and Ms. Thokozani Khupe, was the culmination of a protracted political settlement; which was fraught with mistrust, false-starts and endless bickering.

Now that the much-awaited all-inclusive government has been formed; and a government of national unity is presently at the helm of Zimbabwe, the conundrum sapping minds of Zimbabweans and members of the wider global community alike, is: 'Will this new political and administrative dispensation bring about Political Stability; Economic Growth; and, Social Progression in the Southern African Country?' In other words, 'Does the new administrative establishment have the mettle to tackle Zimbabwe's problems?'

Evidently, the answer to that question depends on a confluence of various unique forces; and, it is too difficult to forecast this 'confluence of various unique forces' accurately. Therefore, it would be too unwise to answer that question conclusively at this juncture, that is, before the new administrative establishment has fully settled. Thus, the most accurate thing I can say is that Zimbabwe's future is uncertain; aggrandizement and decay, have an equal probability of precipitating. Interestingly, this macro-economic sentiment is averred by the negligible level of activity on the Zimbabwean Stock Exchange since it re-opened less than a week ago; indicating the investment community is neither bullish nor bearish about the future of Zimbabwe, i.e., they are adopting a 'wait and see' stance, as they are of the opinion that anything can happen in Zimbabwe, at anytime.

Hence, when analyzing Zimbabwe from an investment perspective, it is important to de-emphasize the investment picture portrayed by traditional metrics like the inflation rate, the unemployment rate, and the savings-to-incomes ratio; because they usually fail to capture the true economic dynamics of Zimbabwe. For instance, whilst the C.P.I.-inflation rate of Zimbabwean dollar quoted prices is anything north of 400 million per cent per annum; people in Zimbabwe largely transact in the U.S. Dollar and the South African Rand, and Rand/U.S.- dollar prices of fast moving consumer goods, and the entire spectrum of services, are currently falling precipitously, e.g. 10 kgs of maize-meal (corn flour) was retailing at around USD8.00 in December, but now, it is retailing at USD5.00, which translates to a price change of -37.5% in less than a quarter: That is generally the trend being followed by prices of goods and services in Zimbabwe.

To avoid the pitfalls of using traditional metrics, I'll use a conceptual model developed by Mr. Michael Milken, to assess Zimbabwe's current Political, Economic, Technological and Social stamina; with the express aim of making policy recommendations that will help Zimbabwe to navigate out of the turbulent seas of underdevelopment (The recommendations will also help Zimbabwe to attract investors).

In his essay titled Creating Value, Michael Milken states that the level of prosperity in any society depends on the leveraging effect of financial technology on the sum of human capital, social capital and real assets.

Mathematically this can be expressed as:

Where:

P stands for prosperity
Ft stands for financial technology
HC stands for human capital
SC stands for social capital
RA stands for real assets

I'll proceed by discussing just two of the critical components of Milken's Prosperity Formula within the context of 'Developing Zimbabwe':

1) Financial Technology: In the text titled Introduction to Financial Technology, by Roy Freedman, the description of 'Financial Technology' is as follows: Financial technology is concerned with building systems that model, value, and process financial products such as bonds, stocks, contracts, and money. One of the elements of Roy's description of 'Financial Technology' is bonds: Zimbabwe currently lacks a public bond market, and its public equity markets are poorly developed. It is widely understood that a viable and robust bond-market improves the efficacy of financial intermediation in an economy, and serves as a useful buffer to prevent, or minimize a future crisis. Hence, the absence of a public bond market in Zimbabwe, affects the efficiency with which financial resources are allocated throughout the Zimbabwean economy; making the economy less resilient in the wake of a cyclical downturn in the business cycle. Therefore, until, and unless Zimbabwe has a public bond market, it will never register a full recovery. Thus, it would be prudent for the Zimbabwean government to build a liquid, public bond market; with an acceptable level of liberalization, to signal its commitment to economic stability to the investment community. Furthermore, when investors are making capital allocation decisions, one of their primary concerns is liquidity; as liquidity generally has a positive correlation to operational flexibility. Zimbabwe's public equity markets currently offer investors negligible liquidity. Therefore, liquidity in the public equity markets of Zimbabwe has to be bolstered, to enable equity securities to trade close to their fundamental prices (removing pricing inefficiencies); and, this can be achieved by allowing, within reason, speculative transactions like; short-selling and regulated trades of share-options contracts (as they generally have liquidity-increasing effect in securities markets).

2) Human Capital: Is the largest, most-priced asset of any economy, and can simply be defined as 'The ability and productivity of people'. Zimbabwe has a population of approximately 12 to 15 million people. Currently, between 3 and 5 million (over 25% of the Zimbabwean population) of the youngest, healthiest and most skilled niche of Zimbabwe's population; resides in the diaspora. Thus, implying that the majority of Zimbabwe's human capital is currently in foreign lands; appreciating in value and accumulating knowledge and skills that have the potential of effecting a miraculous transformation in Zimbabwe. Evidently, it is critical for the new government to acknowledge that the Zimbabwean economy will never improve without regaining the skills it lost over the last 12 years. Therefore, it is of paramount importance for the Zimbabwean government to be proactive, by concocting a basket of incentives, e.g. tax holidays, hefty relocation grants and competitive wages; to woo back the lost skills, including entrepreneurs, specialist doctors, nurses, teachers and artisans that are scattered across the globe. The progression of the Zimbabwean economy would be exponential if the Zimbabwean government succeeds in repatriating those lost skills. Otherwise stated: Repatriation of lost skills is a precursor to exponential economic development. Therefore, I say to the Zimbabwean government: "Focus on wooing-back the skills you lost; find innovative ways of employing them; create an enabling environment for them, and Zimbabwe's problems will vanish immediately. Success is a function of people, not vice versa"

To conclude, it is my sincere hope that the new government of Zimbabwe heeds my advice; because the prosperity of Zimbabwe may be unlocked by doing so.