adminIt has often baffled many as to why they fail to come together to develop their motherland. A land rich in resources, Zimbabwe deserves to be at the top of Africa’s best performing economies if only its people were united in their quest to move the country forward. Political differences aside, the inclusive Govern-ment has one of the best brains the country has ever produced but grandstanding and the need to score cheap points and garner mileage for one’s party has seen ministers standing in the way of development.
Backbenchers in the House of Assembly have often pointed this out — admonishing ministers from across the political divide for retarding development by sitting on funds meant for crucial projects. It seems development is being sacrificed at the altar of political expediency. A case in point is the $40 million Distressed Industries and Marginalised Areas Fund (Dimaf) launched in October last year to bail out ailing companies in Bulawayo and other towns and cities. It has been mired in confusion and politicians have been accused of stalling its progress by delaying the disbursement of funds just to prove a point to each other. It does not help matters that its point man, Industry and Commerce Minister Professor Welshman Ncube, who heads the MDC formation, has a bone to chew with his counterpart from the Ministry of Finance, Mr Tendai Biti — the secretary general of the MDC-T.
Mr Biti has so far released only $10 million of the $20 million Government pledged to contribute to the fund. The other partner, Old Mutual, has honoured its end of the bargain by depositing $20 million with CABS — the bank tasked with disbursing the money to industries. There are also squabbles between Professor Ncube and Mines and Mining Develop-ment Minister, Cde Obert Mpofu over implementation of the deal Government entered into with Essar of India to revive Zisco Steel.
Cde Mpofu wants the Essar deal revisited because the Indian company will pay only $700 million for resources worth more than $30 billion and says he will transfer mineral resources of iron ore to Essar only for actual value as one of a raft of conditions he wants observed on the deal. In addition, the Indian company must rescind the 80/20 percent shareholding structure and comply with the country’s indigenisation policy. This has stalled progress at NewZimsteel, a company whose national importance cannot be overemphasised. Cde Mpofu has said it was unfortunate that Prof Ncube did not involve his Ministry up to the signing and commissioning of the Essar deal despite it being the custodian of mineral resources while Prof Ncube argues that the Mines and Minerals Act does not provide for valuation of minerals before a licence can be granted. This apparent lack of synergy also applies to other ministries headed by the different political parties in the Global Political Agreement.
Our Harare Bureau reports that Legislators in the House of Assembly on Tuesday slammed the inclusive Govern-ment for failing to speak with one voice on policy matters and steer the country out of the economic woods. Debating the Mid-Term Fiscal Policy Review, legislators were scathing of policy discord in Cabinet, saying political bickering affected national interests and the livelihood of the people.
“We are appealing to the Government to be serious in addressing the economic situation in the country. We cannot allow for politics to continue taking centre stage,” said the Portfolio Chairperson on Budget, Finance and Investment Promotion, Cde Paddy Zhanda.
We couldn’t agree more and urge politicians in the inclusive Government to set aside their differences and work for the national good. In yesterday’s edition, we reported on a call by senior politicians for political leaders to desist from fuelling divisions among Zimbabweans and have unity of purpose towards improving the livelihoods of ordinary people in their communities.
In a rare show of unity and camaraderie, senior politicians from Zanu-PF and the two MDC formations closed ranks and spoke with one voice during the funeral service of Prof Ncube’s son, Ntabiso, who was buried at West Park Cemetery in Bulawayo on Tuesday. It was refreshing to note that politicians realise that we share the same destiny as Zimbabweans and that there is a need for tolerance and unity when it comes to defending the national interest.
“We should rise beyond just seeking to dominate each other and reach levels of tolerance,” said MDC treasurer general Mr Paul Themba Nyathi.
We believe he aptly summed it up well and hope that the spirit with which the politicians came together to console a colleague during a time of grief will cascade down to Government so that differences are narrowed and unity of purpose is king.
Online Reporter
Sidumisile Mabena