Mujuru concurs with President on sanctions

Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
Zimbabwe People First leader Dr Joice Mujuru has agreed with President Mugabe that illegal sanctions imposed on the country by Western countries were frustrating Government’s economic recovery programmes. Dr Mujuru made the remarks while addressing 600 people at Mashavire Business Centre in Beitbridge yesterday.

“The economy is not moving and things are bad in the country due to a number of factors, among them the economic sanctions imposed on the country by Western countries,” she said. Dr Mujuru said the illegal sanctions were hitting ordinary Zimbabweans the hardest.

She, however, denounced Government for introducing Statutory Instrument 64, which seeks to protect local industries from unfair foreign competition.
The SI was introduced on the back drop of the proliferation of cheap imports on local markets, and it also promotes the Buy Zimbabwe initiative.

It tightens screws on importation of basic commodities like some food items, building materials, furniture and toiletries, among other things, as these can be produced locally.

“As the Zimbabwe People First we don’t support the introduction of the Statutory Instrument 64 and we are still challenging it in the courts,” said Dr Mujuru.

She again attacked Government over introduction of bond notes, which are an export incentive meant to address the current liquidity crisis in Zimbabwe.
The country’s courts recently threw out a case brought by Dr Mujuru challenging the introduction of bond notes.