Sanctions did not take away our brains — VP Mujuru

THE illegal sanctions imposed on the country by the West did not take away the intelligence of Zimbabweans as they have come up with sound policies for economic transformation, recovery and growth, Vice-President Joice Mujuru has said.
VP Mujuru said this while addressing scores of women who had gathered at the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Polytechnic in Gwanda yesterday for a Zanu-PF Women’s League Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (Zim Asset) conference.

“Sanctions did not take away our brains, no! We are a gifted lot in Zimbabwe as we are hard workers and not beggars. We work hard for our nation to grow,” VP Mujuru said.

VP Mujuru said she was on a tour of the country’s provinces to educate women on the new economic blueprint.
“I am here to talk about Zim Asset as we are striving to build a stronger Zimbabwe where wealth is distributed evenly among the people. Each one of us lost a relative in the liberation struggle and as such we have to enjoy the fruits of their labour by distributing wealth to every Zimbabwean,” she said.

She said the party could not talk about love for the people if it did not speak about empowering civil servants who have long been complaining about meagre salaries.

She said Government wanted to see members of the civil service enjoying good salaries that would come from the natural resources that the country has in abundance.

“We have to start with the low hanging fruits, the people have to be fed. As you have seen, the President has given you seed and fertilisers and the rains also fell so people have to be fed adequately before we hurry to other things. Government also assists when there is a drought,” she said.

The Vice-President said it was also vital to harness the intellect of all Zimbabweans to ensure that whatever they had was used for the development of the nation.

She also said resources should be used sustainably otherwise they would be of no use to the nation.
Matabeleland South province has experienced a gold rush in recent times but VP Mujuru said it was useless to speak of gold which is being smuggled to neighbouring countries.

“We have plenty of gold in this province but of what use is it if we are smuggling it to South Africa? We are supposed to build and repair infrastructure in the province through the sale of gold asi murikuzvibiira muchitengesera vamwe,” she said.

She lamented the fact that artisanal miners were failing to sell their gold to Government that would in turn use that to rebuild the run down infrastructure. She said the smuggling of gold outside Zimbabwe was only strengthening the existence of economic sanctions by the West.

The tour by the Vice-President is meant to unpack Zim Asset at grassroots level so that it aids in poverty alleviation and sustainable growth. She said Cabinet ministers should not be office furniture that never goes back to the masses that voted for them.

VP Mujuru said Zanu-PF should not be rejected by the people who voted for the party, hence it was essential that ministers go to the people and teach them how to generate income under the guidance of Zim Asset.

Women entrepreneurs were encouraged to use their intelligence by generating income through various sustainable projects.

“Endai munokumbira mari kunana CBZ ne IDBZ murime, vema bank vanotya kukupa mari nekuti you do not use it for its intended use kwete kupedza shungu dzeku kwira ndege ne mari yechikwereti. Prove them wrong by using the money wisely and repaying loans,” she said.

Cde Oppah Muchinguri, who is the chairperson of the Women’s League and the Minister for Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development, said their visit with VP Mujuru was in fulfillment of key aspects outlined in the Zanu-PF manifesto and to show the importance of women.

“We are here to show you the Zim Asset and your participation as women is important. I know some may have come from home weary and heavy laden but you made an effort to come and we shared what we have with you,” Cde Muchinguri said.

She said women were not spared during the liberation struggle as they were bombed just like the men thus they also had an equal part to play in economic development. Cde Muchinguri said some women sacrificed their education and went to war thus they deserved to be a part of the history of national development.

“Some of you come and seek land but when they get it they decide to have the man register it in his name. That’s not right; be a property owner too and not let the men lead then you complain after that,” she said.

The conference was attended by senior members of Zanu-PF who include the party’s Matabeleland South chairman Cde Andrew Langa, Mat South Minister of State Cde Abednico Ncube and Cdes Tambudzani Mohadi, Richard Ndlovu, Flora Buka, Shuvai Mahofa and Sylvester Nguni.