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Addressing thousands of people during the launch of the Matabeleland North Community Share Ownership Trust/Scheme (CSOT/S) at the Colliery Stadium in Hwange, President Mugabe said in the last four years Zimbabweans have seen enough of what a dysfunctional Government is like.
He said the level of discord and bickering within the inclusive Government has come to a level where it is virtually difficult to implement development programmes as some parties deliberately frustrate certain initiatives.
“We have seen Bulawayo’s economy going down. We have seen the agriculture sector go unsponsored. Yesterday I spoke to a seed company and they were saying they have not been paid for the seed they supplied to the Government last year to the tune of $7 million. Now the Government asks them to produce enough for farmers in order to curb imports but is unwilling to pay for last year’s seed. That is a matter we have to settle.
“If you go to Finance Minister Tendai Biti he always says there is no money, there is no money. If there is no money what are you doing to get it? You cannot think of other ways of getting it or even borrowing. So you see the kind of situation you put us in lina abantu bethu. Sometimes when you have not thought about your future properly these are some of the things we tend to do,” said President Mugabe. “Some people come to you and say Zanu-PF is not good and say sokumele sitshintshe. Lizatshintsha liye ngaphi? We want development and progress but some people just want pleasure. Bafuna ukuthatha lo lalo (he said referring to MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s controversial love life). Yikho ukutshintsha kwakhona lokho. Nanko ke liyazibonela bantu bakithi.
“We are going for elections and you have seen what our country should never do again. Please do not get us into that trouble again. That is not our way of doing things. Freedom fighters are people who want to move ahead. That is why you see me at this age still fighting and I will continue fighting because I cannot let down those heroes who are gone. I have a responsibility for you.”
President Mugabe urged Zimbabweans to work together in consolidating the gains of the liberation struggle. He said the land reform, indigenisation and economic empowerment programmes were at the heart of transforming the country’s economy and improving the livelihood of ordinary people.
The President said some ministers and councillors in the inclusive Government were dismal failures. He made reference to the water crisis at the University of Zimbabwe where there were fears of water-borne diseases.
He said it was not clear why the university does not have running water despite the fact that Harare supply dams were full.
The Ministry of Water Resources Development and Management is run by Samuel Sipepa Nkomo of MDC-T while the Harare City Council is dominated by councillors from his party. President Mugabe said the issue was discussed in Cabinet and he had mandated the Minister of Local Government, Rural and Urban Development Dr Ignatius Chombo to work on it.
“We had to push the relevant ministry to act on that issue. Some councillors think they are just there ukuzidlela imali yabantu, the rates you pay. Some of them did not even have bicycles but now they drive cars. That is not how we serve people.
“There is also the story of Lupane State University where the Chinese contractor in charge now wants to pull out because he has not been paid for the past three months. They are owed $1,5 million. We do not run a country like that,” said the President adding: “We are working on that issue. I have a responsibility which is quite a burden. I must carry on the work that we began together with Umdala Wethu (the late Vice President Joshua Nkomo) and those like Cde Joseph Msika and Cde Simon Muzenda who are gone.”
President Mugabe urged Zimbabweans to uphold the Unity Accord and said the value of unity remained in his mind everyday.
Online Reporter