adminNduduzo Tshuma, Political Editor
THE country is poised for economic growth and the prospect of a good farming season in 2017 with the rains experienced in different parts of the country, politicians from different political parties have predicted.
President Mugabe while closing the 16th Zanu-PF national people’s conference in Masvingo called on citizens to take advantage of the rains to till the land and plant crops to mitigate the effects of the drought experienced in the last summer season and bolster food security.
“So, we have our Zim-Asset projects to work on, they must succeed and let us ensure that the project and programme succeed. The rain that we have been given, let us make use of it in order to ensure that province by province, we have succeeded through Zim-Asset, yes, but also individually as we must always do to carry out our agricultural programme successfully,” said President Mugabe
He said other sectors of the economy were also improving and there was some measure of satisfaction and happiness among the people.“That’s the starting role. It’s to satisfy the needs of our people and to do this we have got to have in the country, peace and the security must be there with us,” he said.
The deputy minister of Information Media and Broadcasting Services Thokozile Mathuthu called on Zimbabweans to unite in working for their country.
“We must have a very serious work ethic and work hard towards the development of our country. I want to discourage the culture of corruption and reaping where one did not sow, all should learn to eat the fruits of their work,” she said.
“I also want to encourage the people to till the land so that we boost food security, we must also fully utilise inputs we got from the Government to work towards feeding our people.”
Cde Mathuthu who is also Zanu-PF women’s league secretary for information and publicity called for temperance, especially among the young ones during the festive season. She said they should desist from activities that would compromise their lives.
MDC-T painted a gloomy picture of 2017 saying the country would be plunged into an economic crisis largely due to an informalised economy.
Party spokesperson Mr Obert Gutu said they would continue mobilising supporters ahead of the 2018 polls.
“We are the largest and most popular political party in the country and our ward – based grassroots approach is proving remarkably popular and effective when it comes to explaining our party policies as well as spelling out what Zimbabweans should expect under an MDC government,” he said.
The Professor Welshman Ncube led MDC said 2017 will see a number of coalitions ahead of the 2018 elections. “Our ability to co-exist and tolerate each other will be on a trial run. Zimbabweans should not allow politics to divide them. It is a year that will spring surprises and shocks for Zanu-PF,” said party national spokesperson Mr Kurauone Chihwayi.
“This is the only available year for Zimbabwean opposition parties to respond to the clarion calls for a united front against Zanu-PF.”
He said the party would also hold a congress to elect new leadership.
MDC-T Bulawayo provincial chairperson Mr Gift Banda said the city prayed in particular for the rains to fill up the supply dams. “First, we pray to the Almighty to keep blessing us with the rains so that our supply dams have enough water for the people of Bulawayo. We cannot talk about the revival of our industry when we do not have enough water, we also need water for our people to drink and also for purposes of health and sanitation,” said Mr Banda.
“We also wish for economic development in the next year for the improvement in the lives of our people. Politically, I want to urge the people of Matabeleland to know who they are and never forget that.”
The Zimbabwe People First said 2017 will be an electioneering year and would utilise it to broaden its support base and also hold their elective congress.
“The heavens have opened up, at least if we address the issue of food security even if the economy is not doing well, at least there will be an element of security in the country,” said ZimPF spokesperson Mr Methuseli Moyo.
The Mr Tendai Biti led People’s Democratic Party (PDP) said opposition parties are likely to unite in the coming year and field one presidential candidate to contest against Zanu-PF in the 2018 polls.
Online Reporter