Business / Economy
Postpone 2011 poll: A pleas by the business community
09 Dec 2010 at 11:56hrs | Views
THE business community has implored the Government to postpone general elections for at least three more years to allow full recovery of the economy.
In a frank exchange between the Zanu-PF leadership and the business community in Harare, captains of industry and commerce said the economy had not yet stabilised for the country to go to polls.
President Mugabe has indicated that general elections will be held by mid next year after the expiry of the tenure of the inclusive Government.
However, the business community yesterday argued that the inclusive Government had brought stability and should be given another lease of life to rebuild the economy and restore investor confidence.
Vice President Joice Mujuru, who was the guest of honour at the meeting, said prospects of holding polls were high going by the tenure of the inclusive Government which expires in February next year.
Said VP Mujuru: "You read about the GNU, its life is almost over. When its time is over what do you want us to do?"
She, however, said the business community should not hesitate to approach Government if they felt elections should be put on hold in the interest of the economy.
"These are our political parties. They should listen to us. The issue of elections is not something that we should be angry about. Elections might come soon or later. These are things that we can discuss and let's discuss with our leaders they will listen," she said.
VP Mujuru said Zanu-PF, as a party that brought independence was keen to see business thriving, adding that they could not be good leaders when the economy was performing badly.
She said Zanu-PF is a people's party willing to work cordially with the business community for the development of the nation.
VP Mujuru said some of the challenges facing the nation were caused by external interference in the country's domestic affairs.
"We are facing some of these problems because we are not working together and we are allowing outsiders to come in to make decisions for ourselves. We are willing to work with the business community and we are really surprised that where have we missed each other," she said.
In his presentation, Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries president, Mr Joseph Kanyekanye had earlier said: "As the business community, we support this Government and we are saying let's give our people time to recover. Give us three more years with this arrangement because we need time to grow our economy.
"Please give our economy a chance to recover and let's have politics on the back and our people first," he said.
Mr Kanyekanye told the delegates at the meeting that the country was under illegal sanctions that were inhibiting economic growth.
He said the business community should not be fooled by Western propaganda that the sanctions were targeted.
"If (Mike) Karakadzai is under sanctions, then all companies that use the rail system are under sanctions. As CZI, we will fight them all the time. We should find a way to fight them," he said.
Mr Kanyekanye said industry was willing to work with Government adding that there was no need for confrontation between the two.
He said the industrial sector subscribed well to indigenisation regulations and advocated black participation in the mainstream economy.
Rainbow Towers Group chief executive, Mrs Chipo Mutasa, said the tourism sector was not also ready for elections.
Mrs Mutasa said: "In tourism we are not ready. A conducive environment is good for tourism but that is subject to a stable macro political environment."
In his opening remarks Zanu-PF national chairman Cde Simon Khaya Moyo said his party was open and willing to work with the business community.
"It is not true that Zanu-PF does not appreciate and respect the role of the business community in the social and economic development of the country.
"If that were true, the party would not have initiated the promulgation of the Indigenous and Economic Empowerment Act. This is intended to empower the majority of the people of Zimbabwe to become entrepreneurs like you," he said.
In a frank exchange between the Zanu-PF leadership and the business community in Harare, captains of industry and commerce said the economy had not yet stabilised for the country to go to polls.
President Mugabe has indicated that general elections will be held by mid next year after the expiry of the tenure of the inclusive Government.
However, the business community yesterday argued that the inclusive Government had brought stability and should be given another lease of life to rebuild the economy and restore investor confidence.
Vice President Joice Mujuru, who was the guest of honour at the meeting, said prospects of holding polls were high going by the tenure of the inclusive Government which expires in February next year.
Said VP Mujuru: "You read about the GNU, its life is almost over. When its time is over what do you want us to do?"
She, however, said the business community should not hesitate to approach Government if they felt elections should be put on hold in the interest of the economy.
"These are our political parties. They should listen to us. The issue of elections is not something that we should be angry about. Elections might come soon or later. These are things that we can discuss and let's discuss with our leaders they will listen," she said.
VP Mujuru said Zanu-PF, as a party that brought independence was keen to see business thriving, adding that they could not be good leaders when the economy was performing badly.
She said Zanu-PF is a people's party willing to work cordially with the business community for the development of the nation.
VP Mujuru said some of the challenges facing the nation were caused by external interference in the country's domestic affairs.
"We are facing some of these problems because we are not working together and we are allowing outsiders to come in to make decisions for ourselves. We are willing to work with the business community and we are really surprised that where have we missed each other," she said.
In his presentation, Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries president, Mr Joseph Kanyekanye had earlier said: "As the business community, we support this Government and we are saying let's give our people time to recover. Give us three more years with this arrangement because we need time to grow our economy.
"Please give our economy a chance to recover and let's have politics on the back and our people first," he said.
Mr Kanyekanye told the delegates at the meeting that the country was under illegal sanctions that were inhibiting economic growth.
He said the business community should not be fooled by Western propaganda that the sanctions were targeted.
"If (Mike) Karakadzai is under sanctions, then all companies that use the rail system are under sanctions. As CZI, we will fight them all the time. We should find a way to fight them," he said.
Mr Kanyekanye said industry was willing to work with Government adding that there was no need for confrontation between the two.
He said the industrial sector subscribed well to indigenisation regulations and advocated black participation in the mainstream economy.
Rainbow Towers Group chief executive, Mrs Chipo Mutasa, said the tourism sector was not also ready for elections.
Mrs Mutasa said: "In tourism we are not ready. A conducive environment is good for tourism but that is subject to a stable macro political environment."
In his opening remarks Zanu-PF national chairman Cde Simon Khaya Moyo said his party was open and willing to work with the business community.
"It is not true that Zanu-PF does not appreciate and respect the role of the business community in the social and economic development of the country.
"If that were true, the party would not have initiated the promulgation of the Indigenous and Economic Empowerment Act. This is intended to empower the majority of the people of Zimbabwe to become entrepreneurs like you," he said.
Source - Herald
