Chiyangwa calls for govt to resuscitate closed, distressed companies to create jobs

The Harare property tycoon and aspiring Zanu-PF candidate for Chinhoyi constituency Phillip Chiyangwa has called on government to resuscitate closed and distressed companies to create jobs for unemployed youths.

Chiyangwa, who was addressing over 10 000 people during a peace-building event at Chinhoyi Stadium at the weekend, told Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai that multitudes of Chinhoyi residents had been rendered redundant following the closure of companies such as the Cold Storage Company, which used to employ thousands.

"I am imploring our high-ranking government official here with us, Prime Minister Tsvangirai, to create jobs and bring food to the people. For there to be no hooligans, there ought to be food, there is need to have jobs. Right here in Chinhoyi, there are no factories. There are many unemployed people as a result of that.

"There should be no food deficit lest there be chaos, particularly in light of where we are headed," said the maverick property magnate. Without food and jobs the holding of peaceful, free-and-fair plebiscites would be a pipedream," Chiyangwa said.

Early this year, the MDC-T unveiled its ambitious Juice programme where it is targeting the creation of a million jobs over the next five years. Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Chiyangwa told NewsDay he would contest the Chinhoyi urban seat to bring positive change after years of neglect by the sitting MDC-T MP Stewart Garadhi whom he accused of "watching as infrastructure disintegrated".

Chiyangwa, who is also Affirmative Action Group (AAG) founder, pledged to use his business connections to lure reputable investors to the farming town and spawn job creation.

Chiyangwa was the only high-profile Zanu PF official who graced the peace-prayer concert. At the venue, posters emblazoned with his graduation picture inscribed Dr Phillip Chiyangwa, Confirmed, Ndiye Chete (he is the only one) formed a curtain on the pre-cast wall of the stadium, rubber-stamping his visibility in the constituency.

Chiyangwa has emerged as the front-runner in the race to get the right to represent his party. He is likely to contest the Zanu PF primaries against four other aspirants, Samuel Mvurume, Simba Kanzou, Richard Chafausipo and Mathew Magureyi.