'Stop being crybabies,' Moyo tells Matabeleland people

Former Industry and Commerce minister Nkosana Moyo has challenged Matabeleland people to take the bull by the horns and demand political leaders to commit themselves towards developing the region in exchange for votes in the next general elections.

Addressing delegates at a public meeting organised by Habakkuk Trust in Bulawayo last Friday, Moyo said the region should take advantage of its political influence to ensure economic development.

"People in Matabeleland are too emotional, they say President Robert Mugabe is the cause of their problems and are willing to take anyone who is not Mugabe and make him their leader, well Morgan (Tsvangirai) is no different," he said.

"The only way Matabeleland is going to secure its development is when its people become cold-blooded and start making demands.

"You have the bargaining power, which is your vote. Nobody is going to win the elections without the Matabeleland vote.

"If you say you do not care and will only give your vote to those that meet your demands be it Zanu PF, MDCâ€"T or Welshman Ncube's MDC, that is when things will start happening here."

Turning to the relocation and closure of major factories in Bulawayo, Moyo said people from the region should stop being crybabies but mobilise resources as groups and resuscitate their industries.

"There is no use crying that companies are closing or relocating and waiting for an individual to come and rescue you. The people of Matabeleland should instead be joining together and forming consortiums to revive these industries," he said

"You can mobilise resources as groups and say that you will jointly work at reviving a certain industry, take responsibility for yourselves and stop depending on an individuals. So don't start looking at Harare for the solution for your problems, start looking at yourselves because that is where the problem is."