'Regime change is now the pre-requisite for Zimbabwe economic recovery'

MDC-T Nationakl Organiser Abednico Bhebhe has said the regime change in Zimbabwe is now the only pre-requisite for economic change and recovery

"I recall Shuvai Mahofa in February expressing shock after Mugabe appointed her Masvingo Provincial Affairs Minister Shuvai Mahofa," said Bhebhe. "Mahofa took over from Kudakwashe Bhasikiti who was dismissed over alleged ties to former vice president, Joice Mujuru.

Mahofa said: "I was shocked to hear that I have been appointed minister. I'm not sure what is expected from me in this job but I will stamp out corruption in Masvingo…"

Bhebhe said Mandi Chimene, the Manicaland Provincial Affairs Minister, was similarly surprised by her own appointment, and admitted she was not qualified for the job.

"Mahofa and many of her colleagues in Mugabe's cabinet have no idea of what is expected of them as the economy crashes, hence they spend time attending Grace Mugabe's rallies during work-hours," he said. "This is at a time when Chinamasa is having sleepless nights on reducing his wage bill, (read targeting lowly paid civil servants), yet there are people like Mahofa who are gobbling monies yet doing nothing and have no idea what is expected of them."

Bhebhe said instead of targeting hard working lowly paid civil servants, cuts should instead be made at the top in Mugabe's cabinet.

"Government commissioned a skills and payroll audit in 2009 which unearthed nearly 75 000 ghost workers gobbling millions in salaries every month," said Bhebhe.

"The ghost workers were not expelled; and instead they have over the years received increments like other hard working genuine state employees and have prejudiced the Treasury of billions. Why Chinamasa is just not freezing payment of salaries to the 75 000 ghost workers to reduce his wage bill boggles the mind."

He said Mugabe should also reduce his unnecessary travels. "He has continued to spend millions of dollars traveling the world, claiming the bill is the necessary price Zimbabwe pays for the privilege and honour of him chairing the AU. Atleast his woeful term at SADC has ended," Bhebhe said.

"Chinamasa should know that reducing the size of the wage bill alone is not enough to get any meaningful economic recovery; we need to end the mismanagement, corruption and lawlessness in government."

The MDC-T organiser said the solution to a functional civil service is dealing with the top echelons of the service, which is full of political appointees; many of them don't have a clue on strategic and performance management.

"What is only needed is the willingness and commitment of the executive to the necessary long overdue reforms," he said. "Regime change is now the pre-requisite for economic recovery; there is no other way out!"