Mugabe to address Zimbabweans next week

PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe will next week give a State of the Nation Address (Sona) at a time the country is in a political and economic tailspin characterised by serious cash shortages, company closures, job losses and goods disappearing from the market.

Speaker of the National Assembly Jacob Mudenda announced in the legislature yesterday that Mugabe would face the nation next Thursday.

"He will address a joint sitting of Parliament on the Sona, which will be delivered at 3pm in the National Assembly," Mudenda said.

The announcement attracted derision from opposition MDC-T MP for Musikavanhu, Prosper Mutseyami, who interjected saying that this time Mugabe's speech must be checked to ensure he delivers the correct one.

"I hope you are not addressing the chair, who is not responsible for the President's speech," Mudenda responded.

Last year, Mugabe mistakenly read the 2015 Sona during the official opening of the previous session of the Parliament.