Strive Masiyiwa riles Chamisa's bootlickers

TELECOMMUNICATIONS magnet and billionaire, Mr Strive Masiyiwa, has said President Emmerson Mnangagwa is sincere about turning the country's fortunes while calling for the removal of sanctions imposed on the country by the West and its allies.

In an interview with CNBC Africa in South Africa, the Econet Wireless Zimbabwe founder said while it is going to be challenging for the country to achieve economic transformation, Zimbabwe needs to be given a chance.

"I have invested in Zimbabwe in the last ten years $ 1, 5 billion, I'm as committed to investing in Zimbabwe as always I have always been, come rain or shine but concerning the change that has taken place, I believe it is real, I believe President Mnangagwa is sincere in the things he wants to do," said Mr Masiyiwa who has vast business interests in Africa and Europe.

"It is going to be extremely challenging, everybody knows that, anyone who understands economics knows it's going to be tough going but I think Zimbabwe needs to be given a chance. We got to stop the politicking and focus on rebuilding this country and I'm right up there.

"I think for instance, that the sanctions should be removed, there is no justification for them anymore, they should be removed and I have always been on record to say the sanctions are not justified and now we are almost 20 years into the sanctions, you can't have one country operating with its hands tied behind its back."

The Government yesterday welcomed Mr Masiyiwa's statements saying it was the duty of all Zimbabweans to rebrand the country.

"He is very correct and we are grateful that a son of Zimbabwe is giving the right message about his country. President Mnangagwa has created democratic space in the new Zimbabwe so that every Zimbabwean plays his or her role in the development of the country," said Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa. "It is the duty of every Zimbabwean to speak positively and rebrand their country and attract business so that we go back to our former glory days."

Mr Masiyiwa's sentiments riled the opposition and its sympathisers who have been calling for the extension of sanctions in Zimbabwe after Mr Nelson Chamisa and his MDC Alliance's dismal loss in the July 30 elections. They took to Twitter to attack Mr Masiyiwa but the majority of users came to the defence of the business tycoon saying it was his democratic right to express his views. The permanent secretary in the Ministry of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Mr Ndavaningi (Nick) Mangwana also posted saying, "Mr @StriveMasiyiwa clearly understands the meaning of "National Interest."

Former education minister and MDC Alliance bigwig David Coltart has challenged the Econet founder and executive chairman Strive Masiyiwa to put his feet where his mouth is.

The telecoms tycoon told CNBC that he believes President Emmerson Mnangagwa is sincere in what he is trying to do to turn Zimbabwe's crippled economy around and his comments did not go down well with Mr Coltart.

Said Coltart on Twitter;

I am looking forward to the day when @StriveMasiyiwa returns to #Zimbabwe and establishes his headquarters back home again. Then - in my mind at least - we will know that the change that has happened is real. https://t.co/VysyVsBWtd

— David Coltart (@DavidColtart) October 30, 2018

Posting on his Twitter handle, MDC-T vice president Mr Obert Gutu backed Mr Masiyiwa's call. ''Truth of the matter is that sanctions have brought about untold suffering to the majority of Zimbabweans living in both the urban and rural areas.The people against whom these sanctions are intended hardly feel their effect. The poor majority are most affected. Sanctions must GO!''