News / National
Tsvangirai blasts indigenisation, slams Zanu-PF greed
05 Apr 2013 at 04:55hrs | Views
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai says Zanu-PF's greed will drag Zimbabwe back into the economic doldrums.
"The risk is that unbridled greed will lead not only to economic stagnation but will also fuel asset-stripping as those in favourable positions pursue a 'crash and burn' mentality," he said.
He blasted the indigenisation programme as nothing more than a Zanu-PF project to fleece the nation of its resources by a few elite at the expense of a suffering majority.
"One such contradiction is Zanu-PF's indigenisation policy [which compels foreign companies to hand over 51 percent of their ownership to Zimbabweans]. We believe this is no more than an elitist project which invariably benefits the few in privileged positions, but it is being executed under the guise of empowering communities," the President implored.
He said the manner in which the indigenisation programme was being implemented was reminiscent of the manner in which the land reform programme was implemented, where land was simply occupied without the attendant accessories of promoting productivity. Tsvangirai said, as a result of the chaotic land reform programme, production levels on that land had actually gone down.
Drawing a parallel between the two Zanu-PF's disastrous programmes, Tsvangirai took a swipe at the Indigenisation programme saying the policy was not growth-oriented but was based on sharing the existing, albeit small, economic cake without attendant plans to expand it.
Tsvangirai said the MDC JUICE blue print was a panacea to all the economic ills inflicted on the people by Zanu-PF's ill conceived policies.
"Jobs for the majority of the people have a central place in our economic plan. It is for this reason that we have recently launched JUICE, our jobs plan for the future."
JUICE is an acronym for 'Jobs, Upliftment, Investment, Capital and Environment' and the central theme is job creation through investment.
"We appreciate that not every person can be an owner of a business but that a viable economy requires employment opportunities for its people, especially for a country with a big population of young people. "
Tsvangirai said the MDC played a huge part in stabilising the country's economy.
He said during the period preceding the inclusive government, the economy was in an unprecedented free fall characterised by an all time hyper inflation instigated by poor economic management by the then Zanu-PF government.
"We are pleased that we have managed to achieve economic stability and that life for the ordinary Zimbabwean is appreciably better now than it was before the inclusive government," Tsvangirai said.
"We also know, however, that better is not enough and more ought to be done to drive growth," he said.
Tsvangirai however, lamented at the poor set up of the inclusive government which he said militated against sustainable economic growth.
"We were also alive to the fact that the set-up was inadequate to actually drive sustainable economic growth. In that respect, the IG was more of a palliative than a cure for the economic malaise afflicting the country," he said.
He assured the people of Zimbabwe that, total economic growth and stability will only be achieved once the MDC government is in total control of the country's affairs saying the current set up of the inclusive government was replete with contradictions.
"We believe that this can be achieved in an environment where we have full control of government and are able to implement our economic vision and policy without the internal contradictions that we currently experience in the IG,"
Tsvangirai added that the MDC government will pursue an economic policy that encourages foreign investment, where property rights are protected and where fundamental freedoms are respected.
He said through its skewed policies Zanu-PF government had literary reduced citizens into charity cases, saying the MDC government will create conditions for self sustenance.
"We do not believe in a culture of freebies, where people expect to be given things for free. Of course, we will provide facilities to protect the vulnerable in society, but we will be faithful to the values of fairness, hard work, diligence and honesty as grounds for building a decent and honest and prosperous society," he said.
"The risk is that unbridled greed will lead not only to economic stagnation but will also fuel asset-stripping as those in favourable positions pursue a 'crash and burn' mentality," he said.
He blasted the indigenisation programme as nothing more than a Zanu-PF project to fleece the nation of its resources by a few elite at the expense of a suffering majority.
"One such contradiction is Zanu-PF's indigenisation policy [which compels foreign companies to hand over 51 percent of their ownership to Zimbabweans]. We believe this is no more than an elitist project which invariably benefits the few in privileged positions, but it is being executed under the guise of empowering communities," the President implored.
He said the manner in which the indigenisation programme was being implemented was reminiscent of the manner in which the land reform programme was implemented, where land was simply occupied without the attendant accessories of promoting productivity. Tsvangirai said, as a result of the chaotic land reform programme, production levels on that land had actually gone down.
Drawing a parallel between the two Zanu-PF's disastrous programmes, Tsvangirai took a swipe at the Indigenisation programme saying the policy was not growth-oriented but was based on sharing the existing, albeit small, economic cake without attendant plans to expand it.
Tsvangirai said the MDC JUICE blue print was a panacea to all the economic ills inflicted on the people by Zanu-PF's ill conceived policies.
"Jobs for the majority of the people have a central place in our economic plan. It is for this reason that we have recently launched JUICE, our jobs plan for the future."
JUICE is an acronym for 'Jobs, Upliftment, Investment, Capital and Environment' and the central theme is job creation through investment.
"We appreciate that not every person can be an owner of a business but that a viable economy requires employment opportunities for its people, especially for a country with a big population of young people. "
Tsvangirai said the MDC played a huge part in stabilising the country's economy.
He said during the period preceding the inclusive government, the economy was in an unprecedented free fall characterised by an all time hyper inflation instigated by poor economic management by the then Zanu-PF government.
"We are pleased that we have managed to achieve economic stability and that life for the ordinary Zimbabwean is appreciably better now than it was before the inclusive government," Tsvangirai said.
"We also know, however, that better is not enough and more ought to be done to drive growth," he said.
Tsvangirai however, lamented at the poor set up of the inclusive government which he said militated against sustainable economic growth.
"We were also alive to the fact that the set-up was inadequate to actually drive sustainable economic growth. In that respect, the IG was more of a palliative than a cure for the economic malaise afflicting the country," he said.
He assured the people of Zimbabwe that, total economic growth and stability will only be achieved once the MDC government is in total control of the country's affairs saying the current set up of the inclusive government was replete with contradictions.
"We believe that this can be achieved in an environment where we have full control of government and are able to implement our economic vision and policy without the internal contradictions that we currently experience in the IG,"
Tsvangirai added that the MDC government will pursue an economic policy that encourages foreign investment, where property rights are protected and where fundamental freedoms are respected.
He said through its skewed policies Zanu-PF government had literary reduced citizens into charity cases, saying the MDC government will create conditions for self sustenance.
"We do not believe in a culture of freebies, where people expect to be given things for free. Of course, we will provide facilities to protect the vulnerable in society, but we will be faithful to the values of fairness, hard work, diligence and honesty as grounds for building a decent and honest and prosperous society," he said.
Source - news
