'Dialogue with Tsvangirai is irrelevant,' says Zanu-PF

Zanu-PF has ruled out the national dialogue demanded by opposition parties as necessary to haul the economy out of the doldrums.

Party spokesman Rugare Gumbo told The Zimbabwean that the politburo did not discuss calls for dialogue at its Monday meeting as it was irrelevant.

Zanu-PF won the last elections overwhelmingly and had no reason to involve losers in issues to do with national governance, he said. "Zanu-PF has no time for national dialogue – we are interested in national development, securing lines of credit, land reform and other empowerment projects," said Gumbo.

He added that his party would look into all aspects of the indigenisation and empowerment policy, and study implications for investors. It would then clarify and advise foreigners about the policy.

He claimed Zimasset had started bearing fruit as shown by the recent commissioning of a massive housing scheme by Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa and said the state was in the process of negotiating a loan package with the Chinese to bankroll Zimasset.

Economist Danuel Ndlela said government lacked proper planning and should create an environment which encouraged economic activity. Potential investors were not interested in political assurances, he said.

"Regional and international integration remains key to our economic recovery, as well as unwavering policy coordination, cohesion and commonality among stakeholders," Ndlela added.

Deputy Reserve Bank Governor Kupukile Mlambo said inconsistent policies would only result in delayed investment and withdrawal of existing investments.

"We need to identify champion business partners, not novices, and find ways to deal with power shortages, capital scarcity and the export deficiency," he said, and warned that if government did not take corrective measures and attract investment soon, economic growth could assume a negative trend.