Mugabe differs with the rest on the economy

President Robert Mugabe yesterday shockingly said the economy is on a recovery path, despite his government struggling to foot the civil service wage bill and the continued suffering of the general populace.

Speaking at this year's President's Medal Shoot prize giving ceremony at Cleveland Rifle Range in Harare yesterday, Mugabe, who was the guest of honour, claimed government was going to put in place measures to ensure the economy recovers.

"Let me assure our people that the country's economy is on a recovery path. Government is going to employ several measures aimed at achieving desired results," Mugabe said.

He further said among one of the key strategies was the implementation of the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (ZimAsset).

However, the Mugabe administration is still battling to get a footing to fund the economic blueprint, which requires a $27 billion seed.

Several companies are closing shop, and the unemployment rate continues to soar, with analysts saying it is hovering above 80 percent.

The country is in dire straits, as government is struggling to foot the civil servants' wage bill and failing to guarantee their pay dates. People are also struggling to pay school fees for their children, pay bills, let alone buy food, due to non availability of cash, but Mugabe is optimistic ZimAsset will bring results.

"ZimAsset will have all government and quasi-government institutions formulate their strategic action plans to be supervised through the Integrated Result-Based Management (IRBM).

"IRBM is a strategic management tool aimed at effectively eradicating mal-performance. It focuses on enhancing commitment and duty consciousness in all government work-force," Mugabe said.

He told the gathering made up of service chiefs and ministers that he was confident the implementation of IRBM would effectively bring about the desired success and the much needed economic turn-around.

Mugabe's declaration will come as a shock to millions of people in Zimbabwe who are wallowing in poverty and who are losing jobs as companies continue to close. Several members from the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), Zimbabwe National Army, Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS), War Veterans, Air Force of Zimbabwe and civilians, who participated in the shooting competition, were yesterday presented with prizes and medals.

Gregory Mugova from the Air Force of Zimbabwe was the overall winner of this year's shooting competition, and walked away with $1 000 prize money sponsored by Mbada Diamonds and a Zimbabwe independence trophy.

Olivia Kachamaedza from ZPCS was this year's overall female winner of the shooting competition and walked away with a Mbuya Nehanda trophy and some prize money.

Mugabe, who was accompanied by his wife Grace, commended the participation of women in the competition. Out of 528 participants, 383 were males, while 145 were female.

"This high number of female participants attests to the growing interest among women involving themselves in a competition previously male dominated," Mugabe said.

He commended the security forces for earning recognition in various regional peace keeping missions.

"As a nation we are indeed proud of our security forces who have illustriously distinguished themselves in various missions across the globe, in East Timor, Kosovo, Sudan, Sierra Leone and Guinea Bissau," Mugabe said, further thanking Namibia for its support during the Tsholotsho floods disaster.