News / National
'Robert Mugabe out of touch,' says Chamisa
24 Jul 2014 at 08:48hrs | Views
KUWADZANA East MP Nelson Chamisa yesterday accused President Robert Mugabe of losing touch with the country's dire economic situation and quizzed Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa why the Zanu-PF leader uttered statements contradicting the reality on the ground.
Mugabe on Sunday told delegates at the 2014 President's Medal Shoot Competition prize-giving ceremony in Harare that the economy was on a recovery path, courtesy of interventions by his government.
"When the President said the economy was recovering, I just want to know what is it that he is seeing that we are not seeing?" Chamisa asked. "Maybe as government ministers, you live in your own world that we are not living in."
But Chinamasa accused Chamisa of being ill-informed about developments in the country.
He claimed that the country had realised reasonable economic growth in recent times.
Chinamasa said he would not disclose all the measures the Zanu-PF government had employed to revive the economy as it would result in counter-action from countries that imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe.
"I am shocked when people like Chamisa do not understand what is happening in the country," he said.
The Zanu-PF minister said Mugabe made the remarks on sound footing because he was aware of all the developments in the country through his regular interaction with Cabinet ministers.
He, however, admitted that industry had "virtually collapsed, but would for sure resurrect in the near future".
Zimbabwe is currently facing a serious economic meltdown fuelled by severe liquidity challenges.
Companies are closing down and government is struggling to pay its workers.
Economists and Mugabe's political enemies have accused the government of being clueless and is failing to fix the free-falling economy.
Mabvuku-Tafara MP James Maridadi also quizzed Transport minister Obert Mpofu on his appointment of Goodwill Masimirembwa as the new board chairman for the Central Mechanical Equipment Department after previously appointing him to head several other parastatals in other ministries the Umguza MP has headed.
Mpofu said he had no apology to make over Masimirembwa's appointments.
Mugabe on Sunday told delegates at the 2014 President's Medal Shoot Competition prize-giving ceremony in Harare that the economy was on a recovery path, courtesy of interventions by his government.
"When the President said the economy was recovering, I just want to know what is it that he is seeing that we are not seeing?" Chamisa asked. "Maybe as government ministers, you live in your own world that we are not living in."
But Chinamasa accused Chamisa of being ill-informed about developments in the country.
He claimed that the country had realised reasonable economic growth in recent times.
Chinamasa said he would not disclose all the measures the Zanu-PF government had employed to revive the economy as it would result in counter-action from countries that imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe.
"I am shocked when people like Chamisa do not understand what is happening in the country," he said.
The Zanu-PF minister said Mugabe made the remarks on sound footing because he was aware of all the developments in the country through his regular interaction with Cabinet ministers.
He, however, admitted that industry had "virtually collapsed, but would for sure resurrect in the near future".
Zimbabwe is currently facing a serious economic meltdown fuelled by severe liquidity challenges.
Companies are closing down and government is struggling to pay its workers.
Economists and Mugabe's political enemies have accused the government of being clueless and is failing to fix the free-falling economy.
Mabvuku-Tafara MP James Maridadi also quizzed Transport minister Obert Mpofu on his appointment of Goodwill Masimirembwa as the new board chairman for the Central Mechanical Equipment Department after previously appointing him to head several other parastatals in other ministries the Umguza MP has headed.
Mpofu said he had no apology to make over Masimirembwa's appointments.
Source - newsday
