News / National
'No solution to economic crisis without Zanu-PF'
23 Jan 2015 at 09:34hrs | Views
THE Morgan Tsvangirai-led MDC-T says it would be impossible to exclude Zanu-PF from the national convergence conference slated for March or April if an urgent solution to the country's debilitating economic woes is to be found.
MDC-T spokesperson Obert Gutu told the Zimbabwe Independent that it was impossible to ignore Zanu-PF at its planned conference that seeks to bring together political parties, businesses, churches and other stakeholders to find solutions to the country's desperate and deteriorating economic situation.
"Everything that can go wrong in Zimbabwe has and is going wrong and we cannot just fold our arms and watch," said Gutu in an interview on Monday.
"More than 400 people lose their jobs every week and companies are closing shop. Every two metres there are vendors and this is even happening along First Street in Harare.
"We cannot ignore Zanu-PF because they rigged the elections; whether we like it or not they are the ruling party hence our invitation for them to attend the conference. Zanu-PF also has some very good men and women."
Gutu reiterated the MDC-T's call for fresh general elections, insisting that they must be predicated on electoral, media and security sector reforms as previously agreed by the main political parties in the 2008 Global Political Agreement, which paved the way for a four-year power-sharing unity government. Tsvangirai also made the same call a fortnight ago while addressing the media at the party headquarters in Harare.
Gutu said it is futile for the party to participate in polls before the reforms and consequently they would not be taking part in the March 27 by-elections in Chiramanzu-Zibagwe (Midlands) and Mount Darwin West (Mashonaland Central) to fill House of Assembly seats.
These fell vacant after Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his predecessor Joice Mujuru were elevated to the vice-presidency.
MDC-T spokesperson Obert Gutu told the Zimbabwe Independent that it was impossible to ignore Zanu-PF at its planned conference that seeks to bring together political parties, businesses, churches and other stakeholders to find solutions to the country's desperate and deteriorating economic situation.
"Everything that can go wrong in Zimbabwe has and is going wrong and we cannot just fold our arms and watch," said Gutu in an interview on Monday.
"More than 400 people lose their jobs every week and companies are closing shop. Every two metres there are vendors and this is even happening along First Street in Harare.
"We cannot ignore Zanu-PF because they rigged the elections; whether we like it or not they are the ruling party hence our invitation for them to attend the conference. Zanu-PF also has some very good men and women."
Gutu reiterated the MDC-T's call for fresh general elections, insisting that they must be predicated on electoral, media and security sector reforms as previously agreed by the main political parties in the 2008 Global Political Agreement, which paved the way for a four-year power-sharing unity government. Tsvangirai also made the same call a fortnight ago while addressing the media at the party headquarters in Harare.
Gutu said it is futile for the party to participate in polls before the reforms and consequently they would not be taking part in the March 27 by-elections in Chiramanzu-Zibagwe (Midlands) and Mount Darwin West (Mashonaland Central) to fill House of Assembly seats.
These fell vacant after Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his predecessor Joice Mujuru were elevated to the vice-presidency.
Source - independent
