News / National
Fired workers are ' jobless and not landless' says Nathaniel Manheru
22 Aug 2015 at 14:18hrs | Views
Controversial State media columnist, Nathaniel Manheru, widely believed to be President Robert Mugabe's spokesperson George Charamba has boosted that more than 20 000 fired workers could be "jobless but not landless".
Writing in his Saturday column, Manheru said widespread retracements are not confined to Zimbabwe alone but throughout Southern Africa.
He said Zanu PF is well prepared to handle the crisis.
"We have witnessed a spate of retrenchments in the country. It is simplistic to blame these on the private sector. These retrenchments have been across sectors, including in the quasi public sector, all to suggest a generalised employment crisis. Not just in Zimbabwe, but throughout Southern Africa" he began.
"Let it be stated here and now that Zimbabwe is not the worst hit by way of retrenchments. Let it also be stated here and now that more than any other country in the region, Zimbabwe is better able to cope with the ensuing job crisis.
" I said Zanu-PF is better prepared….Elsewhere retrenchees are both jobless and landless. Here most retrenchees will be jobless but not necessarily landless. Those affected either have land or will retreat to households that have benefited from land reforms. Land is a key safety valve in Zimbabwe's political economy, which is why it has always evolved as a source of a second cheque for the Zimbabwean worker.
Manheru said "These are hard facts not readily obeying easy political conclusions".
" Easy scapegoats are soon found, with some even suggesting a nigh end for Zanu-PF! I don't know whether South Africa which compounds the retrenchment scale we have witnessed here is run by Zanu-PF, by one Robert Mugabe!
He added "I said Zanu-PF is better prepared for this emerging social question. That it is, thanks to the head-start it gained in the early eighties when it tackled the social question through the reach of education, health and other social services. Whatever problems Zimbabwe might face today, it has a solid social services infrastructure on which to address the social question".
Writing in his Saturday column, Manheru said widespread retracements are not confined to Zimbabwe alone but throughout Southern Africa.
He said Zanu PF is well prepared to handle the crisis.
"We have witnessed a spate of retrenchments in the country. It is simplistic to blame these on the private sector. These retrenchments have been across sectors, including in the quasi public sector, all to suggest a generalised employment crisis. Not just in Zimbabwe, but throughout Southern Africa" he began.
"Let it be stated here and now that Zimbabwe is not the worst hit by way of retrenchments. Let it also be stated here and now that more than any other country in the region, Zimbabwe is better able to cope with the ensuing job crisis.
" I said Zanu-PF is better prepared….Elsewhere retrenchees are both jobless and landless. Here most retrenchees will be jobless but not necessarily landless. Those affected either have land or will retreat to households that have benefited from land reforms. Land is a key safety valve in Zimbabwe's political economy, which is why it has always evolved as a source of a second cheque for the Zimbabwean worker.
Manheru said "These are hard facts not readily obeying easy political conclusions".
" Easy scapegoats are soon found, with some even suggesting a nigh end for Zanu-PF! I don't know whether South Africa which compounds the retrenchment scale we have witnessed here is run by Zanu-PF, by one Robert Mugabe!
He added "I said Zanu-PF is better prepared for this emerging social question. That it is, thanks to the head-start it gained in the early eighties when it tackled the social question through the reach of education, health and other social services. Whatever problems Zimbabwe might face today, it has a solid social services infrastructure on which to address the social question".
Source - Byo24News
