'Mugabe has let Zimbabweans down

Newly-elected Norton MP, Temba Mliswa, has said President Robert Mugabe's government has let long-suffering Zimbabweans down by failing to revive the country's broken economy.

His remarks are on the back of Mugabe and his ruling Zanu PF's failure to fulfil their 2013 election campaign promises - under the much-hyped economic blueprint, the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (ZimAsset) - which included growing the moribund economy by seven percent per annum and creating 2,2 million new jobs, among others.

Speaking at a meeting held at Chinhoyi Golf Club on Saturday, Mliswa - once a Zanu PF legislator and staunch supporter of Mugabe - said he planned to form a Norton Business Alliance (NBA) group that will help revive the business sector in Norton.

"The NBA is meant to ensure that we revive the industry here (Norton), thinking outside the box, the economy has certainly failed, the town council has got no money, so we have to find alliances outside Zimbabwe, people who have money and... are prepared to put money in Zimbabwe, especially in Norton," Mliswa said.

Mliswa was recently elected into the House of Assembly after winning a by-election as an independent candidate against Zanu PF's Ronald Chindedza.

Apart from Norton being located close to water sources like Twin Lakes,  Lake Chivero and Darwendale, Mliswa said the water situation in the town remains dire.

He urged the local community to invest in various projects adding that they must also be in a position to contribute a certain percentage towards the initiatives.

"If we all decide that we must get water, we are also forced to put in something at the end of the day, like what tobacco farmers are expected to do in a contract, put in 30 percent of your effort…and the company gives you the rest of the input.

"We need to package it in such a way that there will be investor confidence. Whatever people in Norton decide to do, they must be able to ... benefit at the end of the day," he said.