Opinion / Columnist
Mnangagwa exposed: Impose smart sanctions on local industry
10 Apr 2018 at 09:12hrs | Views
At the end of January, Zimbabwe's un-elected leader, Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa jetted off to Davos-Klosters, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum (WEF).
Mnangagwa, who took power after a military-led coup peacefully removed longtime former president Robert Mugabe in November 2017 told attendants at WEF that "Zimbabwe is open for business".
"On my day of inauguration, I mentioned economics and trade cooperation would be my priority in Zimbabwe, rather than politics, in order to catch up with the region.
"Zimbabwe has lagged behind in many areas as a result of isolation for past 16, 18 years. Now we are saying to the world: Zimbabwe is now open for business" he thundered.
The man received rave reviews from the media with the local state-controlled outlets leading the line with business community jumping on the heap praise on the CROCODILE.
Expectations were high that local industries would be re-opened in a twinkling of an eye and high un-employment rate obliterated.
However, as they say facts are stubborn and action speaks louder than words.
On Monday, 9 April, the nation woke up to the news delivered by the Herald that Mnangagwa's party, Zanu PF was on the verge of distributing millions of campaign regalia.
One would have thought that the regalia would be sourced locally, in line with Zimbabwe is Open for Business thrust advanced by Mnangagwa.
Dear reader, here is what Zanu PF's party's national commissar, Lieutenant-General Engelbert Rugeje (Retired),Lt-Gen Rugeje (Rtd) is quoted saying :
"As for regalia, we have 15 million T-shirts, 15 million caps and some of them have already arrived. "We also have two million wrappers (Zambias) for women. This year we want every party member to get at least three caps and three T-shirts. We want to paint the country with our regalia such that out of every three people you meet, two will be in Zanu-PF party regalia."
Take note of this "some of them have already arrived"
Arrived from where, Rujege?
This is a simple indication that Zimbabwe is not Open for Business. This whole talk is just hoodwinking the nation.
Why source material for abroad and presumably from China because the announcement coincided with the return on Mnangagwa from that country.
Mnangagwa and his Zanu PF are just plain lying to the nation.
The local industries are being ignored. Why?
Mnangagwa and his Zanu PF are guilty of externalizing funds.
By importing material, Mnangagwa and his Zanu PF are saying "Zimbabwe is closed for Business".
If truth be told, Mnangagwa is imposing sanction of local industry.
The electorate will punish you come Election Day.
Mnangagwa, who took power after a military-led coup peacefully removed longtime former president Robert Mugabe in November 2017 told attendants at WEF that "Zimbabwe is open for business".
"On my day of inauguration, I mentioned economics and trade cooperation would be my priority in Zimbabwe, rather than politics, in order to catch up with the region.
"Zimbabwe has lagged behind in many areas as a result of isolation for past 16, 18 years. Now we are saying to the world: Zimbabwe is now open for business" he thundered.
The man received rave reviews from the media with the local state-controlled outlets leading the line with business community jumping on the heap praise on the CROCODILE.
Expectations were high that local industries would be re-opened in a twinkling of an eye and high un-employment rate obliterated.
However, as they say facts are stubborn and action speaks louder than words.
On Monday, 9 April, the nation woke up to the news delivered by the Herald that Mnangagwa's party, Zanu PF was on the verge of distributing millions of campaign regalia.
One would have thought that the regalia would be sourced locally, in line with Zimbabwe is Open for Business thrust advanced by Mnangagwa.
Dear reader, here is what Zanu PF's party's national commissar, Lieutenant-General Engelbert Rugeje (Retired),Lt-Gen Rugeje (Rtd) is quoted saying :
"As for regalia, we have 15 million T-shirts, 15 million caps and some of them have already arrived. "We also have two million wrappers (Zambias) for women. This year we want every party member to get at least three caps and three T-shirts. We want to paint the country with our regalia such that out of every three people you meet, two will be in Zanu-PF party regalia."
Take note of this "some of them have already arrived"
Arrived from where, Rujege?
This is a simple indication that Zimbabwe is not Open for Business. This whole talk is just hoodwinking the nation.
Why source material for abroad and presumably from China because the announcement coincided with the return on Mnangagwa from that country.
Mnangagwa and his Zanu PF are just plain lying to the nation.
The local industries are being ignored. Why?
Mnangagwa and his Zanu PF are guilty of externalizing funds.
By importing material, Mnangagwa and his Zanu PF are saying "Zimbabwe is closed for Business".
If truth be told, Mnangagwa is imposing sanction of local industry.
The electorate will punish you come Election Day.
Source - Angela Takawira
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