Opinion / Columnist
Minister Mathema's coup statement very unfortunate
04 May 2019 at 21:09hrs | Views
After many Zimbabweans' lives have been plunged into deep impoverishment and great uncertainty by a series of price increases which have nearly become the order of the day since the declaration of Mnangagwa into office by the Con court last year, it is unfortunate that Minister Mathema saw it fit to hold a press conference only to announce that the government throne was under threat from unnamed foreign nationals in connivance with some civic societies in Zimbabwe. This effectively showed Zimbabweans that the government is not concerned about their plight and welfare but instead they care much about power.
Mathema went on to assure the nation that they were ready to defend their throne from any threat.It is very unfortunate that the government can only assure it's citizens the safety of their throne while it cannot assure economic and price stability, better living standards or simply a life tomorrow. It is neither surprising nor a new phenomenon that Zanu-PF government has prioritised power at the time its citizens are swimming in poverty.
To make matters worse the government has chosen to blame the MDC-Alliance and the business for its shortcomings. Minister Mathema in his press statement said,"It must be known that those economic challenges facing the country were brought about by the MDC. The sanctions were brought about by the MDC-Alliance, so it is laughable that we should be accused, as Government, of causing the economic challenges." The Zanu-PF government have been known for not accepting responsibility for any economic misfortune which bedevils the country since the era of Mugabe but instead they shift the blame to others. When prices of commodities skyrocketed in October 2018, the government blamed everyone except itself. Consumers were blamed for panicking, the business community for hoarding goods while the MDC-Alliance was blamed for sabotaging the economy. This time the government has again blamed MDC-Alliance and the business community for yet another wave of price increases. This shows the magnitude of the lack of responsibility and accountability from the Zanu-PF government. Surely a bus driver can't blame his failure to negotiate a curve on passengers.
Zimbabweans deserve better. We deserve a more responsible and accountable government. A government whose policies are people-centred.
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Terrence Wuragu writes in his own capacity and can be contacted on 0775524121 or wuragut@gmail.com.
Mathema went on to assure the nation that they were ready to defend their throne from any threat.It is very unfortunate that the government can only assure it's citizens the safety of their throne while it cannot assure economic and price stability, better living standards or simply a life tomorrow. It is neither surprising nor a new phenomenon that Zanu-PF government has prioritised power at the time its citizens are swimming in poverty.
To make matters worse the government has chosen to blame the MDC-Alliance and the business for its shortcomings. Minister Mathema in his press statement said,"It must be known that those economic challenges facing the country were brought about by the MDC. The sanctions were brought about by the MDC-Alliance, so it is laughable that we should be accused, as Government, of causing the economic challenges." The Zanu-PF government have been known for not accepting responsibility for any economic misfortune which bedevils the country since the era of Mugabe but instead they shift the blame to others. When prices of commodities skyrocketed in October 2018, the government blamed everyone except itself. Consumers were blamed for panicking, the business community for hoarding goods while the MDC-Alliance was blamed for sabotaging the economy. This time the government has again blamed MDC-Alliance and the business community for yet another wave of price increases. This shows the magnitude of the lack of responsibility and accountability from the Zanu-PF government. Surely a bus driver can't blame his failure to negotiate a curve on passengers.
Zimbabweans deserve better. We deserve a more responsible and accountable government. A government whose policies are people-centred.
--------
Terrence Wuragu writes in his own capacity and can be contacted on 0775524121 or wuragut@gmail.com.
Source - Terrence Wuragu
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