Tsvangirai seeks political relevance

A few weeks ago, the MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai fired a diatribe at the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) monetary policy, which he accused as anti workers. He provided a classic example of a proverbial pot that calls the kettle black, as his party's policies since the formation of his party have been more anti-workers.

Mr Tsvangirai was at it again when he accused Zanu PF of failing to fulfil electoral promises, just 19 months after the polls.

"In 2013, Zanu PF made lots of promises of jobs and economic expansion among others, but up to today, the party has failed to fulfil even one of these promises," said Mr Tsvangirai at his rally at Zimbabwe grounds recently.

Mr Tsvangirai seems to be living in a different Zimbabwe that everyone else is living in. His statement betrays him and only saves to prove that he is out of touch with the reality in the country that he dreams to rule.

The MDC-T leader needs a serious decolonisation of his mind for him to realise that jobs are not only those offered by a white man. He fails to appreciate that the vibrant informal sector is providing many jobs to the youthful citizen. After all, the same sector is driving the economy of this country following the decimation of the formal sector by the sanctions that Tsvangirai himself called for.
Zimbabwe has taken a considered resolution to look east. In the eastern countries like China, the informal sector grew the economy to what it is today. Our economy will grow the same way if the informal sector is properly organised.

Somebody must remind him that the unemployment rate that ‘shocked' him was occasioned by the illegal sanctions that he begged for.  Instead of begging for foreign direct investment, he begged for sanctions. If he had begged for money this would have otherwise earned him a modicum of respect befitting an opposition leader. As it is, Tsvangirai has no respect at all from the people because he caused misery in their lives.

Tsvangirai must also appreciate the opportunities created in the farming sector. As a person who is dreaming of ruling this country, he must realise that Zimbabweans are better off being self-employed than being a perpetual servant of a white man.

The Zanu PF government's policies thrive to create an employer rather than an employee. It has done this through the indigenisation and economic empowerment policies.

 Tsvangirai must also wake up and see the mega deals that the progressive nations such as China and Russia have signed in this country. He must also look at the business delegations coming from his erstwhile sponsors. These business delegations have shown their intent to invest in the country.

 Even the European Union, Tsvangirai's former benefactor has just signed the National Indicative Programme (NIP) under which it will assist Zimbabwe with $270 million for socio-economic programmes until 2020. The money, for the first time since 2002, will come through treasury.

In any case, Tsvangirai himself and his party are guiltier of making empty promises to the electorate. Since the birth of the Western backed party, Tsvangirai has been making promises to the nation, some of which are unfeasible.

The MDC-T used to hide behind a finger, saying there is no way they can fulfil their promises when they are not in government.  The Inclusive government was a litmus test for the MDC-T's sincerity. It was an opportunity for them to fulfil their promises.

They got into government and took charge of the ministries that could have enabled them to fulfil the promises they generously made since the inception of their party in 1999.

They bragged that they had the keys to the ailing Zimbabwean economy. Of course, everybody thought that since they are the ones who destroyed the economy, they have the capacity to rebuild it. They told the nation that their western funders had promised them US$10 billion and that the money would be poured into the national purse upon their entry into government. That money was never availed.

The civil servants can testify to the empty promises that the MDC-T and Tsvangirai made. They were promised hefty salaries and improved working conditions. However, the plight of civil servants worsened when the MDC-T got into government. Their Finance Minister refused to give them a living salary. For the whole life of the Inclusive government, government workers' salaries was never increased save for one time when President Mugabe intervened.

The MDC-T came up with a policy named Jobs, Upliftment Investment Capital and Employment (JUICE) in which it promised one million jobs. When they entered into the inclusive government, not even a single job was created. Instead, that period of Inclusive government was characterised more by job losses than creation.
According to the Brenthurst Foundation survey, there were 350 manufacturing enterprises in Bulawayo employing 100 000 workers before the inclusive government. As of 2012, when industry was now under the MDCs, the companies were reduced to 250 with a workforce of 50 000.  As of 2012, the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industry had only 50 paying corporate members where it once enjoyed 700 when ZANU PF was in absolute power.

They even froze jobs, a policy decision that crippled the health sector the most. Nurses were being trained and dumped into the streets when there was an acute shortage of health personnel in the health institutions.

With such a record, who can take Mr Tsvangirai's utterances seriously? He pretends to be shocked by unemployment rate that was even worse when he was in government. Mr Tsvangirai slept in the inclusive government and forgot to use the opportunity to prove their worth. He became the legend of the carnal seas, marrying and divorcing within a short space of time instead of fulfilling the promises that he and his party have been making since 1999.