Opinion / Columnist
Zanu-PF stealing MDC ideas
03 Sep 2015 at 01:19hrs | Views
ZANU-PF is good at stealing MDC ideas and run with them as if theirs. Zanu-PF is good at hijacking things. You will all recall that in June I moved a motion in Parliament on the state of the economy. During my debate a Zanu-PF MP wept uncontrollably.
The major theme of my motion was about Economic Growth and how Zanu-PF had stiffled it. I pointed the fact that the 7,8 percent Zim-Asset growth target was a pie in the sky. In 2015 the economy will only register 1,2 percent growth. I told Parliament that Zanu-PF policies had choked Growth in Mining, Agriculture, Manufacturing.
I said that the growth in Tourism. was just a pain killer. I concluded that the issue in Zimbabwe was all about growth. It's Growth. Stupid! Just as Bill Clinton said It's the Economy. Stupid! (President) Mugabe in his State of the Nation Address unveiled a 10 Point Growth Plan. Although it was an adulterated version of what I said in Parliament you can see that my ideas were plagiarised without acknowledgement.
This week Africa's richest man Aliko Dangote who is a billionaire was in Zimbabwe to scout for investment opportunities. He met (President) Mugabe and his economic ministers. He announced that he has made up his mind to invest in:
(a) Thermal Power Station
(b) Cement Manufacturing Plant and
(c) Coal Chemical.
Again the invitation of Dangote was initiated by me during the inclusive government when I was the Minister of Economic Planning and Investment Promotion. I met Dangote in London and we discussed investment opportunities in Zimbabwe. We exchanged mobile phone numbers and e-mail addresses.
However, Dangote kept on doubting the Indigenisation laws of Zimbabwe. Now that he came, I don't know what Zanu-PF has promised him.
But this is not the first time Zanu-PF has stolen MDC ideas. You may recall that in 2000 our Manifesto talked about " Land to the People". What did Zanu-PF do?
Today China is the second largest economy in the world through copying and reforming. China copied American technology as it sent its students to study in American Universities. What are the lessons to us in MDC?
If Zanu-PF carries out business and economic reforms, everyone will rush to do business. Even Britain and America will soften their stance. Remember the West is already in competition with China whose presence in Zimbabwe is massive. It is all about economic interests. Period! I fear and warn that this will leave MDC irrelevant. We must not wait for that process to come into fruition. We need to take charge now. Look at how we as MDC have squandered all the ripe opportunities to steer change. Vendors, the economy, three months notices, you name it. We must wake up and smell the coffee.
Dr Tapiwa Mashakada is a senior MDC-T member, former deputy secretary general and former Minister of Economic Planning and Investment Promotion. This piece was taken from the MDC-T WhatsApp chat platform.
The major theme of my motion was about Economic Growth and how Zanu-PF had stiffled it. I pointed the fact that the 7,8 percent Zim-Asset growth target was a pie in the sky. In 2015 the economy will only register 1,2 percent growth. I told Parliament that Zanu-PF policies had choked Growth in Mining, Agriculture, Manufacturing.
I said that the growth in Tourism. was just a pain killer. I concluded that the issue in Zimbabwe was all about growth. It's Growth. Stupid! Just as Bill Clinton said It's the Economy. Stupid! (President) Mugabe in his State of the Nation Address unveiled a 10 Point Growth Plan. Although it was an adulterated version of what I said in Parliament you can see that my ideas were plagiarised without acknowledgement.
This week Africa's richest man Aliko Dangote who is a billionaire was in Zimbabwe to scout for investment opportunities. He met (President) Mugabe and his economic ministers. He announced that he has made up his mind to invest in:
(a) Thermal Power Station
(b) Cement Manufacturing Plant and
(c) Coal Chemical.
Again the invitation of Dangote was initiated by me during the inclusive government when I was the Minister of Economic Planning and Investment Promotion. I met Dangote in London and we discussed investment opportunities in Zimbabwe. We exchanged mobile phone numbers and e-mail addresses.
However, Dangote kept on doubting the Indigenisation laws of Zimbabwe. Now that he came, I don't know what Zanu-PF has promised him.
But this is not the first time Zanu-PF has stolen MDC ideas. You may recall that in 2000 our Manifesto talked about " Land to the People". What did Zanu-PF do?
Today China is the second largest economy in the world through copying and reforming. China copied American technology as it sent its students to study in American Universities. What are the lessons to us in MDC?
If Zanu-PF carries out business and economic reforms, everyone will rush to do business. Even Britain and America will soften their stance. Remember the West is already in competition with China whose presence in Zimbabwe is massive. It is all about economic interests. Period! I fear and warn that this will leave MDC irrelevant. We must not wait for that process to come into fruition. We need to take charge now. Look at how we as MDC have squandered all the ripe opportunities to steer change. Vendors, the economy, three months notices, you name it. We must wake up and smell the coffee.
Dr Tapiwa Mashakada is a senior MDC-T member, former deputy secretary general and former Minister of Economic Planning and Investment Promotion. This piece was taken from the MDC-T WhatsApp chat platform.
Source - the herald
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