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Biti attacks Zanu-PF
26 Mar 2018 at 10:35hrs | Views
As the country hurtles towards the watershed 2018 elections, with less than four months to go, People's Democratic Party (PDP) leader Tendai Biti has attacked Zanu-PF for failing to fulfil promises it made to the electorate in the run up to the 2013 election.
While Zanu-PF seeks to extend its 38-year uninterrupted rule with another five-year term - five years have gone and its 2,2 million jobs promise has not yet been achieved.
Biti and his party are members of the MDC Alliance, a coalition of at least seven opposition political parties that are set to battle it out with Zanu-PF in this year's election.
Addressing MDC alliance party supporters in Murewa over the weekend Biti said the ruling party's promises remain a pie in the sky.
He said in the run up to the 2013 elections, Zanu-PF had promised 2,2 million jobs, more schools and over 300 clinics, all which has not been achieved.
Biti's sentiments also come after his party through its spokesperson Jacob Mafume issued a statement, claiming Zanu-PF had made false promises to the electorate.
"Infinite promises were made in a deliberate attempt to woodwink the electorate into feeding Zanu-PF's selfish power retention agenda, these promises include the following: 2,2 Million jobs in five years, an average of 440 00 jobs a year, economic growth rates of about 9 percent per annum, 250 000, low cost houses, 310 new clinics and 300 new schools in five years, a new Parliament complex, 1 250 Public buildings and houses refurbished, a shift from an extractive economy to value addition, dealing with corruption."
He said instead, the reality is that the economy is in turmoil and suffering serious stagnation, massive de-industrialisation, informalisation and a crippling cash liquidity crisis.
"As a result negative growth rates have been recorded for the past four years, more than 8 000 companies have closed and over 100 000 individuals have lost their jobs.
"A crippling strike has been arresting the public health system; the authorities have failed to resolve the impasse. The State is now using threats instead of addressing the concerns of the doctors who are earning a paltry $329 a month," Mafume said.
While Zanu-PF seeks to extend its 38-year uninterrupted rule with another five-year term - five years have gone and its 2,2 million jobs promise has not yet been achieved.
Biti and his party are members of the MDC Alliance, a coalition of at least seven opposition political parties that are set to battle it out with Zanu-PF in this year's election.
Addressing MDC alliance party supporters in Murewa over the weekend Biti said the ruling party's promises remain a pie in the sky.
He said in the run up to the 2013 elections, Zanu-PF had promised 2,2 million jobs, more schools and over 300 clinics, all which has not been achieved.
Biti's sentiments also come after his party through its spokesperson Jacob Mafume issued a statement, claiming Zanu-PF had made false promises to the electorate.
"Infinite promises were made in a deliberate attempt to woodwink the electorate into feeding Zanu-PF's selfish power retention agenda, these promises include the following: 2,2 Million jobs in five years, an average of 440 00 jobs a year, economic growth rates of about 9 percent per annum, 250 000, low cost houses, 310 new clinics and 300 new schools in five years, a new Parliament complex, 1 250 Public buildings and houses refurbished, a shift from an extractive economy to value addition, dealing with corruption."
He said instead, the reality is that the economy is in turmoil and suffering serious stagnation, massive de-industrialisation, informalisation and a crippling cash liquidity crisis.
"As a result negative growth rates have been recorded for the past four years, more than 8 000 companies have closed and over 100 000 individuals have lost their jobs.
"A crippling strike has been arresting the public health system; the authorities have failed to resolve the impasse. The State is now using threats instead of addressing the concerns of the doctors who are earning a paltry $329 a month," Mafume said.
Source - dailynews
