…’we fear being attacked by angry citizens for empty promises’
Beatific Gumbwanda
CHIREDZI – Few weeks after
President Emmerson Mnangagwa addressed a politburo meeting and ordered Zanu PF
bigwigs stationed at Shake-Shake building to always put on party regalia,
national vice youth chairperson Lewis Matutu was on Tuesday left stone-faced
after disgruntled youths told him they too were not proud to wear the regalia.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa addressed a politburo meeting and ordered Zanu PF
bigwigs stationed at Shake-Shake building to always put on party regalia,
national vice youth chairperson Lewis Matutu was on Tuesday left stone-faced
after disgruntled youths told him they too were not proud to wear the regalia.
Matutu, who was accompanied by
Masvingo provincial youth chairperson Brian Munyoro, was on his way to
Chikombedzi to launch a goat project when he first addressed a meeting at the
party’s district offices in Tshovani.
Masvingo provincial youth chairperson Brian Munyoro, was on his way to
Chikombedzi to launch a goat project when he first addressed a meeting at the
party’s district offices in Tshovani.
Many youths attended the meeting in
their ordinary clothes, and when Matutu raised a point of order, he was
heckled.
their ordinary clothes, and when Matutu raised a point of order, he was
heckled.
Some said they were avoiding the
party regalia because there was nothing to show for it in a difficult economy,
while others said wearing the regalia would expose them to the risk of being
attacked by angry citizens who blame the ruling party for the economic
difficulties.
party regalia because there was nothing to show for it in a difficult economy,
while others said wearing the regalia would expose them to the risk of being
attacked by angry citizens who blame the ruling party for the economic
difficulties.
“We cannot be seen walking around
in party regalia. We have seen many videos of comrades being stripped of the
regalia. People are angry!” shouted one youth from the floor.
in party regalia. We have seen many videos of comrades being stripped of the
regalia. People are angry!” shouted one youth from the floor.
Matutu, however, urged Zanu PF supporters
to fight back if they were provoked and forced to remove their regalia.
to fight back if they were provoked and forced to remove their regalia.
“You should learn to defend yourself
from those barbaric MDC supporters who are going around undressing people of
their regalia. It’s as good as taking somebody else’s wife. That’s being
belittled, you should be proud of your regalia because we won this election,”
said Matutu.
from those barbaric MDC supporters who are going around undressing people of
their regalia. It’s as good as taking somebody else’s wife. That’s being
belittled, you should be proud of your regalia because we won this election,”
said Matutu.
The unconvinced youths, however,
stood their ground, arguing there was nothing to be proud of in the regalia,
with one Lloyd Simango saying nobody should be forced to put on the regalia
when the party always made empty promises.
stood their ground, arguing there was nothing to be proud of in the regalia,
with one Lloyd Simango saying nobody should be forced to put on the regalia
when the party always made empty promises.
“Has the system changed yet or it’s
still that old system of the Mugabe times? Because as youths, we have realised
that we have held many elections where you made a lot of manifestos, some
prioritising the youths but you are not delivering.
still that old system of the Mugabe times? Because as youths, we have realised
that we have held many elections where you made a lot of manifestos, some
prioritising the youths but you are not delivering.
“You should learn to implement
every piece of project you would have promised. You gave an example that it’s
being belittled for another man to take your wife but that can happen because
you could be failing to take good care of her.
every piece of project you would have promised. You gave an example that it’s
being belittled for another man to take your wife but that can happen because
you could be failing to take good care of her.
“Some of us, maybe you can see
tisina regalia, it’s because we are not even proud to wear it as there is
nothing to defend it with so it will be wise to remove it off my body (sic) than
to end up being injured. You are the only big guys who are benefiting the
fruits of the revolution while the grassroots are suffering,” said Simango to
loud applause from the gathering.
tisina regalia, it’s because we are not even proud to wear it as there is
nothing to defend it with so it will be wise to remove it off my body (sic) than
to end up being injured. You are the only big guys who are benefiting the
fruits of the revolution while the grassroots are suffering,” said Simango to
loud applause from the gathering.
Sensing the hostility, Matutu tried
to silence the youths and quickly changed the topic of the day.
to silence the youths and quickly changed the topic of the day.
Many social media videos
purportedly showing mobs forcing people to remove Zanu PF-branded T/shirts have
circulated on social media. There were also reports that bigwigs were removing
stickers from branded party vehicles for fear of stirring public anger in fuel
queues.
purportedly showing mobs forcing people to remove Zanu PF-branded T/shirts have
circulated on social media. There were also reports that bigwigs were removing
stickers from branded party vehicles for fear of stirring public anger in fuel
queues.
A stitch in time saves nine
bond note currency has let the country down and those who imposed it on the
people should hang their heads in shame. That is the least they can do or, if
they still have any moral uprightness left, should apologise and resign. But
knowing them to be who they are, we dare not expect them to voluntarily abandon
the gravy train lest we get depressed by disappointment. The bond note was
introduced ostensibly to solve the severe shortage of the US dollar which was
then the dominant legal tender in the banks. The bond note was therefore
introduced, against widespread public sentiment, with Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe
(RBZ) governor John Mangudya as its proud groomsman. Two years down the line,
the US dollar is still in short supply and so is the bond which was supposed to
solve the problem in the first place. As if that was not a big enough failure,
the bond not has now severely weakened and wrought havoc on consumer prices.
Prices of goods have doubled and in some cases have trebled threefold. That is
the reason why it is only reasonable that the bond note is dumped immediately.
Prices would definitely come down if the real US dollar is restored as the only
legal tender alongside other dependable currencies like the South African rand.
In such case, the US dollar would still remain in short supply yes, but is the
inflationary bond note itself easily accessible? Would we not rather struggle
to get money that is reliable than struggle to get something as resented as the
bond note? The price of bread would hardly reach $1.50 in real US dollars terms
but right now, bakers are fighting to be allowed to charge their products as
they deem fit, something that would take the price of bread to $4.40 and
beyond. This is surely bound to happen unless the bond note is retired with
immediate effect. The market has made it clear that it does not want the bond
note and there is no wisdom in antagonising the market.