via Charamba admits economy is shrinking | The Zimbabwean by Brenna Matendere 27.05.14
A senior official has contradicted claims by most Zanu (PF) ministers that the economy is flourishing thanks to Zim-Asset.
President Robert Mugabe’s spokesperson, George Charamba, delivered a public lecture at Midlands State University last weekend at which he admitted the economy was shrinking.
Charamba, who is also a long-time Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, pointed out that the bad state of the economy was one of the reasons why government had not been enthusiastic about opening up the airwaves, despite continued calls by several players.
“Let me be very honest with you, although I know the consequences of being honest. The climate in Zimbabwe is one where people are thinking the state continues to restrict the airwaves. But remember, we do not allow foreign funding for radio stations wishing to operate in the country. So how do you then reconcile the need to liberalise (the airwaves) in circumstances where the economy itself is shrinking?” he said, adding that it would not make sense to license TV and radio stations when they will be doomed to collapse.
“Before they have even been born, they will be dead. You see,” said Charamba.
Despite mounting evidence that the government is broke, with payment of civil servant salaries being frequently postponed, President Robert Mugabe and his cronies have insisted that everything is fine. Former Finance Minister Tendai Biti is on record saying the nation is sliding back to the pre-2008 era when inflation skyrocketed to unprecedented levels while the ordinary person failed to put food on the table or meet basic needs.
Ministries and line departments are yet to be paid in full what they were promised by Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa when he unveiled the 2014 budget, while parliamentarians have not been paid their allowances.
COMMENTS
Jeez Charamba, was he addressing idiots. On one hand they are crying for foreign investment and here he is saying no.Does it matter if the project flops? Its not your money you idiot. Its ZANU shooting itself in the foot again.
Its confusion everywhere.
I totally give up on ZANU
Just go ZANU.
I plead again, do not go to any of these meetings organized by these Zanoids. There is nothing to gain.its all rubbish.
Roving Ambassador I think its ok to go to these meetings because Zanu is looking more and more ridiculous. With all due respect to you this article is like those meetings. What has it done? Made them look more foolish. They have become the laughing stock of Politicians. Some times it is healthy to listen to rubbish as it is a barometer of someones intellect. That is why these days I am reading all Apoliticals comments.
“So how do you then reconcile the need to liberalise (the airwaves) in circumstances where the economy itself is shrinking?” said George Charamba. “Before they have even been born, they will be dead. You see.”
Whilst it is true that the national economy is shrinking still what a feeble excuse for denying the people freedom of expression, free press and freeing the country’s airwaves. Free the air waves and let the would-be players make the business decision whether to set shop or not.
This mentally retarded person is actually a high government official. I doubt he has any idea how stupid he sounds.
The air waves are not free because ZANU fears freedom. We all know this.
well said
I second your remarks. A free, capitalist nation would invite persons to form media companies and if those companies failed, so be it. Presumably the best-run firms would survive. Obviously this view doesn’t allow for state support or favoritism to certain companies, a practice that Mugabe & Zanu-PF excel at. But the market model has proved to be time-tested for the better.
This idiot….this is akin to saying to investors don’t come to invest in Zim because the economy is sinking and your venture will collapse. It’s not your decision to make Charamba.
A famous man once remarked ‘ the world is full of fools and not nice people ‘
This man should go far, and the sooner he starts, the better.
How pathetic it all sounds. If these are the ideas they thrash in their politburo meetings no wonder the country is in such a state.
“pointed out that the bad state of the economy was one of the reasons why government had not been enthusiastic about opening up the airwaves, despite continued calls by several players.” Charamba is just telling a lie as usual like the theiving scum bags- excuse after excuse these thieving scum bags do not want the ordinary people to know the truth while they shop until they drop, checking into expensive hospitals abroad, taking large delegations
“we do not allow foreign funding for radio stations wishing to operate in the country. – Charamba should tell the people the truth they do not want people to know the truth because his boss is like Mao Te Tsung they are just sumpressing the people with all this load of rubbish
the students should have just responded:
Hear no evil See No Evil Speak no Evil!!
No repentance! no restoration! God is judging