via MDC-T dead and buried – Mugabe – The Standard December 15, 2013 by Bernard Mpofu and Patrice Makova
President Robert Mugabe yesterday said the MDC-T was all but “dead and buried” after the opposition party’s massive loss to Zanu PF in the July 31 harmonised elections.
Closing the three-day conference held in Chinhoyi, Mugabe said his party was now “born again” after the elections and now wanted to concentrate on delivering on its election promises.
He said the MDC-T was no longer a stumbling block following the collapse of the Government of National Unity (GNU), vowing the opposition party would never “resurrect” after the loss.
“They will never rise again,” Mugabe said. “We dug graves for them and interred them in those graves.”
He said for the past four years, Zanu PF was being hamstrung by the GNU, hence the failure to improve the economy.
Mugabe appeared energised as he delivered his speech and for the first time did not give his usual long history lectures.
Instead, he concentrated on economic and social issues.
Mugabe said while Zanu PF was now “born again”, a similar rebirth was required for the collapsed industries in cities such as Bulawayo, Gweru and Harare. The Zanu PF leader pleaded with Zimbabweans to give his government time to improve and re-awaken the country.
He said Finance minister, Patrick Chinamasa should stop claiming that the government had no money, yet the country’s vast mineral resources were being massively exploited.
“Find money Chinamasa. Where is our platinum, gold and diamonds going? You can’t say there is no money when others are taking it. Tell them we are the owners now and we are taking our money,” Mugabe said.
He said the 2014 budget which will be presented by Chinamasa this week, must tell a new story on how the country is going economic-wise.
Mugabe again promised to improve the salaries of civil servants saying they should be paid well above the poverty datum line.
Mugabe said Zimbabwe should learn from China which is now advanced technologically after copying and improving Japanese technology.
He said the government would prioritise health delivery and infrastructure development, particularly in rural areas. “We want to make life better for rural people. I will not let you down,” Mugabe promised.
Although Mugabe was conciliatory in his speech, he once again went into his usual anti-Western rant.
Mugabe claimed that Western leaders and former leaders feared him and literally run away when they see him at international foras.
“When I get there, Tony Blair [Former British Prime Minister] runs away. Do I have a contagious disease? Truly they run away. Instead of sitting and discussing, they run away,” he claimed.
Mugabe said some countries were now afraid of inviting him for international meetings where some Western leaders would be present.
Mugabe’s speech did not touch on the serious divisions in the party which saw the different factions fighting for positions during the recent provincial elections.
For the first time in a few years, the conference did not make any resolution on the return of the Zimdollar or the banning of NGOs. Some of the resolutions were on poverty alleviation and empowerment
A total of 4 300 delegates attended the Chinhoyi conference.
ZANU PF IN FINANCIAL CRISIS
THE poor state of Zanu PF’s finances was laid bare in Chinhoyi where it emerged that the party had a huge budget deficit of nearly US$5 million for the period ending December 1 this year.
In its Central Committee report, the party said despite a landslide victory in the July 31 elections, the party’s finances were in the red.
The report also showed that Zanu PF received as at October 31, US$1,1 million out of the US$2,3 million the party is supposed to get from Treasury under the provision of the Political Finance Act.
The party’s total expenditure during the period under review stood at US$9 million against a paltry US$4,4 million in incomes.
Donations from unnamed sources emerged as the key source of revenue accounting for US$3 million of the total income.
Despite facing problems in paying staff, the party said salaries, the national conference and harmonised elections accounted for US$6 841 397 of total costs.
Due to the borrowings, the party incurred nearly US$1 million in bank charges and interest.
Constitutional meetings, the report further stated accounted for US$658 049 of the total expenditure.
The party also reported legal costs amounting to US$420 000 resulting from post harmonised elections petitions.
“The trend of insignificant cash inflows continues due to a number of factors hinged generally on the overall poor performance of the economy,” reads the report in part.
“As a result, our traditional sources of revenue namely subscriptions, membership fees and donations are severely affected.”
Revenue collected from party cards and subscriptions marginally rose to US$147 000 from US$120 000 weighed down by dwindling support in Harare, Bulawayo and Matabeleland provinces.
COMMENTS
What a passionate speech. But Mr Chinamasa can’t mint the Zim-Dollar…neither are you a prophet to predict that the MDC is dead and buried!
MR Mugabe- Most of Zimbabwe’s raw material ends up in China one way or another oddly enough, even your finance minister is called – CHINAmasa-. China would never have supported your fake liberation struggle without some serious cables attached to you giving them the nations resources. In worldly terms very soon now the only resource you will need is a hole in the ground but the nation will bear the burden of your reckless governance for generations to come. The Chinese are not a push over like the West.
thats cheap talk mugabe. there is no money in the country and ignore the MDC at your own peril. Chinamasa must perform miracles and print the USD.Mugabe is telling us that Zanu pf are saints today. that is hogwash.
“for the past four years, Zanu PF was being hamstrung by the GNU, hence the failure to…”
complete the total destruction of the economy.
International meetings are attended by young leaders who are geared for the 21st century . Old man with old ideas should be isolated. What a shame you cannot learn from other world leaders what humility is all about . MDC is not buried its live and kicking in the hearts of all Zimbabweans who have been oppressed by you and your party.
hear hear I cant wait to see the removal of mugabge, I will probley leave the states and go back home…
Last sailings of a kicking donkey on its last legs
Of course we should emulate the Chinese starting with their execution stat’s on corrupt officialdom.
YOU ARE ABNORMAL GANDANGA NO WONDER WHY YOU WILL DIE POOR AS YOU ARE AND WILL REALISE TOO LATE WHEN YOUR OLD BOSS BOB IS GONE.
Mr President Robert Mugabe, you do not have a contagious disease. The Tony Blairs, the George Bushes and the Barack Obamas are too chicken to meet you. They can rant about you when you out of their sight but can’t do when you are near. This shows how the whole world greatly respects you Mr Presedent your Execellency and l salute you for that honourable Mr President.
They have no idea on the economy. All they will do now is to slice up a dead donkey and parcel it out to each other.
Yes! The dead donkey bit! That’s all they have left. God Himself will dry up their resources. All the God given resources that the Lord has given to Zimbabwe have been plundered and squandered. ZPF thought that Chiadzwa would last forever. “You have destroyed your land and slain your people.” Isaiah 14:20
Prophetic!!!!
Shame!,shame! this old man really feels isolated. He is dying to have conversations with the western leaders, regardless of what he may say about these western leaders in front of his people. Well, what dead rat or rotten donkey do you bring to this international for a madhala that makes these guys run away from you? Or on the other hand, who would want to continue to invite someone who sleeps throughout these meetings and contributes zulch, zero! As of the MDC, this is what you also said at it’s inception, pity you never learnt your lessons in the past 14 years or so.
God s time will arrive and all the rhethoric will stop forever.
Sorry guys. Stop the blame game. The country is in the position because the people are too scared to stand up together and push for even if it means to fight for a better life. A Robin Hood approach to start with. Compassion for the poor and they will follow. Then stand up for what the people of Zimbabwe deserve. Fight for it united as one. Power to the people, the power is the people.
I like all the above comments except gandanga@ all Mugabe can do is blah blah blah blah for the past 32 years surley you get tired of the same speech over and over again
After 33 years in power you still want more time to deliver! If 33 years was not enough, how many more years do you want zimbabweans to be patient?
zanu pf spend 1 million fo dinner bt there is no money gvt .
In the year 2000 the then Vice President Simon Muzenda told Zanu PF supporters that Zanu PF would rule Zimbabwe for ever..in Shona..’tichatonga kusvika madhongi amera nyanga’. Mugabe will never tolerate any opposition. Period!!! He will never accept and acknowledge that Inclusive government transformed the Zimbabwean economy from the brink and now that the marriage of convinience is over the economy is slowly sliding back to the brink. We are in trouble Zimbabwe..we are being led by gangsters who do not care about the People but only to enrich themselves.
Empty promises u a the one who’s finished just step down.nxa
The economy was dead when the MDC joined and salvaged it. TH Hyper was selling fire wood for goodness sake. What does this old man smoke? Since the MDC were rigged out of office, the economy has fast approached the dark days. I hear the zim kwacha is on its way back. God help us. Mugabe die die die. Heaven or hell – ndeyekwako – chako chete chifa mdara.
If MDC-T is dead and buried, why are you worrying about it? The fact is that it is YOU and ZANU(PF) that are DEAD and BURIED. Mark my words, you MONGRELS.
Shame shame shame on mugabe, you never learned to separate state affairs from party affairs that is why you equate stealing an election from the opposition to killing the opposition.