Source: Biti outlines MDC Alliance economic agenda – DailyNews Live
STAFF WRITER 5 September 2017
HARARE – The MDC Alliance has said it will present a detailed economic
blue print in the near future, former Finance minister Tendai Biti has
said.
Speaking at the Bulawayo launch of a pre-election pact involving seven
political organisations on Saturday, the opposition PDP president said a
grand plan will be part of the package of the grand coalition.
“The alliance we are forming must offer deliverables to the people of
Zimbabwe, a tangible programme to the people of Zimbabwe. The first thing
we will do is to write a programme of action on the economy, we will
present the document to the people of Zimbabwe,” Biti said.
He highlighted that the experience gained by team members in the alliance
during the tenure of the Government of National Unity would ensure the
coalition delivers jobs.
During this period which was around four years, the economy grew on an
average of 7 percent annually. In 2011, the economy grew by 11 percent in
GDP terms making it the fastest growing economy in the world. Biti was
recognised as the best Finance minister on the African continent for the
achievement.
“We have friends, we have comrades, we have countries that trust us to
allow their companies to come and invest in our country,” he said.
He said with the GDP at $12 billion, it means growing the economy at the
rate of 7 percent per annum; means a $100 billion dollar economy is
achievable within 15 years.
According to Biti, the Alliance would also prioritise attending to the
infrastructure in the country.
“We have an energy crisis in Zimbabwe, the people of Zimbabwe are
subjected to blackouts, I want to promise on behalf of the Alliance that
we can create 4 000 megawatts of electricity starting from Victoria
Falls,” he said.
Zimbabwe power generation is currently around 1 000 MW, less than half its
peak demand, forcing local industries to use costly diesel generators to
keep operations running.
“Our road network in Zimbabwe adds up to 88 000 kilometres but only 10
percent of those roads are paved. Zimbabwe is now the pothole capital of
Africa worse off than countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo. On
behalf of the Alliance, I want to say we will make a difference on the
state of our roads,” he said.
Biti also outlined the Alliance’s commitment to the social agenda,
lamenting the state of public hospitals and schools in Zimbabwe.
He highlighted the need for transforming the people’s lives after alleged
failure by the Zanu PF government to deliver since independence.
“As one of the leaders of the Alliance, I am at pains to reconcile with
the fact that a majority of our people are still using the bush as a
bathroom 37 years after independence. In countries like Rwanda,
grass-thatched huts are now history.
“This Alliance will deal with the issue of rural underdevelopment.
Mugabe’s achievement was to ensure we remain poor. His biggest achievement
was to under develop the black person; the black man and the black woman.
“On behalf of the Alliance, I want to make a promise, I want to make a
pledge that the defining characteristic of the Alliance is that it will
deliver because what brings us here is the quest to make a difference, the
quest to create change, the quest to bring transformation for the people
we love so much, the people we are prepared to die for,” he said.
He appealed to Zimbabweans and democrats to be cognisant of the fact that
the people of Zimbabwe are suffering, therefore, must be in support of
unity so as to give the people a chance.
“This unity cannot and should not be a cause for disunity,” he said.
MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai echoed the same sentiments; saying political
actors must not be divided around ethnicity.
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