Source: Dialogue the only way: Khupe | The Herald August 8, 2019
Dr Khupe Bulawayo Bureau
MDC-T president Dr Thokozani Khupe has said protests will not resolve the country’s economic challenges, but dialogue, proffering solutions and unity of purpose are required to transform the country’s fortunes.
Dr Khupe, who is part of the national dialogue under the banner of the Political Actors Dialogue (Polad), said there is no quick fix to the economic problems bedevilling the country, but Government should ensure that prices match people’s salaries.
President Mnangagwa called for dialogue among leaders of political parties that participated in last year’s harmonised elections and almost all of them, except the MDC-Alliance, came on board.
In an interview with our Bulawayo Bureau, Dr Khupe said she was against protests as they did not bring solutions to economic challenges affecting the country.
Her sentiments follow an announcement by the MDC-Alliance led by Mr Nelson Chamisa that they will unleash protests against Government next week.
“My issue is that you can only resolve issues by sitting around the table and talking to each other,” said Dr Khupe.
“You cannot resolve issues by throwing stones, by burning tyres and by going out there.
“But you can only resolve issues by sitting around and discussing issues like we are doing right now (in Polad). If we sit down with them (Government) and they explain to us what is going on, we can also give our input. I’m pretty sure that Government and the President listen to some of the issues that we present to them.”
Dr Khupe said last Friday that Polad members met Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube and Reserve Bank Governor Dr John Mangudya, among other senior Government officials, seeking an explanation on what is happening in the economy.
Dr Khupe said they had frank discussions with the senior Government officials who explained reforms being implemented.
In response, members of Polad urged Prof Ncube and Dr Mangudya to tame prices and foreign currency exchange rates.
“The problem is the exchange rates,” said Dr Khupe.
“The prices are increasing because they are chasing the exchange rate. Once it goes up everything else increases. That is what we have told them that you must deal with the issue of prices because the cost of living does not match wages and salaries. Wages must match the cost of living.”
Dr Khupe said confidence building, unity of purpose and increasing production were some of the issues that needed to be addressed in turning around the economy.
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COMMENTS
“But you can only resolve ….right now (in Polad)…..”. This old girl is an utter buffoon. Why is the economy on a free fall if “Polad” is the answer? Or, what solutions have they given to ED & his gvnt at the so-called Polad discussions; and when are those solutions going to turn-around the economy? If Khupe & co tell us that their solutions are not working becoz Nelson is missing, then why not throw away their pride and simply admit that their Polad is a waste of resources becoz it will never offer any solutions.
The way prices wipe workers salaries without any willing intervention from both ruling party and opposition explains to me that all million branches of MDC are subsidiary branches of ZANU meant to disguise the nation. An independent opposition should be making zanu trot to gather bits and pieces and make things move. Who is increasing the prices if not zanu? Who holds cash from banks if not the same? Where is our foreign currency to purchase essentials in health and education? Where are workers salaries? And we say we have opposition? No! If we had one, a true one, we shouldn’t have been suffering like this far much worse than people in war torn countries. Opposition leaders show true cause of opposition.