via Ex-PM says economy will floor Mugabe 08/11/2013 by Staff Reporter NewZimbabwe
DESPITE being beaten at the polls (which he disputes), MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai was upbeat Friday, rallying his troops with the promise that President Robert Mugabe and his Zanu PF party may yet be toppled – by the economy.
The former Prime Minister addressed supporters in Chitungwiza in what the MDC-T said was part of an ongoing “national networking” campaign.
“I want to tell you that you won the 31 July election. You did not lose it, but it is Robert Mugabe who stole the election and is causing a national crisis and I will not let you down until we achieve democratic change,” Tsvangirai said, according to a party statement.
The MDC-T chief lost the presidential vote by a landslide in the July 31 elections while Mugabe’s Zanu PF party claimed a huge majority in Parliament.
Tsvangirai however, refuses to accept the outcome, claiming the election was rigged.
The former trade union chief has fought and lost three successive elections against Mugabe but came close to toppling the veteran leader in 2008 when he won the first round of the vote before pulling out of the run-off, claiming Zanu PF henchmen had unleashed violence against his supporters.
At the time, the country’s economy was near complete collapse after a recession lasting several years with runaway inflation reaching stratospheric levels of 6.5 sextillion percent, by some estimates.
Some stability and marginal recovery was achieved with the ditching of the Zimbabwe dollar in 2009 and the establishment of a coalition administration whose fractious tenure ended with the July 31 elections.
However, the MDC-T hierarchy sees what they describe as the “crisis of legitimacy” created by the “fraudulent” election adversely impacting the still sickly economy, in a development they privately expect to play into their hands.
Said Tsvangirai Friday: “Although Zanu PF stole the election, it cannot steal the economy.”
He added that many people were losing jobs around the country as companies closed on a daily basis “because Zanu PF had created a national crisis (through the fraudulent vote) which has resulted in the declining of the country’s economy”.
The message was repeated by other top leaders in a meeting also held Friday at the party’s head office in central Harare.
Said deputy president Thokozani Khupe: “I remember on 29 July at the crossover rally held in Harare telling over 100,000 people gathered that on 1 August, the people were going to work up to news that Zimbabwe had a new President, a Vice President and a new economy that will give people food, jobs and shelter.
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“But on August 1, we all woke up to a nightmare – another Zanu PF electoral theft. However, the MDC is a value driven party not a power driven party like Zanu PF that would spend millions of dollars to rig an election. While they may have rigged the election, they cannot rig the economy.”
National organising secretary Nelson Chamisa added: “Zanu PF knows it committed a serious electoral fraud. They are refusing to open the Mt Pleasant ballots because again, they are afraid to expose their fraud. We have a problem in Zimbabwe.
“Because of the fraud, they do not have an answer to the water and electricity challenges. Up to date we have no budget, the available government seed is given on a partisan basis and industries are closing. This is not the behaviour of a national government.”
Tsvangirai insisted that another debilitating economic crisis could only be avoided if “key reforms (are) put in place and the country (moves) on by holding fresh, free and fair elections.”
COMMENTS
The harsh economic times that global markets are experiencing, the word ‘economy’ has come to be closely associated with concepts of money. What is often forgotten is that the science of economics is a much broader field that encompasses how scarce resources are disbursed throughout a population.The foundation for any economy is the ability to support itself by utilizing its natural resources, usually from the agricultural sector. If a country cannot supply itself, or trade for food, then there is no need for gold or electronics. According to the World Heath Organization, about half of Zimbabwe is starving to death2 due to the failing agricultural sector.
The moment u mentioned agric. I realise u dont knw wat ua talking of. Devlpd countries dnt rely on agric bt on Industry
Mugabe’s behaviour is not unique in Africa. Nearly all African leaders are well educated. Many left lectureships at universities to take up political leadership of their countries. Those that are not well educated have surrounded themselves with university graduate ministers. Even guerrilla movements are led by academics, best examples being Angola’s UNITA which was led by Dr Jonas Savimbi and the RCD of DR Congo led by Professor Wamba Dia Wamba. Those who mastermind the slaughter, torture, rape and genocide in African states were African academics and “intellectuals”. Secondly many of the African leaders have also chosen to injure and cause suffering to their subjects for the sake of creating and maintaining a special relationship with the rich in the West.What is often forgotten is that the science of economics is a much broader field that encompasses how scarce resources are disbursed throughout a population. Zimbabwe was obliged to seek help from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank which demanded structural adjustment. Markets were deregulated and public expenditure reduced. At the same time drought and poor agricultural yields further restricted government revenue.
@ Gideon,
Well maybe if you learned to spell, then people would take your opinions more seriously.
We are not a developed country hence the need to utilise our agricultural capabilities.
You can say that again…the economic realities are punching serious blows to the regime! One of the blows to Chinamasa’s jaw made him lose balance, stagger and dropped the budget papers leading to him announcing that he needs more time! Usaidherere economy!!
I was shocked at naivity of mdc in 2008. Had they listened to real economists and not ventured into greedy academic politics by mid 2009 zim would have been ungovernable and ripe for a peaceful overthrow of zanupf. Six 6 years have been wasted cos by 2015 zanupf will again collapse as a result of total economic meltdown and no repression can prevent that. Read your political economy histories global examples…fools
Unity gvnment was not by choice. It was forced by SADC to protect their friennd
No wondor why some people say zimbabweans is a country of people who have no love for their country. The problems of zimbabwe are not something to glorify or celebrate about especially if you have a dream of leading the nation. We must always remember that celebrating these problems is celebrating the suffering of our own relatives.
Good. Wait for him to be floored by the economy and you simply work into office without an election
Wena Mugabe . You have the degrees do your job now or else vote him out for incompetence.
Tsvangirai should get serious .We survived worse the economy was nt there and is still not there.What we have is survival.
this is not about Tsvanirayi. Its about the country.no one is celebrating we are telling the truth
Wena Africanson, it’s not about cellebrating the plight of own people but about proving oneself not only a legitimate leader,but a capable and honest one. Change your mind and be objective enough.
Day dreaming. And MDC supporters are hoodwinked by this perpetual loser to believe that Zim’s economy will be worse than the 200-2008 era. With the multi-currency system which is to continue up to 2018, I don’t foresee any drop in the performance of Zim economy.
Think of something else to please your supporters and not economics.
Ua the dreamer. Wat do u thnk a 90 yr old grapa can do?They dnt evn knw where to begin. Clueless party that cant even present a budget
Shame, blame, disrespect, betrayal, and the withholding of affection damage the roots from which love grows. Love can only survive these injuries if they are acknowledged, healed and rare.
” I don’t foresee any drop in the performance of Zim economy.”
MUCHA, you are dishonest. It is happening right now.
Yah dzako brain very idle……….not thnkng at all. everything is working fine for you ??? if al is well then it explains why we are in this kind of predicament….we dont have thinking brains here @ all……all dead.
Tiger This message is nt mearnt for you…..ts for Mucha…..nt honest @ all surely
what made it worse in 2000-2008?
Well like I have always stated we are dealing with a demagogue who does not care whether Zimbabwe goes down the drain or not as long as he enjoys the state of affairs where the suffering of the majority means nothing to him as long as the Chinese are protecting him and as long as the army and the police sing his tune.
Nothing matters to him so to think Mugabe will ever be sensitive to the people suffering is a well-wish. He will never care whether Zimbabweans are suffering because of his skewed mentality and his dogmatic hold on power.
The only thing to do is to go out to the masses. Tell them the good that will come out from an MDC government. Meet the people’s needs by providing them with services which ZANU PF cannot. Surely we can get maize get it and distribute it to the needy not getting from ZANU and do not be selective. Give those in need. Offer services, dig boreholes for them help them with implements that sustains their lives, engage them in pilot projects that have nothing to do with the government or ZANU and walk the talk.
Mugabe may rule but his is a condemned rule and you will meet resistance but surely you can deliver as we have hands and the brain to transform the suffering majority. There is no governance in Zimbabwe so fill the void. Organize youth to do something productive and that which enhances their livelihood. FORGET ABOUT MUGABE. Talking about him is strengthening him just like taking part in a skewed election. That election MDC participated in was long ago skewed and MDC should have seen that long long ago at the inception of the GNU. MDC should have stood on principles. NEVER EVER SHOULD THEY HAVE HAD PARTICIPATED IN THAT BOGUS ELECTION.
Look when MDC refused to participate in the 2008 run off election didn’t Mugabe bow down and agreed to the formation of the GNU? why? because he could not run Zimbabwe without MDC at that time and MDC was too civil to accept paltry posts in the GNU. MDC should have stood its ground. MUGABE NEEDED MDC AND MDC DID NOT NEED MUGABE AND MUGABE WOULD HAVE GONE yet talking about what he is doing and what will happen to him is fallacy and fantasy. FORGET THE THIEF! CONCERNTRATE ON organizing the people.
@Maisokawazo…. Wataura the truth… Deliver to the people outside government. Show the people what you can bring to the table. Help build schools, organise harambee (Fundraising) in S.A, London, Gebs. Lots of Exciles would contribute. Use the monies to pay for maize from Lusaka. Distribute to districts affected by hunger in Matebeleland etc… Let us be serious if MDC T does not engage the people in proactive terms, they will keep being judged as not really there yet as an alternative to the brutal dictatorship!
If the economy floors Mugabe it it will only emphasize your total lack of opposition leadership.
The more you mention rigging the worse you will be regarded. I voted for you. Now please shut up!
That elections were rigged is not disputable, all the evidence was there. Prior to dollarization, the incompetent greedy lot tried to rig the economy by printing money, but this backfired. Chinamasa akanyimwa mari akawudzwa kuti haapiwe budgetary support. With all their arrogance n refusing western observers, they have the audacity to go n beg for budgetary support.
As for Morgan, wakabiridzirwa, ehe, asi wakaudzwa na Biti kuti unonyura if you join this cabal. Hezvo ka waka nyura. Never trust Zanu pf, even their election promises. Vakuzonyudzwa nema election promises, even if you recall NIKUV, you cant rig the economy
At least takambotetena! Remember kuuya kweGNU most things were being sold USD$1 for two! Now things are changing, unfortunately for the worse if not worst!
The unfortunate thing about this thought pattern is that tsvangisai and his followers are hoping that mugabe will dahl and are therefore wishing the worst for the economy and the country…….how are we to move fwd with a portion of the population actually thinking like this?……And does this not suggest that this portion of the population will actually work towards ensuring such failure???
I still see no wisdom of glorifying the economic challenges. So the assumption is we must all be jobless until we bring morgan to power? Who said we are all zanu. I wish if morgan had Strive Masiiwa’s brains, Raila Odinga or even Macheso. Why should we be jobless, does it mean we all voted against mdc. So what comes first between the economy and political leaders? Is it the right notion to treat our economy with same treatment we give to zanu?
A catch 22 situation really!!! If MDC can bring some sort of assistance to certain sections of the population, zanu hijacks it for their own gains or simply does nor budget for that area and squanders the meager resources on their own projects.Any business entity wanting to invest now has to pay some sort of protection money monthly to zanu members all in the name of indigitization…MDC can not give any guarantees to investors, that has to come from the Govt of the day and the general system of the Laws and their implementation under which we all live.
Nhaiwe Mucha if export recipts are less than 1% per month is this growth? Need your answer.
MDC SURRENDER
MDC postulation that economy will floor ZanuPF is a real sign that the party is hopeless,dead and leaders.
The party still dont concede that it has committed a fatal mistake by sleeping with ZanuPF in the same bed of coalition govt. I want to tell you leaders of MDC,you wont see election light of 2018,the party would have buried.
I am shocked to hear this rubbish about economy in our country because this economy has not existed for many years now.We are a country which depends on imports not exports.Any reasonable economist will tell you that for a country to develop it must have more revenue generated from exports not the other way round.We survive because of relatives who send money to us which in turn we use to import goods.This is why we have a huge deficit every year.MDC miscalculated when they greedily joined the ruling party,by doing that they rescued them from their misery.A seasoned politician does not withdraw from an election because things are going tough.Many voters felt let down by that ill-informed decision.This party has leaders who do not want advice from their friends.Some of the candidates they fielded for the election were proven bad performers or chance takers.If you want to beat a well established party, you must offer the electorates people of high integrity in society.Please do not waste time waiting for something which is not there to collapse.
Great comments thus far. It shows the diversity we have in our people. This topic has activated excellent ideas and hopefully the Opposition has taken some meaning full ideas. For our Disporian community out there. One would hope that if Zimbabwe is to change then getting together and collecting funds to start projects at home in ones community or elsewhere would show the present regime we really can do it with or without the regimes help.
Asika chionai wat the So called Chefs are doing to themselves Thats exactly wat they dd pama elections thiefing.Kusanyara varume vakuru.Sure Va Mugabe zvino hamunyari here with the rigging going on U nthink we r stupids handiti muchazvionaka Pamberi na Mai Mujuru .U r a reall mother Munangagwa pasi pasi newe uri mhondi iwe.Look at wat u dd in Midlands kumusha kwako so they dont want u there anymore
Nyoni its not easy with the kind of vibe that is oozing from the oposition. We have a project that we are doing which we intended to take home to zim. My partners are doubting to launch now saying lets wait a bit. We gather together to go through news from home everyday and there is a glaring campaign from within zim that the country is doomed. The guys are saying its better to operate here where we know returns are guaranteed even though zim is certainly poised to give us more. Its a pity that some of us who are not politicians are forced to pay the price.
Utter rubbish by confused Tsvangison and his party, very stupid and naive, u neva learn from your mistakes and continue to open your mouth while your brain is closed.I real feel sorry for your party members who ululate for anything that you say without first interrogating the substance in your statemements and one things for sure NEVA will your lead this nation, nommatter how low we sink, u will neva be an option,we will rather trust Ncube with our future not someone who is so obsessed with anti-Mugabe rhetoric. You have your people in parliament and instead of crafting and debating better policies and practices u are always talking Mugabe should go and we are sick and tired of your naivety and clueless opposition politics……I wonder if you ever went to school, this is the same thing you said in 2002, asking South Africa to cut fuel and electricity so that Zimbabweans suffer and put you as our leader…..what a buffoon and pathetic moron
Zanu-PF can’t just admit its in the midst of nowhere..Agriculture in Zim was the economy booster…
Do today’s reports from Venezuela sound familiar?
Venezuela Government Occupies Electronics Chain
The managers of Daka stores across Venezuela are arrested as President Maduro forces the store to sell products at cheaper prices. Venezuela’s socialist government has “occupied” a chain of electronics stores in a high-profile crackdown on alleged price fixing it claims is harming the country’s economy.
Authorities arrested managers of the five-store Daka chain, sending soldiers into the shops and forcing it to start selling products at cheaper prices.
That brought crowds of bargain-hunters to Daka outlets and sparked looting at one store in the central city of Valencia. Hundreds of people queue up looking for bargains President Nicolas Maduro, who accuses rich businessmen and right-wing opponents of waging an economic “war” against him, said the move was “the tip of the iceberg” in a national drive against speculators.
In a speech, he condemned the looting but said the real criminals were unscrupulous businessmen exploiting Venezuelans with unjustified price hikes.
He said: “The ones who have looted Venezuela are you, bourgeois parasites.
“We’re going to comb the whole nation in the next few days. This robbery of the people has to stop. You’ve not seen anything.”
Critics say Venezuela’s runaway inflation – now at 54% – is due to economic mismanagement and the failure of socialist policies.
Mr Maduro’s political opponents also say excessive government controls and persecution of the private sector are to blame for shortages of basic goods and price distortions.
What economy cannot even manufacture toothpaste for God sake. MDC should never have join ZANU PF in the so called unity government. MUCHA you are so thick and up mugabe’s arse hole that you have been blinded
We all know what and who Chimusoro voted for, don’t over emphasise it
Chingotipai budget please makanyarara.You are a sovereign country handizvo here.Since Independence, ZANU PF was riding on the back of a sound economy laid down by Sith.Rhodesian gvt left the country not in debt.Actually Rhodesian economy grew fiercely during UDI and the sanctions.ZANU never embarked on a programme to further build the economy.It started misusing funds, corruption.Even Samor told Mugabe,’Guys you got honey, dont chase the whites like we did” .Back in early 80s , all rich people of Franciston of Botswana, Lusaka in Zambia were making shopping trips to Bulawayo for fresh products.Things were thriving.What then happened ? Since 80S, ECONOMY AND COFFERS INHERITED WERE MILKED DRY.
I for one will never wish the economy bad be it under zanu or mdc because. Zanu or mdc executives will never go to bed with an empty stomach, it is the woman and child who will suffer. Sturving a child to tell the world that elections were stolen is wicked. Its punishing the same innocent sould you claim to protect. Lets make a diference and campaign for our economy while doing politics. Polical leaders are inteligent, why not think outside the box to level the pilitical field wthout inviting pain. Why cant we leave room for none piliticians to breath?
Just shows how low Morgan and MDC would go just to get into power. To rub one’s hands gleefully awiting for an economic melt-down to swallow Mugabe just so you can be The Government. Just shows what you you are made of…no substance at all. I am ashamed at this line of thought.
I thought initial pre-emptive refusal to work with current government after election was bad enough. This would have been the platform to show your abilities even in opposition.
We need a constructive opposition.
MDC T is beyond any form of help. here is my useless advice:
First work to remove the multi-surnames that MDC has found itself with. MDC T, MDC N, MDC 999, MDC-ZANU, MDC-ZAPU. Start here.
Kubota progress
Kubija MDC-X
Very well put. Thank you!
the simple truth…zim is dying by the day
Why criticize Tsvangingirai when he is stating the obvious. The government in power is a criminal one and the basics which need to be in place for an economy to grow/start to grow are not there.For example, one such basic requirement is for mugabe to openly admit to the nation that its due to his party’s mistakes which have seen the crumbling of the economy.You see people who fled into diaspora are hesitant to go back because mugabe and zanu pf are still in power and they dont trust them.
I am one of those who did not want MDC to have got in GNU with zanu pf, especially without the security sector reform. But I had to forgive them,they didnt want to kind of hold the country to ransom the jonas savimbi way,people were suffering.They showed statesmanship,they wanted to alleviate the unprecedented suffering.
But while they were honestly working hard to work for good of the economy,their criminal partners, zanu pf were busy clandestinely mapping out how to rig the outcome of the harmonised elections.
So I say to those criticing Tsvangirai you are barking at the wrong tree. Mugabe and zanu need to first acknowlege their mistakes.This is why I admire Julius Nyerere.
I thought you could say you admire Morgan? Critising the glorificaton of economic crumble is not supporting zanu. Its encouraging each to see reason in supporting our economy.
ZANU PF supporters always blind when it comes to these wrong doings from there old man…..imagine the same guys were busy campaigning using stands and now that they won they want to demolish these settlements. havana moyo ?? where do u want these people to go ?? if they are genuine with wanting to build why cant they build first then demolish ?? and to mek matters worse that needs millions to do and they are bloody broke. ah these ZANU folks are long gone……..90 years of age still muoffice??thats a shame and it becums an embrassment to be part of such a confused lot…..can you proudly raise your head in otha pple’s countries saying you are a Zimbabwean ?? tichizivikanwa nekupemha kune dzimwe nyika ?? All this because of one old pig who wants to cling to power ??
Please lets try by all means all those in diaspora to come with a strategy to save our country. We must come together all professioals nd those who ar not form an organisation which focuses on both political and economic development of our country. Please lets communicate stand up nd serve our country. Those pple in Zimbabwe have lost focus cause they no longer knw whts right nd wrong. They lack exposure so they no longer knw the principles of democracy. They dnt knw democracy to them whtz going on in Zim ryt now z democracy. Whts going on in Zim z real child play, there z lack of leadership both in opposion nd ruling party. Politics of lying and looting the country’s resource for self enrichment.
I always go back to how people behave. If you watch how people actually behave in a situation, it’s very simple and honest and contained. You don’t need to use as much expression, as much feeling. Some characters will boil over, and that’s another thing, but a lot of times I think you can just do very, very little.Woe, woe, woe… in a little while we shall all be dead.