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(TALKZIMBABWE) MDC-T is dishonest: Mugabe

MDC-T is dishonest: Mugabe
Nancy Pasipanodya
Sun, 01 Nov 2009 15:51:00 +0000

PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe called Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai 'dishonest,' state media reported on Saturday

"We must no longer trust those who pretend to be in the inclusive Government and have jumped in and out of it," President Mugabe was quoted as saying in the Herald newspaper.

"They can never be true and genuine partners and they have proved to be dishonest. "We, however, want to assure you that we will not allow the situation to continue like that."

Tsvangirai, the former opposition leader, joined the inclusive Government with President Mugabe in February after a close presidential election which Tsvangirai withdrew from citing increasing violence.

But two weeks ago Tsvangirai "disengages" from the inclusive Government in protest over the arrest of Roy Bennett, his nominee for deputy agriculture minister and party treasurer and financier.

A team from the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) arrived in Harare on Wednesday in hopes of breaking the deadlock.

On Friday, the delegation announced that there was need for a full Sadc Ordinary Summit to address problems related to the power-sharing agreement.

President Mugabe said the decision by Tsvangirai's party to halt co-operation with Zanu PF was hypocritical.

"Zanu PF is not government, but in government. It is part of government like the other two parties.

"Cabinet is not a party affair. That kind of hypocrisy should be seen as it is.

"What kind of sincerity is that? We go into government, form policies, hold investment conferences, (but) we have a part of the government striking against themselves."

He said the government would continue to work despite the move by PM Tsvangirai's party because it was formed to achieve set objectives.

“We are meeting in the ninth month after the formation of the inclusive Government, and we being the important party in the Government which has yielded the President, it is our duty to examine it, how it has affected the Government and the party.

“There are two sides — the debit side and the credit side.

“What good things have emerged from our being in the inclusive Government?

“Yes, we have peace, there is an appreciation of objectives of unity and national healing.

“We understand that the nation should be able to benefit from activities in the country.

“What are the benefits that we think have come to our nation, to our people in agriculture, commerce, the manufacturing sector, the economy and the interaction of people?”

President Mugabe said Government aimed for economic turnaround but the pace had been slow, mainly due to the illegal sanctions.

“In Europe, although they have not pronounced it, sanctions (which are) like Zidera are in practice.

“The Americans are open about it, but Europe is sly and clandestine.

“Our companies can no longer do business there, the markets no longer exist.

“Raw materials and spare parts from Europe are no longer coming.

“If a company is built on the strength of equipment from Germany and Germany refuses with its parts, that will be the end of it.

“This is how sanctions have wreaked havoc on our economy.”

President Mugabe said the formation of the inclusive Government had brought hope that sanctions would be removed. He, however, said there was evidence that MDC-T leaders had asked for the embargo to subsist.

“In the Global Political Agreement that we signed as Zanu PF, MDC-T and MDC-M, it is stated that parties should work in getting Europe and America to lift the sanctions.

“They are our partners in Government, but they are refusing. The words from (Finance Minister) Biti are political and nonsensical.”

He said MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai asked European Union officials who visited Zimbabwe to maintain sanctions.

“The three representatives of the EU who came to Zimbabwe were told not to lift the sanctions now.

“It is not possible to achieve the objectives set out in the Short-Term Emergency Recovery Programme, it is not possible in the absence of a free environment for business.

President Mugabe said expectations were that the three parties would be honest with each other.

“The party led by (Professor) Mutambara has tried to be with us during the day, but are with the other side during the night.

“They have one leg in and another leg out.

“We thought we are together in the inclusive Government, but they run to their European friends and run a parallel Government and this is objectionable,” he said.

He, however, said there were many enquiries by people interested in investing in mining, manufacturing, construction and communications.

“The situation is ripe and we need to make sure that the people are employed, agriculture is producing and the country is back on its feet,” he said. President

President Mugabe said efforts to develop through synergies with the East would continue.

Labels: MDC, MUGABE, SANCTIONS, ZDERA

posted by MrK @ 6:15 PM