Zimbabwe Parties Promise More Jobs

Republic of Zimbabwe Vice President Joice Mujuru addressed the national need for job creation in the Southern African state. Zimbabwe has been subjected to western sanctions for over a decade., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

Parties woo voters with job promises

Friday, 23 November 2012 00:00
Herald Reporters

ZANU-PF and MDC-T are crafting economic blueprints that place emphasis on job creation, but differ on how the jobs will be created.

While the indigenisation programme will buttress Zanu-PF’s blueprint, MDC-T’s would be supported by foreign investment.

The two parties are coming up with the economic blueprints ahead of next year’s harmonised elections.

Vice President and Zanu-PF’s Second Secretary Cde Joice Mujuru yesterday said the economic blueprint would be premised on sustainable job creation buttressed by the indigenisation programme.

MDC-T spokesperson Mr Douglas Mwonzora said theirs, to be launched next Thursday, advocates job creation backed by foreign investment.

Cde Mujuru said Zanu-PF did not believe European nations — reeling from a debt crisis — had the capacity to lead Zimbabwe’s economic growth.

She said this in a speech read on her behalf by the party’s Secretary for Information and Publicity Cde Rugare Gumbo at a one-day workshop organised by Zanu-PF’s economic cluster committee to craft a blueprint that would direct the country’s economic future.

“We support the creation of an economic environment in which we develop and create our own jobs in a sustainable manner,” said Cde Mujuru.

“Transferring our natural resources and value of existing companies into the hands of indigenous Zimbabweans and providing the necessary strategic support in terms of financing and skills development will facilitate an exponential growth of our economy.

“As Zanu-PF, we will not allow the development of a culture of economic dependency on other nations and we do not believe that countries that have failed to create jobs for their own citizens should be at the forefront of our economic growth processes.

“Thus, sustainable job creation, particularly for the country’s youths, should be one of the key tenets of the blueprint.”

Cde Mujuru said it was important that Zanu-PF goes to next year’s election with an economic blueprint in light of the lack of policy unanimity among parties in the inclusive Government.

She hailed the party’s ministers in the inclusive Government.

“We are pleased to note the progress of economic ministries under the leadership of Zanu-PF ministers,” said Cde Mujuru.

“The mining sector has made a significant contribution to the development of the economy, particularly with the discovery, exploration and mining of diamonds whose revenue has boosted the national fiscus.

“We hail the successful hosting of the Diamond Conference that provided the world with an insight of diamond mining in Zimbabwe in an honest and transparent manner.”

Cde Mujuru said Zanu-PF would continue promoting the growth of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises, especially in rural areas to ensure the populace participated in the economy.

She said Community Share Ownership Schemes had gone a long way in bringing tangible development to the people.

“We take note and salute the progress the party has made and the gains scored by the people of Zimbabwe through the implementation of indigenisation and economic empowerment policies and programmes, particularly in the mining sector,” said Cde Mujuru.

Some of the projects undertaken by Community Share Ownership Trusts, she said, included the construction of Musasa and Banga Primary Schools and Chirume Dam in Zvishavane and the rehabilitation of roads in Gwanda.

Chairman of the economic cluster committee Cde Obert Mpofu said the Zanu-PF’s economic blueprint would form the basis of its election manifesto.

“This workshop will focus mainly on producing an economic blueprint by setting core objectives of the national economic blueprint, reviewing, critically analysing and thoroughly debating sector strategies and policies to employ in turning around the economic fortunes of our country in a manner that is consistent with Zanu-PF’s ideology,” he said.

“We hope to come up with a proposed Zanu-PF Economic Policy Blueprint which will be presented at the 13th National People’s Conference for adoption.”

“This is intended to form the basis of crafting a robust economically-driven 2013 election manifesto.”

The conference would be held in Gweru from December 4 to 9.

MDC-T’s economic blueprint would be titled: “Jobs, Upliftment, Investment, Capital and Environment”.

Mr Mwonzora said the the creation of jobs would be backed by foreign direct investment.

“It is our economic and social vision for Zimbabwe. Juice is not achievable at the moment, but in the event that we take over the leadership of the country,” he said.

The blueprint is a counter to Zanu-PF’s Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment programme under which foreign owned companies operating in Zimbabwe are obliged to cede at least 51 percent shareholding to indigenous people.

MDC-T is on record condemning the economic empowerment policy.