“With an absentee ruler who has only chaired one Cabinet meeting since the beginning of 2015, the wheels have virtually come off in Zimbabwe,” says a statement issued today.
“The economy continues to be on an unprecedented downward spiral and no less than 300 workers are losing their jobs every week in the fast dwindling formal sector countrywide. The budget deficit is hovering around US$1 billion and it is becoming increasingly obvious that very soon Treasury will run out of money to pay salaries of a bloated civil service that has more than 500 000 employees; the majority of whom are ghost workers. Against this frightening background, it cannot continue to be business as usual. Something has to give,” says the MDC-T.
The party is also very concerned about the impending massive drought. More than 75% of the country received erratic rainfall and the situation in the southern provinces of Masvingo, Matebeleland South, Matebeleland North and parts of the Midlands is nothing short of a complete catastrophe. “The Zanu PF regime appears unfazed by the fast approaching humanitarian disaster,” it says.
The Zimbabwean Cabinet has not met since January as President Robert Mugabe continues to make frequent foreign trips. It normally meets every Tuesday to deal with matters of state.
Although the country has two vice presidents, Mugabe does not allow them to chair cabinet meetings, which means that all government business is put on hold during his many, prolonged absences. "Due to divisions in the party, Emmerson Mnangagwa will not make any key decisions
without risking being accused of trying to topple Mugabe. The country is
on autopilot," said the source.
Mnangagwa, the senior vice president, walks a tightrope, knowing how sensitive Mugabe is to any perceived threat against his tight-fisted rule.
Post published in: News