HARARE - ZIMBABWEANS say they expect 2011 to be a better year but some are worried that the forthcoming Presidential elections could spoil everything for them.
Several citizens interviewed by The Zimbabwean said while 2010 was a good year, they felt that 2011 could hold better prospects and more firms would reopen for those who have no jobs right now.
Dimbo Josiah, a media consultant, said he felt the elections could “spoil the party”.
“I hope that the elections come and go soon,” he said. “We do not want a situation whereby people are killed especially in the rural areas where mainly Zanu (PF) thugs operate. We need a genuine leadership because the Government of National Unity (GNU) has not been working because the leaders are not sure about themselves.”
He said he hoped 2011 would bring about peace and prosperity for all Zimbabweans.
Celebration Churches International Chief Pastor, Tom Deuschle, said he hoped 2011 would see more people turning to God and that things became better especially for the poor people in Zimbabwe.
“I hope the year 2011 is much better for all of us,” he told the gathering at the Borrowdale Church. “While in 2010 we spoke of breakthrough, 2011 will be more difficult but we will manage. For me 2011 should see me become a better person and give more advice about Christianity to the congregation.”
Godfrey Bhuka, Director of the Cotton Growers Association (CGA) said he hoped his membership would grow as it did in 2010.
He said he hoped that squabbles that had rocked his organisation would be a thing of the past and that more members would grow the crop.
“Cotton is a very difficult crop to grow,” he said in an interview. “I hope that more people grow it because prices are picking up. They had gone down last year and a lot of side marketing marked the season. But now our members are united and we hope for a better season in 2011.”
Sports Diner Restaurant General Manager, Kudakwashe Matutu, said he hoped 2011 would bring more business to his struggling facility.
He said while 2010 had been “good” he hoped “2011 will result in more people coming to our restaurant to eat and drink and dance the night away”.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has predicted that the economy would grow by about seven percent in 2011 despite the efforts of the GNU to improve on it.
However, Tendai Biti, Minister of Finance, says the economy will grow by about nine percent.
He said people should not listen to the IMF because they have a hidden agenda when it comes to issues on Zimbabwe.
While people generally say they think 2011 will be much better than 2010, others feel the forthcoming elections could spoil the party.
Already President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister, Morgan Tsvangirai, are taking off their gloves to prepare for what should be s final showdown between the MDC-T and Zanu (PF).
Elections have been pencilled in for the latter part of 2011 but the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) says it is seriously cash-strapped and cannot afford to fund them.
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