HARARE - The Presidents grandiose statements to diplomats in Addis Ababa last week about using blood diamonds revenue from Marange to pay civil servants were nothing but a political gimmick, says Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) Secretary-General Wellington Chibebe This is nothing but a blatant attempt at vote-buying by Robert Mugabe, said Chibebe. Mugabe said he would divert millions of dollars from diamond sales to pacify the government workers, who were then threatening a strike. The civil servants, including much-needed doctors, have since downed tools across the country.
Mines and Minerals Development Minister Obert Mpofu said from the $250 million realised from the Mbada joint venture, government had received, $153 million, which would immediately be directed to salary increases. Chibebe scoffed at this in an interview with The Zimbabwean On Sunday. “When civil servants demonstrated for diamond money last year they were told that the money was going to treasury. What has changed?” asked the labour supremo.
One economist told this newspaper that the more Mugabe was pressurized the more he would feel obliged to spend the little savings and earnings that were stabilizing the heavily state-invested economy. This could lead to another crisis.
The empty promises come as Zimbabwe is being mentioned as one country that could face regime-changing public protests such as those seen recently in Tunisia and Egypt. Armed police quashed a rally attended by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai here on Wednesday.
Post published in: News