Source: People’s Democratic Party (PDP)
The National Transitional Authority (NTA) is Zimbabwe’s best bet to guarantee that Zimbabweans break from the current unprecedented levels of suffering, President Tendai Biti has said.
President Biti made the call today while during his presentation on the State of the Economy Address at the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) offices in central Harare.
“Solutions to the Zimbabwean crisis are almost as complex as the crisis itself,” he said.
“The most important ingredient in the recipe for another Zimbabwe is political will. If Zimbabwe is going to successfully transition into a developmental state, where every individual reserves the right and means to the pursuit of happiness, there has to be political will,” the President said.
President Biti added; “Zimbabwe’s best bet, however, is putting in place a proper well-structured transitional mechanism or body. This body will embark on more holistic reforms, including economic reforms, to ensure that Zimbabweans break from these unprecedented levels of suffering.”
In his address; he proposed 10 points which are required to revive the Zimbabwean economy:
- “We Eat What We Kill” – reduce the national budget to +/-USD 3 billion and the budget deficit to no more than 5% per annum. The budget allocations will prioritise relief of distressed industries, infrastructural development, health and education revival
- Removal of Bond Notes and reverting to the Rand Monetary Union
- Revival of the Agricultural sector through the restoration of land value which can only be restored by the issuance of land title to current land occupants to enable them to access loans against the land.
- Repealing of the Indigenization and Empowerment Act and other bad economic laws like the Banking and Finance Act and the Mines and Minerals Act
- Reduction of the Government Salary Bill through the cutting off of the over 200 000 ghost workers on the current government’s salary schedule
- Reduction of the number of government parastatals that have become a liability to the state. Linked to this the rationalization of the salaries of the remaining key parastals to more realistic salary scales
- Increasing infrastructural projects in order to create employment especially for the youth, which make up the bulk of the unemployed
- Revival of the Distressed Industries Fund to reopen industry
- Creation of a Sovereign Wealth Fund to ensure mining proceeds are used for national development
- Reconstitution and Strengthening of the Anti-Corruption Commission.
The entire PDP management committee including Vice President Kucaca Phulu and Secretary General Gorden Moyo and members of the National Working Committee attended the event.
Meanwhile, President Biti today also announced the appointment of several senior party members to the NWC in order to strengthen the party in 2017 and ahead of the 2018 elections.
The new appointments are of Frank Chamunorwa, as the secretary of lands and agriculture, Rev. Gusha, Inter-Faith and Multidinominational Affairs, former Marondera mayor, Farai Nyandoro, as secretary for local government and devolution, Fredrick Mheyenwa, Mines and Mineral Resources, Edna Chivesa, small and medium enterprises, Laymen Kundlande, industry and commerce, Onias Mukoki, transport, George Gwena and Samuel Mukairah, Environment and Climate Change.
Also appointed as portfolio secretaries were; Leornard Mahora, party evaluation, Talitha Matutu, education, sports, arts and culture and Droppa as secretary for labour and social welfare.
He also made appointed six senior party officials as the PDP external representatives in several countries and the EU and SADC regions. Sikhumbuzo Ndiweni, SADC, Brightmore Kunaka, EU, Patience Chipadze, Germany, Mqondobanzi Magonya, UK/Ireland, Sheunesu Hove, Australia/New Zealand and Sithambelumthetho Ngwenya, Italy.
#TogetherAnotherZimbabweIsPossible
Source: People’s Democratic Party (PDP)