FORMER Cabinet minister Fay Chung has strongly criticised the failure by the inclusive government to solve a plethora of economic problems stalking the country, saying Zanu PF and the MDC formations were equally entrenched in “self-enrichment, corruption and power struggles”.
Report by Brian Chitemba
Commenting on the Freedom House survey which showed Zanu PF gained support by 31% up from 17% while MDC-T popularity plunged to 20% from 38%, Chung said both parties have abjectly failed to address key issues affecting ordinary Zimbabweans.
Rushing to elections to choose a new government, according to Chung, would not solve the problems since the unity government partners were not facing up to the real challenges facing the country.
She said Zanu PF was popular because of land reform and indigenisation while the MDC-T was unpopular due to its links with its Western donors, but the parties were trapped in the same gravy train and had a penchant for luxuries.
Chung was dismayed the inclusive government claims to be broke while ministers enjoy luxuries such as Mercedes Benzes and SUVs. The high cost of foreign travelling which topped US$157 million in the past four years and US$45m blown by Copac in hotel bills and car hire was an indication of the rot in the inclusive government, she added.
“Amazingly, we are cutting the amount we spend on infrastructure. The 20% which was supposed to be invested into infrastructure has been cut to 11%, that is, from US$800m to US$374m. What a disgrace!” said the former Education minister. “Only US$49,74m was invested on energy and power development, yet electricity is essential not only for the growing of wheat, but also for industrialisation.” Chung expressed concern over failure by the inclusive government to ensure food security in recent years, urging the coalition partners to prioritise agriculture.
She also suggested a slash of the 235 000 civil service by 15% over the next two to three years so money could be channelled towards agriculture and industrial production.
What a load of garbage from Fay Chung that “…the MDC-T was unpopular due to its links with its Western donors…”! What did she use to gauge this? What effect has MDC-T’s relationship with the West got to do with the welfare of the people? What does it take away from the people? What benefit will the people have if, say, the MDC-T had relations with the East? People are more worried about jobs, security of the person, security of their properties,etc not indigenisation where only the politically well-conneted benefit or land reform where the top guys get the prime farms and land. Fay Chung is talking expired nationalist garbage.
People or let me say Africa is no longer blind,garbage or whatever word the MDC’s link with the west should be a worry even to you
@cephas – brainwashed ZanuPF fool – from 1980 to the year 2000 ZanuPF was the darling of the West – it was okay then to be friends with the west! MDC are doing what ZanuPF was doing. If ZanuPF doesn’t get along with the West NOW after years of good relations this doesn’t mean all Zimbabweans should follow ZanuPF blindly and treat the West as enemies. Fool. ZanuPF did worse than what the MDC will ever do by inviting Britain to train the army from 1980 to 2000. Are you not aware of this development you fool?
If you had taken care in reading Ms F Chung’s opinion above you will realize she is being candid. Its true the MDC is perceived as very pro west its no lie the French honored Morgan T with its highest civilian recognition for obvious reasons.
Fay Chung knows what she is talking about she is well groomed in politics and in other human endeavors Your response is fit for the trash can it is nonsensical bedsides you have no legitimate argument which counter acts the ones she espouses.
There is no such thing as being “well groomed in politics” you stupid idiot. What did Fay Chung use to gauge what the majority are thinking? She is no magician. She is expressing the views of her party Mavambo and thisis way off the mark. Cretin
well she is a political analyst who is also entitled as a citizen to respond to questions asked by the majority,so face it is very normal to respond in such a manner just because she has commented the opposite of what you expected her to do does nt mean she is wrong.i second her
@takudzwa – in this world there are fools and clever people. You fall under fools. For Chung, another fool, to say the MDC has lost support because of relations with the west is tired nationalist tosh. I repeat – from 1980 to the year 2000 ZanuPf had cordial relations with the west and even had the army trained by the British, the former colonial master, and not a single soul came out to denounce the relationship between ZanuPF and the West. Why should ZanuPF and its blind supporters, like you, think all they have the right to be friends with the West when it suits them? There were reports in Newspapers lately that trade between Zimbabwe and the West had increased by 47% despite you idiots vilifying the West and those who associate with the west. Fool. The ordinary man in the street is more worried about service deivery than about such things as relations with the West or East.
From 1980 to the year 2000 Zimbabwe’s army was being trained by British army nobody said a thing about this relationship. ZanuPF had good relations with the West until the year 2000 under a self-preservation program called “reconciliation” but nobody said a thing about this. Mugabe was visiting Western capitals getting honorary degrees from Western institutions nobody said a thing – I have got a picture of Mugabe with bow tie standing next to the British Queen. Why would people worry now about MDC-T’s relationship with the West when ZanuPF had good relations until the year 2000. Even Zapu’s Joshua Nkomo sought asylum in the UK in 1983. You don’t know what you are talking about you stupid cretin.
Who is she to make such sweeping allegations against the people of Zimbabwe and their parliamentarians?.This is malicious and divisive at best and an attempt to sew seed of distrust among the general population.If she has proof of the allegations then she should provide the evidence to the appropriate authority for investigation.If not,then she should shut up.There is not a single Zimbabwean in China eighter born there or naturalised who dare make inflammatory statement like that against the political class.
What are you talking about, did you really read her opinion please do so. There is no hint whatsoever that it contains “sweeping statements” Rather it is you that makes the most allegations. Only morons cannot distinguish true facts from fiction which your mind is full off.
There is a zhing- zhong lining in her comments. Someone otta tell her that her nationalistic standing was great if this was 1983. Cutting down the civil service reminds me of her time when they preached the holiness of (ESAP) which failed spectacularly. Do not suggest garbage for meal. If you do not have something to say then keep to yourself.
THE PROBLEM WITH US ZIMBOZ IS MDC AND ZANU AND THATS OUR DIVISIONS YET LIFE GOES BEYONG THESE TOO SO GREED PARTIES NOW MDC FIRED COUNCOLLORS WHO ARE NOBODIES LIVING CORRUPT M INISTERS .THESE TWO PARTIES ARE CORRUPT AND MDC SHOULD GO BEYONG THE MUGABE MUST GO SLOGAN AND TEKLL US WANTS BEYONG WEN GONE .MDC SHUD NOT BE ABSECESED WITH CREATING JOBS WE NOW WANT TO OWN MEANS OF PRODUCTION NOT BEING A SALARY COOK.AT ZANU YAKAORA BUT INE ZVAINOEDZA KUITIRA VANHU ZVOURAUIWA NE CORRUPTION IN PRINCIPLE NOTHING IS WRONG NE INDIGENAZATION FAY CHUNG HAS NO CLUE IF SHE THING INDEGINAZATION WILL MAKE ANYONE UNPOPULAR MDC CAN RULE IF THEY CAN EMPOWER CITIZENS ECONMICALLY NOT THRU JOBS BUT REAL OWNERS TRANSP[ARENTLY
@Manke- what are you saying?
I would argue that a large part of the failure of MDC led ministries, is because ZANU-PF runs the army and police…. and ZANU-PF do what they damned well please (4000 army recruitment, diamond mines…. + + +)….
i.e. MDC have best intentions, but ZANU-PF fools just couldn’t care less about following the rules….
GPA was the biggest mistake… biggest con there was
I think I agree with Fay Chung. The more you become mature in politics the more you realise that Mugabe was right all along, barring the corruption within his government. Zimbabweans are very well educated and should really run their economic affairs but the West has a tendency to impose what must and must not be done, serving their imperialist interests. Just look at South Africa now, they cannot make serious inroads in reducing the imbalances between the haves and have nots without being warned by the so called western economic analysts protecting their own interests. It is an open secret that Mugabe was sabotaged for daring to take back the land and other British economic interests. Zimbabweans need to wake up and smell the coffee.
Absolute nonsense – idiot. ZanuPF cruelty and misrule has nothing to do with the West you stupid moron. Mugabe is President of Zimbabwe why does he encourage thugs to invade businesses when he could easily give these businesses notice to leave? A President who violates his own Constitution and you think he is right? What an idiot!
@sender52 – Besides your written diarrhoea, you sound more like an empty vessel just making mischievous rhetorics typical of someone who was dropped on their head whilst still a baby. Take a closer look at what Chung is trying to convey and you’ll see that she has a good point. Two wrongs don’t make a right and your argument about the past displays your lack of foresight and inability to see that times have changed as they always do !