Categories: Top story of the day

Chinamasa blames Tsvangirai

Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa today blamed Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai for stalling the voter registration exercise. He said Tsvangirai had pledged to ensure treasury released $21 million needed for voter registration. “We had two meetings with one of the principals, who is Prime Minister and ZEC. We agreed that we had to conduct a blitz, beginning January 3, to mop up anybody who might not have been registered,” Chinamasa said. “The PM assured us that he would engage Finance Minister Tendai Biti to make the funds available to ZEC, but up to now there is no single cent availed to the electoral body even for publicity purposes.” Tsvangirai’s spokesperson William Bango said it was not the Prime Minister’s duty to look for money for national processes. “The Prime Minister, as a member of the executive, does not conduct voter registration. What he was only doing in those meetings was to buttress a process where an independent electoral body could have the capacity to carry out its mandate.” Finance Minister Tendai Biti swept to the rescue and said he would give ZEC $1 million to kick start the voter registration programme. “We are sending them US$1 million very soon so that they can start. They should know that we were battling with bonuses for the end of last year and now that everyone has been paid bonuses we will give them US$1 million next week so that they can start.”

(17 VIEWS)

Charles Rukuni

The Insider is a political and business bulletin about Zimbabwe, edited by Charles Rukuni. Founded in 1990, it was a printed 12-page subscription only newsletter until 2003 when Zimbabwe's hyper-inflation made it impossible to continue printing.

Share
Published by
Charles Rukuni

Recent Posts

Will Mnangagwa go against the trend in the region?

Plans by the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front to push President Emmerson Mnangagwa to…

October 22, 2024

The Zimbabwe government and not saboteurs sabotaging ZiG

The Zimbabwe government’s insatiable demand for money to satisfy its own needs, which has exceeded…

October 20, 2024

The Zimbabwe Gold will regain its value if the government does this…

Economist Eddie Cross says the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) will regain its value if the government…

October 16, 2024

Is Harare the least democratic province in Zimbabwe?

Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare, which is a metropolitan province, is the least democratic province in the…

October 11, 2024

Zimbabweans against extension of presidential term in office

Nearly 80% of Zimbabweans are against the extension of the president’s term in office, according…

October 11, 2024

Zimbabwe government biggest loser when there is a discrepancy in the exchange rate

The government is the biggest loser when there is a discrepancy between the official exchange…

October 10, 2024