Judge for yourself: Transcript of BBC Hardtalk interview with Nelson Chamisa

Sackur: Zimbabweans surely want politicians who are serious who tell them things, who make promises that can be delivered, that promise cannot be delivered. The one promise that seems to me you could deliver if you wanted to but maybe it wouldn’t be wise…just a few days ago you made a speech saying you gonna chuck out all the Chinese investors and workers currently in Zimbabwe you said I will call the Chinese and tell them that the deals they signed are unacceptable and they should return to their country. Do you think that be good for Zimbabwe? 

Chamisa: I must say that our transformational policy is premised on infrastructure as I indicated infrastructure is going to be key.

Sackur: But the Chinese have delivered airports. They have delivered roads. They have delivered clean water and sanitation infrastructure and you want to throw them out?

Chamisa: I have not said I will throw anyone out. I have said that all the deals that have been signed have to be reviewed, have to be assessed and audited in the context of what is good for Zimbabwe, what is best for Zimbabwe, what is safe for investment and that position has got nothing to do with any nationality. We are pleased to do business with any serious investors across the whole world, the Chinese included.

Sackur: But it is about credibility isn’t it, and as I list all these different policies of yours do you think you are actually striking the right balance between populism and credibility?

Chamisa: I think the credibility is very high; in fact Zimbabweans are going to vote for us. They believe in our message, they know that what we are promising is not something that is beyond our reach we have promised in the inclusive government, we delivered. When I was Minister of Information Communication and Tecnology during the inclusive government, I dealt with issues of WiFi, I dealt with issues of connectivity bringing in the fibre optic cables into the country. So, I’m not a sort of guy who just gives empty promises. I’m a serious guy. I mean business. I’m in the digital age and these things I’m saying are going to be delivered, are available with BOOT, BOT, BOOS in terms of triple Ps – public, private partnerships agreements that we are ready to put in place to make sure that we deliver on transportation, on energy, on water and of course on communication.

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