Zimbabwe legislator says you cannot celebrate surplus amid poverty and joblessness

“If policies are made and the stakeholders are not consulted, it is not good for the country because these policies are made for the people,” he said.

“We are a labour backed party which is pro-poor.  We get concerned if the trade unions are not consulted when these policies are being formulated.  We get concerned when the civil society is not consulted. We get concerned as an official Opposition Party if we are not consulted; when the NDS and the TSP are pronounced and developed because we will have no option but to attack those policies because we have not been part and parcel of their formulation.

“I want to urge the Minister of Finance and Government as a whole to adopt a participatory and consultative approach so that all stakeholders are consulted in the formulation of economic policies for Zimbabwe.  That is the only way to make sure that even the forth coming Budget will be pro-poor and development oriented.”

Full contribution

HON. DR. MASHAKADA: Thank you Madam Speaker. I wish to first start by thanking the Leader of the Opposition, Dr. Khupe who set the record and raised the bar as she delivered her maiden speech in response to the State of the Nation Address. I think she raised very pertinent issues, some of which I will not touch on because I might messy the good work that she did especially her clear statement on sanctions and other policy measures.

Madam Speaker, I want to touch on a few issues by way of complementing Government and these issues came out clearly when the SONA was being presented. I come from Masvingo and I am pleased to also acknowledge that a lot of developments are happening on the Chirundu – Beitbridge Road. I think that is a positive development given the role infrastructure plays in the economy.

Madam Speaker, a road is an economy. This road carries Zimbabwe. This road supports the north to south corridor. It takes volumes of imports and exports, bound not only for Zimbabwe, but for Zambia, Tanzania, DRC, Kenya and so on and so forth. It is a very critical road which needs to be fixed. The state of the Masvingo highway has been pathetic for many years and has been a death trap. So when resources are used to develop the country and to build the roads, especially our trade route, we must appreciate that very honestly.

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