The Herald (Harare)
6 November 2009
Harare — Vice President Joice Mujuru yesterday blasted the MDC-T's disengagement from Government, saying it was a ploy calculated to derail preparations for the forthcoming agricultural season and discredit the land reform programme.
VP Mujuru was addressing Zanu-PF supporters at Bakasa Business Centre in Guruve during one of her tours of the district aimed at reminding people that they should remain focused and not be deceived by some political parties' propaganda.
The meeting was attended by Mashonaland Central Governor and Resident Minister Advocate Martin Dinha, Zanu-PF provincial chairman and Mt Darwin North House of Assembly representative Cde Dickson Mafios and other party legislators.
"The real issue behind their (MDC-T's) boycotting of Cabinet meetings is that they intend to derail the agricultural season which is imminent," she said.
VP Mujuru said the last Cabinet meeting which the MDC-T boycotted had resolved to use part of the US$510 million disbursed by the International Monetary Fund.
"We sat as Cabinet and agreed that the funds we received from the IMF would be used towards inputs procurement, health, roads and other developmental programmes," she said.
VP Mujuru said Cabinet also agreed that the cost of inputs like imported fertilizer should be subsidised to cushion farmers.
"When we continue importing we will be subsidising foreign farmers instead of our own," she said. VP Mujuru said MDC-T was hampering Government's efforts to recapitalise the Grain Marketing Board.
"We have since agreed as Cabinet that all the 84 GMB depots should be opened so that farmers travel minimal distances when they go and collect inputs.
"In Mashonaland Central Cabinet agreed that eight more sub-depots should be opened in some remote parts of the country to assist the farmers," she said.
VP Mujuru said Cabinet had mandated Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Minister Joseph Made to announce subsidised fertilizer and seed prices next week.
She said Zanu-PF had fulfilled all its GPA requirements but MDC-T was making fresh demands outside the agreement.
She said provincial governors, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor and the Attorney-General were appointed by the President in his capacity as Head of State and Government.
She said the present governors, RBZ head and AG were appointed according to the law before the creation of the inclusive Government and MDC-T should only raise queries after their terms expired.
"But he (MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai) is saying no I would like to chair Cabinet and also be nominated Acting President when Cde Mugabe travels outside the country.
"We say no because the law does not allow that," she said.
She said MDC-T had not fulfilled its GPA obligations after it called for the imposition of sanctions on Zimbabwe.
"They should go and tell Britain and America to remove the sanctions," she said.
VP Mujuru said there were reports that former white farmers were frequenting State-acquired land in the false hope that they would regain their farms from the new and rightful owners.
"Let us continue supporting the party (Zanu-PF) that brought independence and emancipated you from repressive colonial rule," she said.
Cde Mafios implored Government to look into the problems affecting Mashonaland Central ranging from roads, mobile networks and broadcasting services, which he said were in a deplorable state.
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