Mugabe stole Xmas — Tsvangirai

HARARE – Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai yesterday likened President Robert Mugabe and his ruling Zanu PF party to the Grinch that stole Christmas.

Delivering his end of year address at the party’s Harvest House headquarters in Harare, the MDC leader said Zanu PF had failed dismally to deliver on all its election promises since last year’s disputed national elections.

“Zimbabweans are suffering. The carnival atmosphere synonymous with this time of the year is sorely absent in the country.

“In the run-up to this festive season, we are not seeing housewives pushing full trolleys out of supermarkets and food chains as they did during the inclusive government era.

“All we see are hard working vendors crowding our streets and struggling to survive,” Tsvangirai said.

He said Zimbabwe had become a nation of poor vendors.

“The people have no money in their pockets; there is no food in our homes and yet the shops and supermarkets are full of goods and products that we cannot afford,” he added.

He said after “stealing yet another election”, Mugabe promised to create 2,2 million jobs, increase productivity in our industries and add more disposable income in people’s pockets, among many other empty promises.

“But the reality is something completely different; companies are closing, all hope is now completely shattered and the economic prospects remain dim for the country and its people,” he said.

He said the current dark clouds covering the country under a Zanu PF government were in stark contrast to the progress registered under “the MDC magic moment in government.”

“Zimbabweans have no doubt whatsoever about our (MDC’s) capacity to deliver,” he said.

“In 2009, we restored the people’s battered hope and faith in government. We gave government workers some semblance of dignity, opened schools and hospitals that had closed and increased revenue collection from $280 million in 2008 to $4 billion by 2012.”

“Let us strengthen the gift of love by spending the holidays with our families, our parents and all our loved ones, including the infirm and the destitute.

This time of suffering must bring all of us together in the true spirit of love and solidarity,” Tsvangirai said.

He also denied media reports that he was broke and surviving on $50 handouts from MDC lawmakers.

In addition, he said, he had not called off mass demonstrations against the government, saying the timing was not yet ripe. Daily News