Food, jobs top PM 2013 agenda

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has said Zimbabwe is poised for growth in 2013 premised on a comprehensive jobs plan, infrastructure rehabilitation and the conduct of free and fair elections which the PM and his party are widely expected to win.

Food, jobs top PM Tsvangirai’s 2013 agenda

In an end of year wide-ranging interview with the Prime Minister’s Newsletter, Tsvangirai who is the Head of Government said Zimbabwe has potential to become one of the leading developed nations in Africa if toxic political issues were solved.

“I think the country can only go from strength to strength if we are able to deal with our hygiene issues of politics. I am sure our country will be on a very positive trajectory economically. It is the growth we are all looking for, to increase the national cake in order for us to share,” he said.

The Premier said the launch of JUICE; a jobs plan developed by the MDC-T, would address the high unemployment levels the country was facing.

“People are being educated and unemployed. This is very frustrating for the young population. They are disillusioned and we need to come up with a response which says that economic plan should be focused on the creation of jobs, revival of industries, infrastructure, agriculture, luring foreign direct investment, ensuring that the skills level we have in the country is enhanced and that will create a lot of absorption capacity for the unemployed. JUICE is the answer,” he said.

The PM said as the curtain came down on 2012, Zimbabweans should pray for peace as the country prepares for elections penciled for next year. Tsvangirai said the 2013 elections are watershed, as they were not based on political parties but on choosing visionary leaders able able to move Zimbabwe from a failed State status.

“The coming election is about who is going to provide a clear vision for the future. For me the challenge is not about President Mugabe and Zanu PF failures which are well-known and well documented but it is about the MDC talking about its specific plans and vision. It is about the electorate analyzing the policies and programmes of parties and evaluating on who could take this country forward,” he said.

The Premier said while the international community had isolated Zimbabwe, 2012 managed to bring good engagement with the international community. As his stock as a Statesman continued to shine, Prime Minister Tsvangirai was invited to China, Japan, New Zealand, Kenya, the United States among many other nations where he lured investment and called for the re-engagement of Zimbabwe.