Electricity bills to be scrapped: VP Mujuru

Zimbabwe Vice President Joice Mujuru has claimed that the Zanu PF government will not only be scrapping water bills as promised before the elections but will now also be scrapping electricity bills for millions of households across the country.

Mujuru also allayed fears that the Zanu PF government will re-introduce the Zim dollar immediately. She was speaking at a fundraising dinner for the Simon Chimbetu Primary School in Harare on Wednesday.

“If you look at the Zanu-PF manifesto, it is clearly spelt out that the return of the local currency will be done at a later time. This time we want people to have real jobs and not resort to thieving,” she said.

“The people’s desire for a better life is what we shall fight for. We are going to create jobs and conditions which will enrich people for good and with a traceable record. If you don’t make money in the next five years, then it will be your own shortcomings.

“Some say the scrapping of debts which was mentioned before the polls was a lie, but be rest assured that even those who did not vote for Zanu-PF are going to have their bills slashed. We do not want a country that is famed for gossiping and saying things which portray the country negatively,” she added.

The reaction to her comments was mixed with some readers saying;

“Killing Zimbabwe for good. We applaud the scrapping but who will fund the gap? Simple economics tells me the very opposite of what you are doing. We are sacrificing the future of our children and our country for our current benefits. Wait and see.

Another said “But eventually the infrastructure that provides this power will need to be replaced. What with? The “trillions” promised by our leader? Short term gain for long term poverty.”

Another reader argued that:

“Most people failed to pay telephone bills when they were converted from Zim Dollar to US$. The exchange rate that was used then was the issue. So there is definitely need to look at all those bills. Zimbabweans used to pay their bills on time, but just by that change, we were all made to be bad debtors-just like that.

There are some quarters who feel Zanu PF which is facing allegations of having rigged the July 31 elections is trying very hard to appease an angry urban population with what basically amounts to bribes. Support for the MDC-T is strong in the urban areas.