Zimbabwe in nationwide protests against ‘COCKTAIL OF LIES’ that have ruined economy

The protest in Harare, which was organised by the MDC party and held with police approval, saw people sing and wave placards denouncing President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s rule. It focused on a growing economic disaster in Zimbabwe, which has seen people struggling to cope with huge price rises and shortages of necessities such as bread, cooking oil and petrol. Protestors marched through the pouring rain chanting praise for MDC leader Nelson Chamisa. Mr Mnangagwa, who became president after Robert Mugabe resigned in November 2017 and beat Mr Chamisa in a controversial and closely-fought election in June, had promised to revive the plummeting economy.

But in a statement entitled ‘Why You Should Join the Demonstration’, the MDC listed six promises that it claims have been broken by President Manangagwa’s government.

The MDC statement said: “Since Mnangagwa took over power in a military coup last November, he has made countless promises which today, one year on, is turning out to be nothing but a cocktail of lies.

“He promised to stabilise the economy in 100 days but today the economy is now worse off than what it was then.

“Mnangagwa promised to arrest all those who externalised money after the elections. Today no one has been arrested and corruption is still the order of the day.

“He promised bank queues will disappear in less than 100 days after elections but now bank queues are worse, with most banks now on weekly encashment of less than $50.”

The statement also claimed there were promises made to attract foreign investment to provide more capital to state enterprises such as ZISCO Steel, the National Railways of Zimbabwe and Cold Storage Company.

But it added “today these companies are in comatose and are even failing to pay workers their dues amounting to hundreds of millions. No investment has been realised a year later – instead more companies are closing”.

The statement from the MDC continued: “Mnangagwa’s government promised to review the working conditions of all civil servants starting with critical areas, but alas the same civil servants have been banned from demonstrating, nurses were fired, teachers were threatened and salaries have been reduced by over 40 percent through price increases and transfer charges.

“The cruel reality is banks have increased their charges, and mobile transfer charges have gone up with a ridiculous two percent transfer charge on every transaction.”

The MDC also accused the government of failing to create new jobs – breaking a promise made during its election campaign earlier this year.

It said: “The regime promised to create employment for tens of thousands university grandaunts but today they are joining millions of unemployed youths.

“More Zimbabweans are leaving the country than before. Fellow Zimbabweans it’s time to open our eyes and say enough is enough to this dispensation of lies.

“The time is now that we all say enough is enough to this evil dispensation of lies!”

Prior to the protest, the Zimbabwean government said Mr Chamisa’s party would be responsible for any violence or damage to public or private property.

Anger grew last month when the government announced a two percent tax on all electronic payments in a desperate attempt to increase revenue.

Many Zimbabweans rely on this payment format as US dollars, which acts as their main currency, are scarce.