Zim economy can be fixed overnight – Chamuka

                    Herbert Chamuka 

SOUTH Africa-based opposition People’s Unity Party (PUP) president Herbert Chamuka says Zimbabwe’s economic problems can be solved overnight if the country is placed in good hands.

He said this in an interview from his Johannesburg base, as the party prepares to take Zanu PF head-on at next year’s general election.

The PUP has said it will contest in all facets; municipal, legislative and presidential elections.

Chamuka said while Zimbabwe has been exemplary in the region in terms of maintaining peace and stability, it is lagging behind economically because of Zanu PF’s maladministration.

“Our country is filthy rich in natural resources, but Mnangagwa’s government is not serious in terms of economic development. With the resources we have, we can fix our economy overnight,” he said.

“We have done well to maintain peace in the country and keep crime levels very low, but we have not ensured that such peace and stability is preceded by an economic boom which should naturally be the case,” Chamuka said.

“Our other challenge is to ensure that internal conflicts like Gukurahundi are solved once and for all so that we can move the country forward as a unitary, happy state. We must carry everyone forward so that nobody feels marginalised,” he said.

He was referring to the 1980s atrocities in which an estimated 20 000 people, mainly from the Matabeleland and Midlands regions, died during a bloody post colonial settlement conflict.

“Our problem is very small. We need to fix our economic problems, make sure food security is guaranteed and that people have jobs and stable sources of income. I blame Finance minister Mthuli Ncube whose policies have really proved to be ruinous.