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Attack on the Finance Minister: An unwanted political culture
Youth Forum
June 06, 2011

The injudicious Saturday night attack on Finance Minister Tendai Biti's official residence is unacceptable during this volatile period in the country's progression. The Youth Forum would like condemn this attack in the strongest terms possible. Such an attempt on the life of one of the only performing ministers in the current government will lead the country into further turmoil.

The minister has also been attacked left, right and centre by the country's ever controversial and partisan security chiefs and no one can be blamed for linking the attack with these men. The securocrats insists that Biti must revise civil servants salaries when it is a public secret that the treasury has no money and it is the same men that are immensely benefiting from the country's resources especially the Chiadzwa diamonds who want the salaries revised.

It is only when the collection of such and other revenue is made transparent and secure that the country can then talk of reviewing government workers' salaries. The fact that a Minister who is working flat-out to address an economic meltdown engineered by the same people and their preferred political party can be so mercilessly attacked serves to show how heartless these people can be.

The Youth Forum would also want to urge the police to investigate this matter with the same zeal and swiftness as employed in investigating the murder of Inspector Petros Mutedza in Glen View on 28 May. It is a perfect opportunity for the police force to prove that they are capable of bringing all culprits to book regardless of their political background. This does not, however, imply the careless and arbitrary arrest of individuals and continual victimizations as has been the case in Glen View.

It is also important that senior politicians take the general citizenry of Zimbabwe seriously and stop this nonsensical and mindless child-play of physically and verbally attacking each other. The people of Zimbabwe need policies that will curtail unemployment, poverty and other agitations bedeviling them and not perpetually fighting politicians. This stupid politicking and attacks ahead of the SADC Summit will not help the people of Zimbabwe; we need serious politicians with the people at heart and not these that are always fighting for political recognition in and outside the country.

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