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Zimbabwe targets Z$3tr for Mugabe birthday
Munyaradzi Mugadza, Africa News
February 11, 2008

http://www.africanews.com/site/list_messages/15669

The government of Zimbabwe has stepped up preparations for the 21st February Movement celebrations with a target of $ Z3 trillion dollars, the chairman of the committee has said.

Andrew Langa who is also the deputy minister of Environment and Tourism said the celebrations will be held in Beitbridge on the 23 of February in Matabeleland South Province which is 580 kilometers away from Harare.

Addressing a committee members meeting, the deputy minister said the committee would do as much as they can to surpass the $Z 3 trillion target.

"I wish to assure you that as a patriotic and committed committee we will do our best. It will not fail" he said.

Minister Langa said President Mugabe's birthday was a special occasion as he had liberated Zimbabwe from the bondage of colonialism. Zanu-PF national secretary for youth affairs Absolom Sikhosana said the annual event is very important as it aims to mould the behaviour of youths into a responsible generation.

The committee members also agreed to approach farmers and request them to donate cattle despite the hardships that has affected them for the past years. This is however a sad development because this year's agricultural season is a disaster due to lack of adequate inputs and the incessant rains that has been experienced throughout the country.

This committee's intention to request farmers to donate is a daylight robbery as the farmers were still recovering from last's crackdown by the government. Government last year slashed the price of basic commodities to curb profiteering by unscrupulous business people. Farmers were then forced to sell their cattle for cheap price in order to improve the availability of beef which had become a rare commodity in most supermarkets.

Moreso the committee resolved that the chairman would write to the minister of Environment and Tourism requesting for a donation of game meat from the National Parks and Wildlife. The same would also be affected to the ministry of Energy and Power Development, Mike Nyambuya requesting for fuel.

The 21st February Movement is a special event to celebrate President Mugabe's birthday but surprisingly the government is wasting resources while the general populace is embedded in extreme poverty. Instead, the government should raise money for building accommodation for the victims of government's Operation Murambatsvina who are still living under sordid conditions while the government continue with its cheap diplomacy that they would build houses imminently. Besides, Zimbabwe is in a foreign currency crunch which has seen her failing to clear its debts and recently their electricity plug was pulled off by Mozambique.

Government employees, civil have for the past couple of years cried foul for poor remunerations from their employer resulting in more chaos and massive exodus of skilled to greener pastures.

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