|
Back to Index
This article participates on the following special index pages:
Inclusive government - Index of articles
Zimbabwe unity government 'broke', says Morgan Tsvangirai
Sebastien
Berger, The Telegraph (UK)
May 01, 2009
View this article on The Telegraph website
The Movement for Democratic
Change leader said he, President Robert Mugabe, and all government
employees, were on $100 a month (about £65).
"This government
is broke, and we are only able to pay the $100 allowance, but when
things improve, we want this allowance to graduate into a proper
salary," he said at a May Day rally. "For now, everyone,
all of us, including President Mugabe, is getting $100."
But Mr Mugabe has the
benefit of an official residence and cars at his disposal, while
his cronies have the benefit of the proceeds of corruption they
have engaged in on a grand scale during their decades in power.
By contrast, ordinary
Zimbabweans struggle to get by now that all prices are in US dollars,
and the power-sharing government set up in February is struggling
to meet their expectations of rapid improvement in their lives.
African countries have
promised Zimbabwe around £250 million in credit, but reconstruction
aid amounting to billions from the West is on hold until the new
authorities can show they are implementing change, and a fresh wave
of farm invasions by Mr Mugabe's loyalists, which the MDC
seems powerless to stop, is doing nothing for their case.
"We have been in
office for less than three months," said Mr Tsvangirai. "I
plead with you to please give us time. Your demands must be realistic,
taking into account that your government is broke and that industry
has not been performing."
Earlier thousands
of workers cheered Lovemore Matombo, the president of the Zimbabwe
Congress of Trade Unions, when he threatened protests if demands
for monthly salaries of £300 were not agreed.
"If this is not
met, the workers are going onto the streets," he said.
Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.
TOP
|
