By Lloyd Mbiba
HARARE - Zanu PF junior spokesperson Psychology Maziwisa has conceded that his party is struggling to create the so-called 2 million jobs it promised during election time last year.
President Mugabe with former critic turned Zanu PF spin-doctor Psychology Maziwisa
While his party bosses were wining and dining at State House, celebrating last year’s controversial poll victory on Thursday evening, Maziwisa was at the deep end at a local hotel, being bombarded with questions mostly about the economy.
Maziwisa, along with Welshman Ncube’s MDC deputy president Edwin Mushoriwa and MDC renewal team spokesperson Jacob Mafume, was a panellist during a public seminar hosted by Mass Public Opinion Institute.
People from all walks of life who attended the seminar said Zanu PF had so far failed to deliver on its electoral promises which were transformed into a government economic blue print, ZimAsset.
At one point, Maziwisa threatened to walk out of the seminar, arguing that people were not giving him a chance to reply.
But when the master of ceremonies reined in the crowd, Maziwisa argued, rather lamely and unconvincingly, that it was sanctions which were impinging Zanu PF on implementing its policies.
He said even American president Barack Obama, was struggling to fulfil his promises and he has become the worst USA president ever.
Maziwisa said: “It is important to understand the background before we go to the substantive. For the last decade-and-a-half, we have been facing challenges due to the illegal sanctions.
“The challenges are still there today and it is difficult for us to create the jobs.
“Look, in America, even Obama is failing to fulfil all the things that he promised Americans. There was a recent survey carried out and it showed that Obama is the most unpopular president ever because he has failed to do all that he promised to do. He has failed to create the jobs that he promised.”
However, Maziwisa was quick to add that his party had not totally failed to create employment as the formalisation of more than 500 000 small-scale miners (Makorokozas) was creation of new employment.
“When the formalisation of the small-scale miners is done, there will be 500 000 people paying taxes and employing people so we are no longer talking about the 400 000 jobs that we must have delivered in the first year. We are talking about more than 500 000 jobs.”
But, Mushoriwa could not stomach Maziwisa’s assertions saying: “Don’t tell us about the 500 000 new jobs when there is nothing new.
“We want you to tell us of real jobs and not imagined ones.
“We want you to create real 2 million jobs.” Daily News