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Zanu PF MP warns of civil unrest

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NEWLY-elected Mpopoma-Pelandaba MP Joseph Tshuma (Zanu PF) has pleaded with government to swiftly act on the decaying economy and arrest the unabated company closures especially in Bulawayo.

NEWLY-elected Mpopoma-Pelandaba MP Joseph Tshuma (Zanu PF) has pleaded with government to swiftly act on the decaying economy and arrest the unabated company closures especially in Bulawayo.

BY XOLISANI NCUBE

Tshuma, who won the seat last month after the MDC-T recalled Bekithemba Nyathi for joining the MDC Renewal Team, warned that the economic collapse was a recipe for social and political unrest.

Delivering his maiden speech in the National Assembly yesterday, Tshuma said the state of the economy, especially its industries, was worrying and now required all political parties to put aside their differences and help the country “get out of the woods”.

“If you look at industry in Bulawayo, it has closed down and most of our youths are now jobless,” he said.

“The recent dismissal of workers by companies has serious effects on the country and I urge the Executive and us as Parliament to work hard and find a solution to this.”

Tshuma singled out the National Railways of Zimbabwe, saying its collapse had left many people destitute.

“If you look at what is happening to the National Railways of Zimbabwe, it really affects people from my constituency,” he said.

“These people have gone for months without being paid. As members of this House, we must always try to find ways to solve this problem.

“We must put the interests of our people ahead of the interests of our political jackets.”

Zimbabwe’s economy is collapsing with Bulawayo, once the industrial hub of the country, fast turning into a ghost city.

Tshuma said besides halting the closure of companies, government must act to restore energy availability as well as attend to the decaying health sector.

“Our health system is in a sorry state. If you look at Mpilo Central Hospital and UBH (United Bulawayo Hospitals), you will understand how bad things are,” the MP said.

While Tshuma was making his speech, MDC-T lawmakers were busy insinuating that his observation represented a Zapu element in Zanu PF.

This forced Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda to order Ruth Labode, one of the MPs who was overheard making the remarks, to withdraw them.

Meanwhile, the National Assembly yesterday passed the Gender Commission Bill, which seeks to establish mechanisms for the creation of the Gender Commission and how it will operate.

The Bill will now be tabled in the Senate before President Robert Mugabe signs it into law.