Prime Minister Tsvangirai's inaugral speech

By Muneyi Masinire

At least the Prime Minister did not dissapoint on his first day in office

In his first public address as premier, the MDC-T leader immediately called on workers to go back to work starting tomorrow (Monday) promising them they would be paid in hard currency.


“Every civil servant will from the end of this month earn foreign currency,” announced Tsvangirai. “All civil servants should be at their desks on Monday.”


This announcement sent the crowd wild.


They whistled, cheered, danced and sang.


Even police officers who were on duty and had spent most of the day in the blistering heat restoring order, could also be seen smiling.


Some lifted their caps, saluting the new PM.


The PM explained to his supporters why the party had chosen to form a unity government with President Robert Mugabe and Arthur Mutambara of the smaller MDC formation.


He said they were determined to rescue the people from extreme poverty and deprivation.


But Tsvangirai conceded the Global Political Agreement (GPO) signed on September 15 was not perfect.


“It’s not a perfect agreement but it’s a workable one. It would lead to a new Constitution and free and fair election,” he said amid cheering from the receptive crowd.


Zimbabwe’s political and socio-economic fabric, said Tsvangirai, has completely broken down.


He said he would prioritise the creation of a democratic society underpinned by guarantees for media freedom.


Tsvangirai’s immediate tasks will be to deal with the cholera outbreak, which has killed over 3 700 people, provide food to the needy, and reopen schools and health facilities.


Over seven million people — more than half the country’s population — need urgent food aid.


“All duty (customs duty) will be waived on food stuffs and a food summit will be held with all stakeholders soon,” promised Tsvangirai. Hospitals and clinics, he said, should be places of healing and not death.


Over the past year health centres in the country had closed because there was no equipment, drugs or personnel.


He promised to make sure those in jail for their political convictions would soon be released.


“This is what we were waiting for. At least we will have food once again and be able to send our children to school,” said 53-year-old Mbuya Choice Moyana, who had walked all the way from Dzivarasekwa, some 15 kilometres, to attend the rally.


Tsvangirai’s admirers also showered the PM with presents.


One such admirer is Chief Neguwo from Buhera in Manicaland who donated a goat.


In a short speech, the gap-toothed Chief Neguwo said he had not been living at his homestead since the March 2008 elections because the Zanu PF militia was hunting him down for supporting the MDC.


“This is the first time that I have put on this traditional outfit because back home Zanu PF militia do no allow me to put it on,” he said.


What appeared very clear from the crowd was their dislike for Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) Governor Gideon Gono.


As Tsvangirai spoke, the crowd chanted “Gono go”. They blame him for printing money which has led to the spectacular economic collapse.


Many were waving the useless Zimbabwe dollar notes. They threw the useless notes into the air.


“I don’t need this anymore,” said Zivanai Mutangi, a teacher, “I will earn foreign currency end of month.”
But not everyone was so optimistic about the future.


“I know it is a marriage of convenience but Tsvangirai must be very careful because Mugabe is a schemer,” said Moses Mutandadzi.


“This agreement, I can tell you, will not last.”


As the people were leaving the stadium, they trampled on the Zimbabwe dollar notes strewn on the ground.


As the notes were blown away on the wind it was difficult to believe they were once a treasured national currency.


Outside motorists were sounding their horns as they drove back home.


But for Mbuya Moyana, it was the beginning of her 15-kilometre journey back home on foot, full of hope that a new beginning beckoned.