HARARE, (Xinhua) --
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe on Friday
implored banks to slash lending rates to farmers to boost
agriculture productivity in the country.
Zimbabwe’s economy
is agriculture based, with the sector contributing roughly 60
percent to the country’s foreign currency earnings.
Mugabe said the
high cost of money was inhibiting agriculture production in
the country, hence the need for the cost of money to be
lowered.
The Reserve Bank
of Zimbabwe is on record imploring local banks to cut interest
rates and make funding for productive sectors of the economy
affordable.
The RBZ in
February directed banks to slash interest rates to 12 percent
from 15 percent per annum with effect from April this year.
“Financial
institutions should come in to provide sufficiently the needed
capital for agriculture. We pray for banks to lower their
interest rates because in a sense they are an inhibition to
progress and development,” Mugabe said while opening the
annual Harare Agriculture Show.
The president also
urged input suppliers from seed, fertilizer and agro-chemical
providers to work closely with farmers to make agriculture a
success in the country.
Mugabe had earlier
toured various stands at the country’s premier agricultural
showcase, with his wife Grace making her first public
appearance since leaving South Africa last Sunday where she
was embroiled in a legal dispute after allegedly assaulting a
South African young woman.
.
EARLIER REPORT:
Zimbabwe Vice President
Mnangagwa not yet fully recovered: Mugabe
HARARE Zimbabwe (Xinhua) --
Zimbabwean Vice President Emmerson
Mnangagwa is not yet fully recovered from illness caused by
suspected food poisoning, President Robert Mugabe said
Saturday.
In an address at
the National Heroes Acre for the joint burial of Mbuya Maud
Muzenda, widow of former Zimbabwe Vice President Simon Muzenda,
and George Rutanhire, a veteran freedom fighter, Mugabe said
the vice president attended part of the burial ceremony in
Mbare before excusing himself.
“The vice
president said he has not yet fully recovered and is no longer
going to the National Heroes Acre as per the instructions of
his doctors who have advised that he must not strain himself
at this juncture,” Mugabe said.
Mnangagwa suffered
a severe bout of vomiting and diarrhea while Mugabe was
addressing a rally in Gwanda, Matabeleland South Province, on
Aug. 12.
After receiving
initial treatment in the country, Mnangagwa was airlifted to
South Africa the following day for further treatment. He
returned to Zimbabwe on Aug. 19.
He made his first
public appearance since falling ill on Aug. 25 when he visited
the homesteads of the Muzenda and Rutanhire families in Harare
to pay his condolences.
While some
speculate that the VP fell sick after eating poisoned food,
the government has rebuffed the claim, saying he fell sick
after taking stale food.
“What the doctors
think happened is that perhaps he ate some stale food, which
then means it is not really poison in the sense that the
people are trying to allege,” Information Minister Chris
Mushohwe was quoted as saying by the state media last week.
.
Zimbabwe President Mugabe
criticizes corruption in police force
HARARE Zimbabwe (Xinhua) --
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe on Saturday
slammed corruption in the police force and implored the force
to serve the people and shun greed.
He said the police
should stop extorting money from motorists at roadblocks and
those interested in running businesses should do so in a
legitimate way.
Mugabe’s remarks
followed public outcry over perceived police corruption,
especially at roadblocks on the country’s roads and highways.
The tourism sector
has also raised concern over the numerous police roadblocks,
saying they were inconveniencing tourists and hurting the
industry.
Mugabe said
members of the police force operating commuter omnibuses
should organize themselves and start a proper bus company,
noting that some of the omnibuses get involved in fatal
accidents.
Road accidents are
common in Zimbabwe and some of the accidents involve commuter
omnibuses, one of the major forms of public transport in the
country.
“Be a police force
of the people and stop that evil (of extorting money from
motorists at roadblocks),” Mugabe said while addressing
mourners at the burial of Mbuya Maud Muzenda, widow of late
Zimbabwean Vice President Simon Muzenda, and veteran freedom
fighter George Rutanhire, at the National Heroes Acre.
Mugabe exhorted
members of the police force to engage in dignified business
activities.
