By Agencies
Zanu-PF spokesperson Chris Mutsvangwa said Thursday that rising petrol prices have not reduced traffic congestion in Zimbabwe, arguing that the continued flow of cars on highways reflects “the depth of prosperity” embedded in society under President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s reforms, even as he acknowledged that poorer citizens “have to suffer the impacts of inflation.”
Speaking to reporters on Thursday , Mutsvangwa acknowledged that global fuel prices were climbing but argued that the visible number of cars on the road tells a different story from the usual narrative of economic hardship.
“You see, petrol is going up. You know, it’s bad that this whole world came and petrol is going up. But it doesn’t seem to be affecting the number of cars on the road,” Mutsvangwa said.
He added: “It means it reflects the depth of the prosperity which has gone into society.”
The ruling party spokesperson credited President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s economic reforms for what he described as a fundamental shift in national morale, contrasting the current climate with the period before the 2017 coup that ousted Robert Mugabe.
“The despondence which was in 2017 is no longer there. There is a new can-do spirit which makes everybody want to identify with Zimbabwe,” he said.
Mutsvangwa pointed to daily traffic snarl-ups as a tangible measure of economic activity, arguing that active participants in the economy remain undeterred by external shocks.
“You can see that no matter the shock of the Middle East fuel crisis, people still are driving, still getting into traffic jams. The highways are still full. So this is a reflection of the economic depth of prosperity which has embedded itself in this society,” he said.
Despite his upbeat assessment, Mutsvangwa conceded that not all Zimbabweans are sharing in the purported prosperity. He drew a distinction between what he called “active economic players” and more vulnerable groups.
-Online
