Lets move on from elections and revive economy 

Chengetai Zvauya 

HARARE – President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said the election season has ended and it is time to move the country forward  and revive the economy.

“It is now time to put the election period  behind us and embrace the future,” Mnangagwa told people attending the Heroes Day celebrations in the capital,Harare on Monday

“The task facing us today is great one. Let us revive our economy and rebuild our great nation,” he said. He said the nation had to focus on agricultural production. ” The challenge  is to  look ahead to full utilisation of the land through increased production, modernisation and mechanisation of our agriculture sector” he said.

Zimbabwe held its general polls last month and the ruling ZANU PF won a two-thirds majority, while Mnangagwa  won the presidential race.

However, opposition MDC Alliance has challenged his victory at the Constitutional Court. ZANU PF has since indicated that it will file its papers this week.

President Mnangagwa also denounced the MDC Alliance for post electoral violence which killed six people.

“On the 30 July  you stood up and spoke loudly  and clearly. You showed the world that not only do we all campaign in a spirit of peace and tolerance,with parties free to campaign whenever and however they saw fit. We equally , together demonstrated that we could also hold free and fair election.”

“We however condemn the MDC Alliance-inspired violence post our free and fair elections which resulted in the deaths of innocent citizens” he said.

Six people lost their lives on August 1, after the army intervened to stop the violence which had broken out in the capital.

Twenty seven MDC supporters were arrested and charged with public violence. The twenty seven are currently out of custody on $50 bail each.