Following a Twitter backlash to his statement that Mnangagwa is sincere, Strive Masiyiwa has written a Facebook comment. In his comment, the Econet group founder said that he “stood up to Mugabe when most of those issuing threats by Twitter were either in diapers, or hiding”
He also said that no one stood in his corner when he and his business endured persecutions by the government.
Reflection:
This is the place I comment.“I BELONG TO EVERYBODY, AND I BELONG TO NOBODY”
As an entrepreneur, on many occasions I have had initiatives for my country Zimbabwe, which could have created tens of thousands of new jobs. When I have discussed them with either investors or banks, they have turned me away, saying:
“We don’t want to violate the sanctions in your country.”
I have documents and emails from bankers and investors. I tried so hard to persuade some of them, often suggesting that they are not interpreting the sanctions correctly.In my case I was forced to go to China to secure loans to support our Zimbabwean businesses. But this was not always ideal. I have spoken about it publicly on many occasions even in the US and China itself.
It is not right that we as business should have to work under such conditions, when all we want is to create jobs and livelihoods for ordinary people.
Now, if Zimbabwe had been a person who committed a crime, for which they went to prison, would you not say 20 years is enough?
Zimbabwe has served its prison time. It’s time for the country to be given a chance to get back on its feet.I fled my country when assassins were sent to kill me. I had been tipped off by someone in the Mugabe government who was related to me. Even when I left the country, there were other attempts to kidnap me in SA. It has been 18 and a half years. Only I have the right to decide when to come home.
My executives [in Zimbabwe] were arrested and held in leg irons for 16 days. I endured all the persecutions, including the bombing and shutting down of my newspaper business.
No one stood in our corner, or expressed indignation, perhaps because there was no Twitter?Now will the end of Western sanctions end all our problems?
Absolutely not!
As I have said, no one should be under any illusion that this is not going to be very, very tough, as many of the issues to be tackled are due to bad policies going back decades including corruption.Let’s not allow the sanctions to be a crutch and stumbling block to some of the issues that need resolution.
“My name is Strive Masiyiwa, and I’m with the suffering ordinary Zimbabweans who need to see jobs, livelihoods, and investment in our country.
I call for an end to sanctions now.And I reiterate my call for people to work together in the national interest.”
Intimidation and threats have never affected me. I stood up to Mugabe when most of those issuing threats by Twitter were either in diapers, or hiding, or even simply minding their own business.
Whatever!
I did not rail at them, and never will or demand that they say only what I approve.“I BELONG TO EVERYBODY, AND I BELONG TO NOBODY” [Charles De Gaulle]
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And yet here you are, backing the same party that is still in power, backing the same man who was once Mugabe’s chief enforcer! Are you really that naive, Strive, or is this just another self-serving move from a wealthy man who cannot be touched by the poverty that pervades Zimbabwe?.
“I belong to everybody, and I belong to nobody” says it all.
“Zimbabwe has served its jail-time”? Really? The masses of Zimbabwe are still in jail, and not because of so-called “Western sanctions”! Because of ZANU-PF alone! But how would you know? You became super-rich probably because of that prevailing situation where opportunity was and continues to be extremely limited.
Be honest, Mr Masiyiwa.
👆🏾 I agree Silva this guy has profited off this. With one of highest data rates in the world in one of the poorest countries in the world. Many people were persicuted by this government and did have the luxury of keeping thier business and properties yet Strive managed to do both and even extend his profolio. Talk of standing with the Zimbabwean people! Where? How? That penthouse in New York City was paid for by the people of Zimbabwe. Let’s not forget he was and still is a Zanu boy.
How can you call for the removal of sanctions without calling for the causes of those sanctions to be addressed. Boot-licking should end . Lets address causes of suctions first then sanction will go . Not to say i want sanctions to stay, but calling that they go just like that is child`s play and boot-licking .if we don`t address causes of sanctions then we are not progressing . One of the major reasons is human right abuse and i am sure you all agree that we are now worse off in-terms of human rights abuses than we were before . We never witnessed so many dead bodies ( 1 Aug 2018) in the streets of Harare as far as i remember .and if we cant address the causes of those sanctions lets accept and live with the sanction while we find ways around the sanctions not to just call for the removal . That is child`s play