Buhera South Member of Parliament Joseph Chinotimba claimed that MDC supporters chanting the party’s “Chinja Maitiro (Change your behaviour)” slogan are responsible for the price increases that Zimbabwe is experiencing.
The Zanu-PF legislator was making a contribution following a motion moved by Hatfield MP Tapiwa Mashakada (MDC Alliance) on the structural economic challenges affecting Zimbabwe. Chinotimba said the opposition wants to lead Zimbabwe through the poverty of other people by increasing prices so that it reflects negatively on Zanu-PF. Said Chinotimba:
It is true that our economy is not performing well at all. What he has said is very true. However, if you were to look at the video or pictures which were shown during the debate by Hon. Mashakada when I wanted to raise a point of order, I was told that I would only be able to give my opinion as I debate. It is true that prices keep rising and cooking oil is now being sold at $13 to $15. I met some men yesterday who were moving in shops and were chanting party slogans like the MDC one, ‘chinja.’ There are people in this country who are corrupt, as alluded to by another Hon. Member. Some people want to lead this country through the poverty of other people by increasing prices so that it reflects negatively on the Government in power. This is done by the opposition, those who lost the elections. These are the people who are causing the rising of prices.