CENTRE for Natural Resource Governance founding director Farai Maguwu has said Zimbabwe is a seriously broken country in which multi-billion dollar industries have been created much to benefit of Dubai, India and China while the local economy gets nothing in return.
Maguwu made the remarks in a statement following the national football team’s failure to progress to the next stage of the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) finals.
“Why did we expect The Warriors to be patriotic when their government has been donating Zimbabwe’s mineral resources to other countries? As late as 2024, the President of the republic was not aware that The Warriors were playing home matches away,” Maguwu said.
“We have created multi-billion dollar industries for Dubai, India and China while our economy gets nothing in return.
“The little we get flows into the pockets of individuals. Even if The Warriors had won Afcon 2026, they were going to be paid peanuts.”
He said as was the case with the general state of the economy, where citizens are the ones crying for accountability, it is the fans who carry The Warriors in their hearts, and not the leaders of Zimbabwe.
“We lost a game we should have won. The government does not care about soccer; otherwise, since the condemnation of our stadiums by Caf and Fifa in 2020 — more than five years ago by now, we must have built at least three state-of-the-art stadiums if soccer were a priority,” Maguwu said.
“Instead, government spends hundreds of millions of US dollars buying 4X4 vehicles for entertainers, the majority of whom already have a fleet of vehicles of their own.
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“Zifa is also run by clowns — undertakers hired to take the beautiful game to its final resting place.
“I feel sorry for the young, promising lads who gave it their all, despite being limited to a cameo role.
“We will build our hope around these. Zimbabweans must continue rallying behind these talented lads as they return to their clubs. The future looks bright.”
