It has taken nearly 40 years for some people to formulate the outline
root causes of the country’s economic meltdown and political paralysis - a
pariah state ruled by corrupt and vote rigging thugs. And now the nation may
have to wait for the outline to crystallise - it could take yet another 40
years or more - to judge from the blundering nonsense being offered as solution
to the country's problems!
“One thing is apparently undeniable about the Zimbabwean situation; the
economic paralysis that began soon after the disputed presidential elections of
July last year has morphed into a threatening crisis. It kicked off with slight
fuel price increases, whose gradual progression led to a proportional hike in
the costs of other goods,” wrote Learnmore Zuze.
The economic meltdown has forced many Zimbabweans to start paying
attention to the country’s economic mess because they are feeling the tragic
consequences of the meltdown. They, Zuze is a representative sample, have an
inkling of what is wrong but that is all.
It is nonsense to suggest Zimbabwe’s economic “paralysis began soon
after the disputed elections”. Zimbabwe’s economic decline started soon after
independence with Zanu PF’s voodoo economic notion of achieve prosperity by
spending, spending, spending. The economy took a nose dive in late 1990s
onwards with the payment of $50 000 gratuity to war veterans, the seizure of
white farms, the madness of printing of Z$ fuelling the run-away inflation,
etc. The economy collapsed and has never recovered.
“Disputed elections!” is a phrase used by someone who has yet to be
convinced one way or the other that the elections were indeed free, fair and
credible. The trouble with such people is they have no clear cut understanding
of what constitutes free, fair and credible elections and hence the reason why
they cannot make up their minds even when presented with a mountain of evidence
the election process was flawed and illegal, as was the case here.
“It is unfathomable how, despite calls for dialogue by both leaders,
there is nothing that really materialises in the direction of the much-hyped
national talks. It is not misplaced to postulate that there isn't much
commitment except political grandstanding towards serious national talks that
would bring Zimbabwe out of its current political quagmire,” continued Zuze.
How typical, Zuze has not resolved the nature of the disputed elections
and yet is foolishness to offer a solution!
There are two possible outcomes to the disputed elections. Either the
elections were free, fair and credible and Mnangagwa and his Zanu PF friends
won the elections and have the democratic mandate to govern the country. So why
you are getting over heated about these political dialogue as if it is a legal
requirement of the winning party with a clear cut 2/3 majority to form a
coalition.
Or the elections were not free, fair and credible and therefore
Mnangagwa and his Zanu PF thugs’ electoral victory claim is fraudulent, they
have no mandate to govern and the regime is, per se, illegitimate.
There is need for political dialogue to move the country out of the
present political crisis of having no legitimate government. However, it will
be very foolish to ask Mnangagwa play any leading role much less preside over
the said political dialogue given his claim to the leading role is the root
cause of the political crisis.
Of course, Learnmore Zuze knows that Mnangagwa and Zanu PF blatantly
rigged last year’s elections, he/she will never admit to that for fear having
to then admit that the Zanu PF regime is illegitimate. The need to appease Zanu
PF is so powerful and overwhelming people like Zuze are ignoring the evidence
that the elections were rigged just to appease Zanu PF. They would rather
accept the noncommittal “disputed elections” than deal with the truth.
The equally noncommittal solution their are offering will not solve
anything. By rigging last year’s elections Zanu PF confirmed Zimbabwe’s status
as a pariah state. Adding Chamisa and a few other MDC A members to the Zanu PF
regime will not change the reality on the ground. Zimbabwe will still be a
pariah state, with or without the addition of Chamisa.
If we are serious about ending Zimbabwe’s economic mess and political
paralysis then we must be tough and decisive in our demand for free, fair and
credible elections. Zanu PF must be told in no uncertain terms that it failed
to hold free, fair and credible elections, that it is illegitimate and must
step down. It is folly to let the regime stay in office under the pretext this
was nothing worse than some ill-defined “disputed elections”.
Chamisa says Tsvangirai supported Mugabe’s ouster on the understanding that there would be a transitional authority but he was betrayed #TsvangiraiMemorial
ReplyDeleteThe MDC largely supported and urged its members to take to the streets along with other Zimbabweans leading to the forced resignation of Robert Mugabe in November 2017. Following the coup, Zanu-PF senior members declared that the Mugabe removal was a Zanu-PF matter and would be handled by the party alone.
The military coup was not just an act of lawlessness, it was high treason. No one who loves the rule of law would ever want to be involved in such a dirty thing even when carried out to remove a murderous tyrant, as was the case here. The fact that MDC were doing this for political gain only makes it worse! But what makes the whole sodded affair unforgivable is that the conspirators wanted to stage a similar treasonous act on the innocent Zimbabweans by cancelling elections and going straight into a GNU.
It is interesting to note that even now with the benefit of hindsight, MDC leaders like Chamisa still do not see anything wrong with denying the ordinary people a meaningful vote. He does not see denying the people their fundamental right to free, fair and credible elections as betrayal but sees Zanu PF’s refusal to cancel elections as betrayal. How narrow, thick and slow these MDC leaders are.
The need for the country to end the curse of rigged elections is now more urgent than ever. What is also clear is the nation cannot trust both Zanu PFand MDC leaders to implement the reforms; the two parties must play no part in the interim administration tasked to implement the reforms.
Zimbabwe has become the basket case of a failed state but that does not mean the country in also incapable of rising from the ashes like the Sphinx all we need is help and support to end the Zanu PF dictatorship. Recolonising Zimbabwe will not help us!
ReplyDeleteChamisa is itching for a new GNU as a sure way to secure a gravy train seat. He is bitter Zanu PF did not go for a GNU after the November 2017 coup and is all out for one now.
ReplyDeleteThe root causes of the economic impasse are corruption and the fact that Zimbabwe is seen as a pariah state. Including Chamisa in the Zanu PF cabinet will do nothing to end the corruption of the pariah state. Mnangagwa thought the appointment of individuals like Professor Mthuli Ncube and Kirsty Coventry would achieve this but, as we know, it did not. The world is a lot smarter than to be easily fooled by a gimmick, appointing Chamisa into the Zanu PF cabinet will be a gimmick!
ALPHA Omega Dairy, a company owned by former President Robert Mugabe is singing the blues with operations at below capacity and low uptake of its products in the market.
ReplyDelete“Business for the first quarter of this year was not as it was last year. On our side, we are pushing as a company because we want to be viable, we are producing the products but the rate of uptake in supermarkets is very low because the majority of the people do not have enough buying power,” Asani said.
During Mugabe’s time in power, the company was touted as a model of success of the land reform programme Zimbabwe embarked on at the turn of the millennium.
The success of some of the Zanu PF bigwigs’ business was because they had a helping hand from all manner of ways from cheap loans, paying no tax, cash injections from looted sources, etc. As soon as the individual lost their powerful party post their businesses started coughing blood.
It is impossible to run a profitable business in Zimbabwe unless you are corrupt; we have seen evidence of this again and again! Now it is a matter of time before Alpha Omega Dairy, the model of success, goes to the wall!
As long as Zimbabwe remains a pariah state ruled by corrupt and vote rigging thugs the economic meltdown of the last two decades will only get worse. The inclusion of Chamisa in the Zanu PF cabinet will not change the pariah state status of the regime just as the appointment of Professor Mthuli Ncube and Kirsty Coventry changed nothing.
ReplyDeleteChamisa's claim that he will secure the much needed financial assistance is just hot air, Ncube made a similar claim but has failed to deliver.
There are people who have been pushing for the formation of another GNU as a solution to Zimbabwe's economic and political crisis. These are time waster, ask them why did the 2008 to 2013 GNU failed to get even one reform implemented and thus deliver free, fair and credible elections and they cannot answer.
ReplyDeleteEveryone of substance agrees that Zanu PF blatantly rigged last year's elections, there is a mountain of evidence to prove this. What the world has found hard to understand was why Zimbabwe's opposition could have been so naive and incompetent to agree to take part in such flawed and illegal elections. Yes they understood the bait Zanu PF was offering but still, it was still a foolish decision.
What the world is failing to understand is why many Zimbabweans are refusing to accept the basic truth that Zanu PF rigged the elections. "Disputed elections!" No doubt many Zimbabweans would have agonised over this to even make that call!
I agree, Zimbabwe is in a serious economic and political mess and it is not going to get out of the mess when it cannot even call a rigged elections what it is! The world will help Zimbabwe get out of the mess but first we must show the world we are serious about finding a working solutions to our problems. A new GNU with Zanu PF and MDC is not a solution but a recycled gimmick!
In the video Mnangagwa is seen saying, "We are the army We are the air force We are the police We determine who can do mining We determine who can build a road No other party can do so."
ReplyDeleteZANU PF has always been accused of capturing Independent state organs and politicising them to suit their own agenda.
Mnangagwa was just admitting something we already know! Now we would like to see Nelson Chamisa join the GNU and take away the Air Force, the Police, etc., etc. from Zanu PF because for him to “unlock the economy” as he promised he must convince the investors Zimbabwe is no longer a pariah state!
PRESIDENT Donald Trump's administration has demanded that President Emmerson Mnangagwa punishes security forces who stand accused of killing civilians during last year's post-election demonstrations, as well as this year's riots.
ReplyDeleteThe demand is part of the onerous conditions by Washington that would see the United States of America removing its punitive sanctions against Zimbabwe if they are met.
Yes those who shot and killed innocent civilians must be brought to book!
@ Mechavio
ReplyDelete“To be honest, many times I cannot see the difference between what Patrick Guramatunhu and Wilbert Mukori write.More like the same person writing under different labels/names and responding to his own argument,” you say.
You are you obsessed about the trivial matters. Focus of what Patrick says and not the individual.
Some genius said “Great minds discuss ideas, average minds talk of events and small minds are obsessed about people!”
You and your fellow Zanu PF minions are obsessed about people and little wonder the country is in a real mess. Even with the country up to its eyes in s***t you still fail to realise the seriousness of our situation and keep on wittering about nonsense.
Zimbabwe needs to force these corrupt and vote rigging Zanu PF thugs out of office, that is the single most important task of our day. You can continue wittering about trivial issues because you are whom you are - a village idiot!
@ Mapamba
ReplyDelete“The difference between you and Zanu is you are a bunch of all talk and no action imbeciles who truly think they are wise and expect the "world" to clean their shit . On the other hand Zanu is pro active from its birth ...Zanu managed to beat the Rhodesians what more MDC,” you say.
Zanu PF did manage to defeat the Rhodesians, that is true but no one can ever deny that they have messed up big time ever since. Zimbabwe used to be the breadbasket of the whole region and earned top dollar selling tobacco, cut flowers, etc. Mugabe seized the farms in 2000 and gave them to his cronies and ever since the country has relied on imported food aid - we are so impoverished we cannot even pay for it.
We live in the day and age when human ingenuity has turned deserts into green orchards. And we starving in a country that is for all practical purposes the Garden of Eden. There is the damning testimonial to your “pro action” Zanu PF heroes!
Patrick has said some useful stuff that we help us get out of the mess and you can help fine tune those ideas instead of wasting everyone’s time singing the praises of corrupt, incompetent, vote rigging and murderous thugs!
Zesa since asked electricity users to switch off all non-essential electrical gadgets to save power and to reduce power usage during peak periods from 5 am to 10 am and 5 pm to 10 pm.
ReplyDeletePower cuts would hit the mining sector, which contributes more than two-thirds of Zimbabwe's export earnings, hardest, adding to difficulties in a country already grappling with a lack of U.S. dollars, soaring prices and shortages of fuel, food and medicines.
The utility said generation at Hwange, its biggest coal-fired station, as well as three smaller plants remained fragile due to the age of the facilities.
ZESA has known for the last six months, at least, that power generation would be considerably reduced because of the drought induced inflow into Kariba Dam. So why is ZESA only now telling the public to “switch-off all non-essential electrical gadgets to save power”?
Ever since the country attained her independence 39 years ago, it has failed to maintain the existing plant much less invested in any new generation capacity. The outgoing white government handed over to Zanu PF completed plans for expanding Hwange Power Station and the building of Batoka Gorge Hydro Power Station. None of the projects have seen the light and both could have been completed using a fraction of the US$15 billion Mugabe admitted was being looted from Marange diamonds.
No doubt, the money wasted on hired luxury jets for Grace Mugabe and Mnangagwa in the 20 months he has been in power would have paid for the refurbishing of the old power stations!
True enough, the new wave of power cuts will only make Zimbabwe’s economic meltdown even worse than it is already.
Until we cure ourselves of the curse of rigged elections, Zimbabwe will continue to sink deeper and deeper into the hell-on-earth Zanu PF has dragged us into. The cure - implement the democratic reforms designed to stop the vote rigging. SIMPLE!
@ Mapamba
ReplyDelete“Covert affairs ...what is really discussed behind closed doors by "democratic superpowers". What you are preaching is the propaganda they peddle to get you off mark wise up Mukori its all hogwash,” you said.
Zimbabwe is in a serious economic and political mess, that is a fact. And since I have never exercised any meaningful political power given I am one of the millions of ordinary Zimbabweans who have been systematically denied their freedoms and rights including the right to a meaning vote; it will be fair to say I have played no part in getting us into this mess. So the propaganda hogwash I have been peddling has had no effect in landing the nation in this mess.
So forget about Mukori let us look for those people with the political power and authority who have landed us in this mess! It is Mnangagwa and his junta who have enjoyed absolute power these last 39 years, they are the ones who landed us in this mess.
What I am saying here is that unless we implement the democratic reforms designed to end Zanu PF’s dictatorial powers the country will never get out of the mess we are in. If you think that is hogwash then, please, get off your high horse and you tell us what we should do to get out of the mess.
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa has assured foreign investors that the country has liberalised investment conditions to the extent that they are free to partner local businesses of their choice and can access their dividends.
ReplyDeleteOfficially opening the 35th International Chromium Development Association (ICDA) Conference here yesterday, President Mnangagwa said the Second Republic will continuously implement comprehensive economic reforms to ensure Zimbabwe remains a safe, favourable and competitive investment destination with a thriving and open economy.
He said this was the cornerstone of the country's "Zimbabwe is Open for Business" mantra as he invited investors into the mining industry.
How naive! “Second Republic will continuously implement comprehensive economic reforms”! Why not implement the reforms and be done with it? If is now nearly two years since Mnangagwa took over and we are still talking of implementing reforms.
On the political front it is even worse, the regime promised to end corruption and to hold free and fair elections and has not done no such things! Zimbabwe is still a pariah state ruled by corrupt, incompetent, vote rigging and murderous thugs. The regime has implemented its shoot to kill policy against unarmed civilians because they dared to protest against another rigged elections and the worsening economic situation.
As long as Zimbabwe remains a pariah state ruled by vote rigging thugs the country’s economic meltdown will only get worse!
The reports on Thursday had alleged that Mwonzora has allegedly gone into hiding amid reports that party youths are baying for his blood over his links with the High Court ruling that nullified Nelson Chamisa's appointment.
ReplyDeleteThe reports say that a group of party youths, popularly known as the Vanguards, have also been seen surrounding party vice President Elias Mudzuri's Milton Park home in Harare, singing derogatory songs. The youths accused Mudzuri of undermining Chamisa, saying Mudzuri sponsored the High Court application by a Gokwe MDC official which resulted in yesterday's ruling.
MDC is a party of thugs, not much different from Zanu PF, and it does not take much for the party to show its true nature. If Nelson Chamisa did nothing wrong then the party should state its case to the court of public opinion, forget the country’s corrupt courts.
Many Zimbabweans have expressed their disappointment with the way Chamisa had used the same Zanu PF dirty tactics to bulldoze his way into leadership position following Tsvangirai’s death. Instead of admit the party messed up we are seeing the party using dirty tactics yet again to silence everyone. This is not acceptable!