“The increases in prices that
we have witnessed since October last year will affect the growth rate for 2019.
For 2018, in the first quarter the growth was real, but it was then disturbed
by the last quarter,” said WB Zimbabwe Chief Economist Marko Kwaramba, in a Zimeye report.
“Zimbabwe at World Bank is
classified as a fragile economy, but it is not fragile like Sudan or other
countries that are in the warzone. The solution that has been propelled by
those that have moved from fragility is to focus more on regional integration.
So, Zimbabwe is a member of SADC, African Union and Common Market for Eastern
and Southern Africa. If we facilitate intra-regional trade, then maybe they
will be high growth for Zimbabwe.”
Zimbabwe is a pariah state
ruled by corrupt, incompetent, vote rigging and tyrannical thugs. This has been
the root cause of Zimbabwe’s economic decline for the last 38 years. Whilst
Sudan is a fragile economy because it is in a warzone, Zimbabwe is a fragile
economy because it is a pariah state.
In 2016 former President
Robert Mugabe admitted that the country was “swindled” out of US$ 15 billion (a
lot more than the US$2.5 million over which Mnangagwa was ecstatic with joy).
Mugabe never arrested even one swindler or recovered one dollar. Mnangagwa
himself vowed there would be zero tolerance on corruption and yet he too has
yet to arrest one swindler and recover one dollar.
Both Mugabe and now Mnangagwa failed to end corruption because they are themselves corrupt to the core.
“An amnesty for stolen funds
has recouped $825 million in three months but, as Mr Mnangagwa admits, the
difficulty is in fighting a corruption so deeply embedded that even government
officials cannot tell who is (not) tainted,” reported The National, Abu Dhabi.
Corruption is weeds in a
field; it takes hard work to keep the field free of weeds. In Zimbabwe
corruption, mismanagement and all the other economic problems behind the
country’s economic meltdown have been allowed to grow and spread for the last
38 years to the killer diseases they are today because those in positions of
power and responsibility to deal with the corruption, etc. were themselves
benefiting from these economic vices.
The people have failed to
remove these corrupt and incompetent leaders from office because the leaders usurped
the people’s power to hold them to account. The people of Zimbabwe have been
stuck with this corrupt and tyrannical Zanu PF dictatorship for the last 38
years because the party has rigged elections and imposed itself on the nation.
“The solution that has been propelled by those
that have moved from fragility is to focus more on regional integration!” Name
one country, just one, that has ever achieved economic recovery by “focusing on
regional integration” whilst keeping the corrupt and tyrannical system that dragged
the nation into the depths of economic hell as that Zimbabwe is in today? Go on
name one country!
I hate false medicine! Of
course, it is nonsense to suggest an increase regional trade is the cure of Zimbabwe’s
fragile economy.
We need to increase
production for our own local consumption. At present the country is importing
up to 70% of our need including food of which we were, once upon a time the
breadbasket of the region. The country is facing crippling shortages of fuel,
wheat, medicine, foreign currency, etc. because we are importing far more than
we can pay for from our export earnings.
Still, increased local
production is no more a solution to our fragile economic than increased
regional trade but they both beg the question what/who is stopping Zimbabwe
increasing local production and/or regional trade?
Answer: Zanu PF! As long as
Zimbabwe remains a pariah state ruled by corrupt, vote rigging and tyrannical
thugs the country will never achieve any meaningful economic recovery. Period!
Zimbabwe is in a serious
economic and political mess. Poverty is not only causing untold human suffering,
it is now killing people. The country must implement the democratic reforms
designed to stop Zanu PF rigging elections. Holding free, fair and credible
elections is the cure to Zimbabwe’s curse of rigged elections and pariah state! We must take the medicine and stop wasting time and treasure on false medicine especially when human lives are stake with each wasted day!
As late as 2004, British embassy spokesperson Sophie Honey maintained the UK had not reneged on its commitments – that the UK had provided £44m for land reform in Zimbabwe and £500m for bilateral development assistance, but Zimbabwe had failed to stick to the principles of effective, well-managed and pro-poor land reform.
ReplyDeleteAnd the late 1990s, rising tensions meant the process of land reform slowed to a crawl. By 1999, just 70 000 hectares – not even the area of Harare – had been acquired for redistribution
Concerned over their prospects at the next election, the ruling Zanu-PF called for radical land redistribution.
For their part, the War Veterans Association – staunch supporters of then-president Robert Mugabe – organised a movement officially termed the Fast-Track Land Reform Programme, and began a series of land occupations.
History will acknowledge that the seizure of the white owned farms was a political motivated move by Mugabe and Zanu PF for two selfish reasons:
1) With the economy in the doldrums the regime needed some assets to dolly out to its ever demanding but wasteful loyalists, the farms were the only asset left.
2) To hang on to power the regime needed to resort to more autocratic and tyrannical methods to rig elections and the party needed a smoke screen behind which to hide its lawlessness. And so the violent farm seizures became the standard accompaniment to the political violence. Even opposition supporters in the rural areas were accused of supporting the white farmers, directly and indirectly, and hence the reason political violence was everywhere.
Yes the white farmers should be compensated for the infrastructure and improvements they made on the farms. But why this should be paid by the ordinary people when those who benefited from the improvements are still there beggars belief!
In her opening remarks at the national multi-stakeholder post-election conference in Nyanga yesterday, Zec chairperson Justice Priscilla Chigumba said the commission was now conducting an introspection of the 2018 election cycle to assess its shortcomings and seek ways to improve its management of future polls.
ReplyDelete"The main thrust of this conference is to introspect on the 2018 harmonised elections as the commission seeks to formally bring the 2018 election cycle to its logical conclusion in preparation for the 2019-2023 election cycle," she said.
Chamisa has insisted that he won the general elections despite losing a Constitutional Court challenge and often calls Mnangagwa an illegitimate President. He also wants political dialogue to address the question of Mnangagwa's legitimacy.
Last year’s elections were a farce at anyone who cares about free, fair and credible elections readily admitted.
“The right to an effective legal remedy was not adequately provided for, there is no equal suffrage and shortcomings in the registration of voters somewhat compromised universal and equal suffrage,” stated the EU Election Observer Mission final report.
“Notably, major shortcomings in the pre-election environment impacted on the free expression of the will of electors, state resources were misused in favour of the incumbent and coverage by state media was heavily biased in favour of the ruling party.
“Further, the electoral commission lacked full independence and appeared to not always act in an impartial manner. The final results as announced by the Electoral Commission contained numerous errors and lacked adequate traceability, transparency and verifiability.
“Finally, the restrictions on political freedoms, the excessive use of force by security forces and abuses of human rights in the post-election period undermined the corresponding positive aspects during the pre-election campaign.
“As such,” summed the report, “many aspects of the 2018 elections in Zimbabwe failed to meet international standards.”
ZEC failed to produce something as basic as a verified voters’ roll for Pete’s sake!
After 38 years of rigged elections our people deserve better and they will have free, fair and credible elections next time. To achieve that we have to force this illegitimate Zanu PF regime to step down complete with all its surrogate political appendages such as ZEC, Con Court, Police, etc.
It is naive to expect Zanu PF to implement any meaningful democratic reforms. It is disappointing that nations like Switzerland have chosen to support such foolish notions as Zanu PF implementing meaningful reforms even after 38 years of the party rigging elections!
Well, well! Until a few days ago Al Bashir thought he was untouchable and his rule would last and last! Now it is all over!
ReplyDeleteIn Zimbabwe Mugabe thought exactly the same until 15 November 2017 when he was booted out. Sadly for Zimbabwe the country booted out one tyrant only to get another!
Zimbabwe's worsening economic meltdown is the one thing that will force the people to rebel against Mnangagwa. He is going! Mark my word, his days in power are numbered!
In her opening remarks at the national multi-stakeholder post-election conference in Nyanga yesterday, Zec chairperson Justice Priscilla Chigumba said the commission was now conducting an introspection of the 2018 election cycle to assess its shortcomings and seek ways to improve its management of future polls.
ReplyDelete"The main thrust of this conference is to introspect on the 2018 harmonised elections as the commission seeks to formally bring the 2018 election cycle to its logical conclusion in preparation for the 2019-2023 election cycle," she said.
Chamisa has insisted that he won the general elections despite losing a Constitutional Court challenge and often calls Mnangagwa an illegitimate President. He also wants political dialogue to address the question of Mnangagwa's legitimacy.
Last year’s elections were a farce at anyone who cares about free, fair and credible elections readily admitted.
“The right to an effective legal remedy was not adequately provided for, there is no equal suffrage and shortcomings in the registration of voters somewhat compromised universal and equal suffrage,” stated the EU Election Observer Mission final report.
“Notably, major shortcomings in the pre-election environment impacted on the free expression of the will of electors, state resources were misused in favour of the incumbent and coverage by state media was heavily biased in favour of the ruling party.
“Further, the electoral commission lacked full independence and appeared to not always act in an impartial manner. The final results as announced by the Electoral Commission contained numerous errors and lacked adequate traceability, transparency and verifiability.
“Finally, the restrictions on political freedoms, the excessive use of force by security forces and abuses of human rights in the post-election period undermined the corresponding positive aspects during the pre-election campaign.
“As such,” summed the report, “many aspects of the 2018 elections in Zimbabwe failed to meet international standards.”
ZEC failed to produce something as basic as a verified voters’ roll for Pete’s sake!
After 38 years of rigged elections our people deserve better and they will have free, fair and credible elections next time. To achieve that we have to force this illegitimate Zanu PF regime to step down complete with all its surrogate political appendages such as ZEC, Con Court, Police, etc.
It is naive to expect Zanu PF to implement any meaningful democratic reforms. It is disappointing that nations like Switzerland have chosen to support such foolish notions as Zanu PF implementing meaningful reforms even after 38 years of the party rigging elections!
@ Susan Benzon
ReplyDelete“Wilbert Mukori I thought you were a person of integrity but I see your are an imbecile, you always think that there's always something behind because yourself you live on publishing rubbish on social media only to gain mileage on your political agenda, remember that not everyone is into politics, as a mother I only strive to give my children the best I can no matter what circumstance I'm in because IM A MOTHER, I can not live my child to study here and be stuck here just because I want to prove to people like you, that I'm not part not benefiting from government, all my life I have worked so hard to fend for my child I never got any assistance from anyone or any organisation, we are one of the few people who work hard for themselves and try to mind our own business, not like you who think writing a few I'll informed articles on social media then you think you know it all. Why don't you use that small brain of yours to write about victims in Chimanimani which is a place you can visit and get your facts write,I pay fees for my child every year, I sent him upkeep money every months and it's not easy when one is self employed and in a bond infested country. I think you need to get better glasses do that you see what's going own clearly or better ask me more of these banks and find out your self so that you write real articles with the truth in them ...I'm hurt because I'm an ordinary citizen and a parent and here you are thinking that you have balls to try n put me down....get a life you moron, varume vari pama door epa toilet nxaaa!!”
I have never doubted for one minute that you ARE A MOTHER who cares passionately about your children and I am not question that you “are one of the few people who work hard for themselves and try to mind our own business”. Still the reality is there are millions of ordinary Zimbabweans who are out of work and cannot put one decent meal on the table. 3/4 of the population now live on US$30 per month or less. They are mothers too, just like you.
The country’s economic meltdown can only be resolved by curing ourself of the curse of rigged elections and the imposed sanctions are helping us get there. To argue that the sanctions should be lifted for you and your son’s sake regardless of the suffering of the millions of others is foolish and selfish of you!
A democratic Zimbabwe with a competent and accountable government will benefit every Zimbabwean including yourself. So it only beggars belief why you are fighting to keep the corrupt and vote rigging Zanu PF thugs in power - if you are not one of them!
@ Susan Benzon
ReplyDelete“Wilbert Mukori open your eyes, maybe since you know it all I can give you details of the banks that denied him that because THEY mentioned our country on sanctions list,I'm a worried mother,I'm not here to play dirty politics game, to you it might be a way of making headlines...but if you care so much then maybe that's an angle for you to research on and why they said so,I'm no body in politics nor do I want any special recognition but my point remains that my son could not open an account, because they told him our country is on the list ,since you know it all enlighten me then…” you say.
Just for the record the sanctions were not imposed on Zimbabwe but a select individuals and entities there in. So whoever said that he/she/they were wrong.
For the record, let me state it here and now, that I accept that even the targeted sanctions have caused some hardship on the ordinary people, these on the sanctions list saw to it that happened just as punishing an abusive husband has not stopped him taking his anger on the neighbourhood cat, his wife and children. Are we therefore going to scrap domestic violence from our statute book because while the offering breadwinner is in jail his family has suffered or worse he came back only to reoffend?
Millions of ordinary Zimbabweans are living in abject poverty and the country’s basic services such as supply of clean water, health care, etc. have all but collapsed. Why? Because the nation has been stuck with this corrupt and tyrannical Zanu PF dictatorship for 38 years because the thugs rigged the elections. We can end all this tragic human suffering if we can end this curse of rigged elections. Imposing the sanctions on those rigging elections makes perfect sense.
Are we going to let the Zanu PF off the hook to continue to deny millions of ordinary Zimbabweans their freedoms, human rights including the right to life itself because your son suffered the inconvenience of being denying the opportunity to open a bank account? Of course, that would be foolish!
A Government of National Unity mighty be set up with in the next six months Human Rights Watch Director Dewa Mavhinga has revealed.
ReplyDeleteMavhinga said he met a ZANU PF official on Friday who informed him.
"I bumped into a senior ZanuPF official today (Friday) who said a Government of National Unity (GNU) is the only viable solution for Zimbabwe and that it might happen with 6 months." Mavhinga said.
The only plus from this is that the penny has finally dropped even in the heads of the Zanu PF hardliners that the current economic situation is socially, economically, politically and morally unsustainable. The regime has been aware of this for the last decade, at least, but the regime has stubbornly refused to change course and soldiered on.
The regime is considering another GNU now just to avoid the fate that has befallen to Omar Al Bashir’s regime.
Zimbabwe had a Zanu PF and MDC GNU in 2008 to 2013 and it failed to implement even one democratic reform. It is nonsense to think the same crooks will implement any reforms this time around. We do not want another meaningless political fudge.
The only acceptable solution is for Zanu PF to accept that it rigged last year’s elections, it has no democratic mandate to govern and must step down.
The country’s worsening economic situation has forced Zanu PF hardliners to accept this new GNU. The economy will not improve because no one in their right mind will accept this Zanu PF fudge. The pressure of the worsening economic situation will force Zanu PF to step down just as the same pressure has force the regime of Omar Al Bashir to give up power!
In the end, Zanu PF will step down!
Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) chairperson Justice Priscilla Chigumba has revealed that the elections body only had a 2 percent margin of error given that there was no room for the manipulation of the elections outcome.
ReplyDeleteZEC failed to do something as basic as release a verified voters' roll which it was expected to do by law. With no verified voters’ roll there was no benchmark and so talking of margin of error is nonsense!
All the election observers condemned last year’s elections as a farce and why we are being insulted by those behind this treasonous act is a mystery!
Zanu PF does not have the people’s mandate to govern Zimbabwe and we should demand that the regime step down so we can finally implement the democratic reforms necessary to ensure free, fair and credible elections.