The online survey showed that that more than 45.5 percent of 4 453
respondents wanted to see a quick turnaround of Zimbabwe's troubled
economy during the course of the unity government between President
Robert Mugabe's Zanu (PF) and Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic
Change (MDC).
Zimbabwe is battling a nine-year economic crisis highlighted by
world-record inflation, unprecedented joblessness and breakdown of
social services such as health and education.
Inflation was last estimated at a then world-record 231 million percent
in July 2008 although the rate may have stabilised since liberalisation
of exchange control regulations to allow businesses to charge for goods
and services in foreign currency.
It is estimated the country urgently requires US$2 billion to revive
collapsed social services and get the civil service back at work while
a further US$5 billion would be needed to completely rebuild the
economy.
The survey also revealed that 31.6 percent of the respondents saw a
return to democracy as the most urgent target for the new government.
This means that, besides the need to address the country's desperate
economic conditions, most Zimbabweans would also want to see the
democratisation of state institutions and a relaxation of draconian
media and security laws.
Zimbabwe's media and security law, considered among the toughest in the
world, have been used by the former Zanu (PF)-dominated regime to
stifle the democratic space in the country.
The regime has selectively used the draconian Access to Information and
Protection of Privacy Act to harass the private media, with at least
four privately owned newspapers shut down since September 2003.
The Public Order and Security Act has also been used to silence
government critics since 2000 by outlawing rallies and other gatherings
addressed by the opposition and non-governmental organisations.
About 15 percent of the respondents thought the coalition government
should focus its energy on securing humanitarian assistance to ease the
plight of millions of Zimbabweans facing starvation and disease.
The United Nations estimates that up to seven million Zimbabweans require food aid until the next harvest in April.
A further 90,000-plus Zimbabweans have been affected by a deadly
cholera outbreak which has claimed more than 4,000 lives since August
last year.
An international appeal for humanitarian assistance has received
lukewarm responses since November 2008, prompting some major aid
agencies to cut rations to ensure the food is adequate for all
beneficiaries.
A mere 8.1 percent of the respondents said national healing and
reconciliation were important priorities for the government during the
course of the next two years, according to the survey.
Last year's power-sharing agreement between Mugabe and Tsvangirai put
national reconciliation as one of the important targets for the new
government as part of a process to heal the wounds of a country
traumatised by years of politically motivated violence.
Close to 200 people – mostly MDC supporters – were killed during an
orgy of violence allegedly masterminded by Zanu (PF) militias and the
security forces.