HARARE - As the country marks the first anniversary of the government of national Unity, many Zimbabweans feel more could have been achieved if Zanu (PF) had not dragged its heels. (Pictured: Life in rural areas is unbearable and we wont get through the crisis unless Mugabe goes. Eunice Chedza from Beatrice)
After the marriage vows of February 11, 2009, came a honeymoon of price stability and improvements in the health and education sectors. But it was short and sweet, and now divorce is rearing its ugly head. We are still not employed a year since the government was formed, and even though the shops are well stocked, the prices are well too high for us to afford since we do not have any source of income, said Edgar Marange from Harare.
For the ordinary citizen, the unity government has been a major let-down when it comes to job creation. More than 80 per cent of people are still unemployed. And investment has been slow to return, as Mugabes cronies continue to invade white-owned farms in blatant disregard of international statutes to which the country is Signatory. His party has also dug in its heels over a land audit that would expose multiple farm-owners. The MDC has done everything in its power to restore things to normalcy, but Zanu (PF) has been dragging its feet. They simply do not want reform and that has made us, the people, suffer. Had the parties executed their roles diligently, we would have something to celebrate. We should not expect investors to come in the country, unless we change positively, said Huggins Mutamba, another unemployed Harare resident.
What is galling for many Zimbabweans is the belief that the country can do more, but that progress is being stalled by a reluctant Mugabe. And it has been a marriage of promises unfulfilled. In December last year, Mugabe announced the Human Rights Commission and the Media Commission. Initially, there was joy among Zimbabweans and media as freedom of expression could now be only a small step away. But the excitement has all but died thanks to Mugabe. MDC Womens Assembly Chair Teresa Makoni said: It is useless to name the commissions without swearing them in. Zimbabweans are beyond teasing. The strike by civil servants, who last year around this time were all smiles as Finance Minister Tendai Biti rolled out $100 monthly allowances to them, is a clear sign that the country is taking ten steps forward and ten steps back.
Zanu (PF) trying to make it look like we have failed the civil servants, by making people strike. We have enough money in Chiadzwa that can pay civil servants, but it is being taken by a few individuals who are greedy and are behind dubious companies that are operating in Chiadzwa, said Chamisa. Corruption indeed for many Zimbabweans is the cancer that is eating into progress made by the year-old unity government. Imagine with its vast mineral wealth Zimbabwe only made $4m in royalties from its mineral sales. That is false. We want value for our wealth. We want to develop our country. We are aware that our riches are going in the pockets of a few people, said Minister of Public Works Makoni.
Thus far, the Zimbabwe that many Zimbabweans hoped for is not yet realised. The partisan Attorney-General Johannes Tomana and the sponsor of terror Reserve Bank Governor Gideon Gono are still sitting cosily in their offices, despite the fact that they should be gone. On the other hand Roy Bennet, the MDC deputy minister of agriculture, is still to be sworn in almost a year since his colleagues took their vows to serve the country. With an impending drought, many Zimbabweans in rural areas are not sure if they will make it through. We never had the maize seed and the fertiliser as was given to Zanu (PF) supporters. The sun has wilted the few crops that we had and we do not have the money to buy from shops, said Eunice Chedza from Beatrice.
After the people had a taste of what the MDC can bring, many cannot wait for a free and fair election. And there is a saying on the streets that if the MDC can manage this much pulling a Zanu (PF) dead donkey, imagine what could be achieved by an MDC government without the donkeys.
Post published in: News