Millions of Zimbabweans at present live below the $1-a-day poverty line.
Mismanagement of the economy and massive corruption by Zanu (PF), coupled with Zimbabwes participation from 1998 to 2002 in the war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, set the stage for this deterioration by draining the country of hundreds of millions of dollars. The chaotic 2000 land grab by Zanu (PF) further deepened the crisis.
This was followed by galloping hyper inflation – a major problem from about 2003 to April 2009, when the country suspended its own currency. The economy deteriorated from one of Africa’s strongest economies to the world’s worst.
Between 2000 and December 2007, the national economy contracted by as much as 40%; inflation vaulted to over 66,000%, and there were persistent shortages of the Zimbabwean dollar.
Fuel, medicine, and food became also scarce. GDP dropped by 40%, agricultural output dropped by 51% and industrial production dropped by 47%.
Though the current inclusive government that was given birth by the Global Political Agreement has improved the situation, the majority of Zimbabweans still live in abject poverty.
Diamonds in Chiadzwa have been reportedly looted by Zanu (PF)’s fat cats and to date no meaningful positive impact on the lives of ordinary citizens has been seen.
Speaking during a planning exercise on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) held at a hotel in Gweru, NANGOs Eastern Region Co-ordinator, Taurayi Nyandoro, said there was need for all stakeholders, especially civic society, to correct skewed poverty scales in the country.
“As civil society we should push for the achievement of the eight poverty goals agreed upon in Copenhagen by world leaders when they set the MDGs,” Nyandoro said. We should adapt a financing strategy for the poor. Staff Reporter
Candidates wife caught in party infighting
MUREWA The wife of Zanu (PF) Murewa North Constituencys aspiring parliamentary candidate, Nelson Mahupete, was recently attacked and robbed by suspected party thugs believed to be loyal to incumbent legislator, David Parirenyatwa.
According to police sources, the attack took place on the night of May 9 at Mahupetes house in Magamba area here. Bitter rivalry between Parirenyatwa and Mahupete has reached boiling point. The thugs who broke into Mahupetes house and attacked the housewife before getting away with the loot are believed to be Zanu (PF) thugs aligned to Parirenyatwa. Mahupetes seriously injured wife was admitted at Murewa Hospital the following day. The motive for the attacked seemed to humiliate Mahupete and cow him out of the legislative race in the next elections. Police investigations are in progress, said the source.
Mahupete is a Zanu (PF) senior official and businessman who runs Nelma Holdings. His business empire specialises in hardware among other activities.
Zanu (PF) is currently being torn apart by infighting as the factionalism that started at the party leadership spreads like veld-fire among the thinning party structures across the country.
Post published in: News