Meanwhile, the country burned. Since last year’s elections, the economy has been bleeding profusely. But there was no appetite to mend it as the governing party apparently considered it more appropriate to focus on power struggles.
The congress has come and gone and there are both winners and losers in Zanu (PF). Now that the madness is over—or so we hope—and the Mnangagwa faction is firmly in control, it is time that those in power return to their senses and start making genuine efforts to get this troubled country going once again. The economy is crying to be rescued. The majority of citizens are jobless and have turned to the already squeezed informal sector for survival. Industries continue to close down and investment, both local and foreign, is still very minimal.
There is hardly any cash in the banks, the health and education sectors are poorly funded and civic delivery systems are limping.
Those that have been favoured with power must now turn to the crying nation and seriously devise methods of rescuing us. Power for the sake of power is empty, so the ruling politicians must see how best to fix the economy, create jobs, nip corruption, adopt policies that promote investment and reverse the pariah image that Zimbabwe has been reeling under for so long.
A mammoth task to align laws with the constitution lies ahead and we expect Parliament to be prodded to fulfil its mandate. There is need for genuine and bona fide electoral and other reforms in keeping with modern day democracy. Government must honour its obligations to upholding people’s rights and remove the fear of political persecution.
One of the main sources of our tribulation is intolerance, especially at the political level. The ruling party must therefore ensure that it works together with what it considers its enemies so as to move the country forward. Differing views must not make people enemies. Democracy demands divergence of opinion and constructive criticism. Instead of seeing the opposition as enemies, the ruling party must consider them progressive partners, with whom solutions can be worked out.
The olive branch must extend even to the Zanu (PF) faction led by Joice Mujuru. Instead of adopting retributive tendencies, the Mnangagwa faction must embrace those who have been linked to Mujuru. Similarly, there is need for a change in the way those in power look at the western world. They should do their best to partner with them for our positive transformation.
Post published in: Editor: Wilf Mbanga