As we all know, disenchantment with President Robert Mugabe and those in the top echelons of power – political, economic and military – among western nations and global institutions began around the year 2000.
The Mugabe regime’s pariah status and consequent isolation and acute diplomatic discord with European countries and the US centred on the disorderly and violent land redistribution programme that started that year. It was exacerbated by widespread human rights abuses – notably Operation Murambatsvina, the horrific violence that surrounded the 2008 elections, poor governance and bad policies.
We commend the government for its sensitivity to the need to normalise international relations. The modern world is a global village that must thrive on win-win synergies and mutual harmony. The diplomatic tiffs that we have experienced for close to one and a half decades have not helped Zimbabwe in any way.
We have lost Foreign Direct Investment – as it had understandably fled to more hospitable destinations. The economy has been mired in the doldrums and people have been suffering for so long. The government lacks the political will to take the hard policy decisions that will put us back on track, fix the economy and curb runaway corruption.
However, the government must not think that merely wishing that international relations were mended will be enough. There is need for active and practical demonstration of the will to do so. For a start, the government needs to focus on revising or reversing the policies that are inimical to economic recovery.
Of late, officials have signalled a climb-down on the indigenisation policy – toning down the rhetoric and offering to be flexible. But toning down on talk is one thing, and changing the law to make it more friendly is another. There is need to remove all the clauses in our statutes that scare away investors. We need investor-friendly relations and improved governance. Without this, re-engagement with the west will remain a pie in the sky.
Similarly, the government must demonstrate to the world that it respects human rights. While abuses today are not as widespread as they used to be, concerns linger. For instance, it seems there is a renewed onslaught on the media by departments and individuals seeking to serve selfish and localised interests.
Post published in: Editor: Wilf Mbanga
The Mugabe regime can scrap its ill-advised indigenisation and black empowerment policies and have these publicly endorsed by all its war veterans and party thugs in every growth point and village across the land; that will not be enough to restore do-nor and investor confidence. The regime has made similar promises and signed treaties with other nations in the past only to flagrantly violate them. The regime has lost all credibility when it comes to upholding law and the rule of law.
Mugabe demonstrated his contempt of the rule of law by blatantly rigging the July 2013 elections; no one will believe he can also be the champion of the rule of law at a flip of a switch. What guarantees do they have that the switch will not be flip back to contempt just as easily!
Mugabe can either stay in power and donors and investors will stay away or he can resign and allow the country to return to rule of law and legitimacy. He cannot have both!
After 34 years of absolute power he is used to having his cake and eat it too; what he has yet to accept is that his dictatorship is over. The economic melt-down is real and is set to get even worse the harder he tries to hang on to power. The pot is boiling and the pressure for change will only go up the more he tries to keep the lid on!