Over two years since the military coup that deposed Robert Mugabe as Zimbabwean President, the country has spiraled back into dire hardship. The current government has consequently been described by some citizens as “worse than the former”.
Contrary to the promise of “a new beginning” for Zimbabweans by current President, Emmerson Mnangagwa, reliable reports points to a deterioration of all aspects of life in the county since the ouster of Mugabe in November, 2017.
According to Reuters “The country is grappling with its worst economic crisis in the decade characterized with unemployment above 80%, acute shortage of foreign currency and fuel, and rolling power cuts lasting up to 18 hours a day”
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has described the country’s economy as grossly “unstable” as Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of Zimbabwe steadily moves into negative.
The IMF mission to Zimbabwe led by Mr Gene Leon said “Social conditions have deteriorated sharply, with more than half of Zimbabwe’s population (8.5 million people) estimated by the UN to be food insecure in 2019/2020.”
Some Zimbabweans have bemoaned their deplorable state under the current administration asserting that “things are worse under Mnangagwa” in spite of initial assurance of a new and promising era.
The current political regime has also been marred by brute attempts by the government to silence the ever-increasing protests from disappointed citizens. As corroborated by recent reports, public anger in Zimbabwe is continually rising, but attempts by the main opposition, Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) to organize anti-government protests has been crushed by the police.
Plots by citizens to register their displeasure concerning price increases and economic hardships, through protests, were reportedly foiled brutally by security forces leading to casualties.
Policy think tank, IMANI Africa, has therefore critically assessed the situation In Zimbabwe and proffered some solutions to put the country on a right track.
To put Zimbabwe on a path to recovery, IMANI recommended, that the government focus on the following:
1.Initiate steps to widen the tax net through economic formalization and efficient addressing systems;
2.Provide an enabling environment through a continuous and deliberate reform agenda;
3.Streamline land title administration;
4.Strictly enforce anti-corruption reforms;
5.Increase infrastructure spending in education;
- Rehabilitate and maintain infrastructure by eliminating inefficiencies in infrastructure financing; 7.Review the electricity tariff regime in order to sustain businesses and attract investments; and 8.Improve the working conditions of healthcare professionals in the country.
Source: Jonas Danquah
