Zimbabwean crisis

Zimbabwean crisis
Written by Editor

The escalating humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe needs serious attention not only from that country's politicians but from all southern African leaders.

There is need to find urgent solutions to the problems in Zimbabwe. People in that country cannot afford to wait any longer. The high cost of food and other essential commodities which are now pegged in United States dollars, the critical shortage of the local currency which led to a protest by soldiers in the capital Harare last week, the lack of essential equipment and drugs in hospitals which have led to the closure of most health facilities and now the cholera outbreak due to lack of water and poor sanitation are just too much for the people who were once used to a well-organised life to bear. Something needs to be done immediately to arrest the situation.

It is undoubted that the problems in Zimbabwe are partly a creation of President Robert Mugabe and his government but more so of the West, whose sanctions in aid of a regime change have torn the country to pieces, bringing the economy to its knees. Much as the West would want to argue that there are no sanctions on Zimbabwe and that what they have imposed are targeted sanctions, it is clear that whatever measures they have meted on that country continue to have an adverse impact.

The money, which the West claims they are still giving to Zimbabwe, does not go to the state to support the government's budget deficit. The money goes to non-governmental organisations and these organisations do not provide social services in totality to the people because this is a responsibility of government.

Now how can one expect an economically, financially and politically weakened and undermined Third World country to survive without budgetary support? Yes, money is given to Zimbabwe but it is not given to the government and this government and the country's commercial enterprises have no lines of credit for them to borrow to run the economy and their businesses.

It is clear that the sanctions on Zimbabwe are just aimed at making Zimbabwe a failed state. And in this they seem to be succeeding. But at what cost to the people of Zimbabwe?

It is unfortunate that the ordinary Zimbabweans are the ones bearing the brunt, they are the ones suffering, they are the ones who have to go for days without food, they are ones who have been reduced to beggars - fleeing to other countries to seek economic refuge. But the question is, for how long are the people going to continue being squeezed in this manner?

What is more saddening is that while all this suffering is going on, the Zimbabwean political leaders have continued to bicker on positions in the unity government and so on and so forth. Instead of putting their differences aside and seeking a solution to the problems facing the people in Zimbabwe, these leaders are just exchanging words. They are not inspiring any hope in their people who are currently looking up to them.

As we have always said, the signing of the Global Political Agreement (GPA) on September 15, 2008 was a major breakthrough and a signal of hope for the poor Zimbabweans who have gone through many difficulties. But the deadlock in the sharing of ministerial positions is difficult to understand and accept. It is purely out of selfish interests and it is clear that these leaders are putting their own interests before that of the people.

They are clearly not ready to compromise on anything and one wonders how they are going to work together. We understand the concerns that are being raised by both parties and the fact that there is need for equity in the sharing of ministries, but we think that the more they delay to reach consensus, the more suffering they will inflict on the poor Zimbabweans. These leaders need to make the unity agreement work now or change course.

The MDC recently rejected the decision by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) that the two political parties in Zimbabwe co-manage the Ministry of Home Affairs despite having called on the regional block to intervene in the deadlock. Going by the statements by MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai, secretary general Tendai Biti and spokesperson Nelson Chamisa from the time the unity agreement was signed, it is clear that little progress will be achieved without compromise.

And like President Mugabe has said, there is need for the MDC to state whether they are not ready to be part of the inclusive government or not so that the country can look at other options to resolve the political and economic crises in that country. As things stand, it is difficult for any one party to make progress.

There is absolutely no need to hold the unity agreement to ransom, be it by the ZANU-PF or the MDC, because the ordinary people are the ones hurting. If holding fresh elections any time from now, like President Mugabe has hinted, is the solution, let the country take that route. People have talked enough and now is the time to act. We cannot afford to wait any longer if we really want to lift the poor out of the quagmire of poverty in Zimbabwe.

There are so many examples of crises that have occurred in many countries in the world, though different events compared to what is going on in Zimbabwe, and the consequences of delaying to act are clear for all to see. Many a time, people have attributed the hideous consequences of the problems in these countries to "delay to act" or "delay to intervene".

Some mistakes can be avoided. We feel that these differences in other countries which led to bigger problems should serve as a lesson to the political leaders in Zimbabwe, and indeed SADC leaders, as they strive to solve the Zimbabwe equation. Let us not wait to act or intervene at the eleventh hour, after hundreds have died of preventable diseases. Let us act now because some things can be avoided.

We strongly think that the problems facing the Zimbabwean people can be solved if that country's political leaders and the regional leaders, who have a moral duty to serve the people, put their heads together. There is need for the southern African region to work together because the problems in Zimbabwe have spill-over effects as former South African president Thabo Mbeki recently noted. There is need for leaders in the region to help Zimbabwe to act decisively because, already, South Africa, Botswana and other neighbouring countries are having to deal with economic problems of many refugees from Zimbabwe.

There is need for SADC leaders to unite and help Zimbabwe to find a solution or they should be ready to deal with bigger consequences of that country's problems once they spill over into their countries.

The Zimbabwean leaders owe it to their people to address the problems in that country. They should not wait for the West because the West have never united people anywhere in this world; they are good at dividing and weakening and not in uniting and strengthening people. A solution to the current crisis in that country can definitely be found if leaders are just committed to working for the people.

The Zimbabwean leaders have no choice but to make the inclusive government a reality or make themselves irrelevant.