MDC must embark on programme of civil disobedience
Zimbabwean political analyst Munyaradzi Gwisai says it’s important for the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and civil society to embark on a programme of civil disobedience against a dictatorship that has lost the support of the majority of the population.
Gwisai was speaking to sabcnews.com from Harare in the wake of the recent violence against MDC supporters allegedly by Zanu-PF militias.
He says trade unions, non-governmental organizations, social movements, all democrats and radicals must begin to fight back against President Robert Mugabe’s rule. He says the regime is desperate for the legitimacy from Friday’s presidential run-off election.
“The reign of terror that’s been imposed in rural areas which has now descended to our urban areas is clear indication that there’s no way that the opposition is going to this election,” says Gwisai.
More than 70 MDC members have been killed since the March 29 parliamentary and presidential elections which Tsvangirai won - but not by an absolute majority over President Robert Mugabe.
The MDC on Sunday withdrew from the re-run saying it was too dangerous for its supporters.
Kenyan solution not likely for Zimbabwe
Gwisai says Tsvangirai must not be tempted into thinking that a Kenyan solution is likely for the country. He was referring to Kenya's power-sharing deal that was designed to end the country’s political crisis following controversial December 27 presidential elections. Mwai Kibaki became president and opposition leader Raila Odinga became the prime minister.
Gwisai say, “It’s likely that Mugabe would resist a power-sharing arrangement – a president and Prime Minister.” He says Mugabe would probably go for the 1987Zimbabwe African People's Union (Zapu) model, where the opponent is offered an ‘ineffectual and useless’ vice-president position.
“Zanu-PF wants to go ahead with run-off presidential election and thereafter most likely push the MDC into a government of national unity in which Zanu-PF will be the senior partner”. He adds, “This government of national unity is likely to pursue a neo-liberalistic economic programme to try to get the support of the west”.
“It’s clear the country is bankrupt, it’s clear the dictatorship has no solution. It’s very likely western imperialist countries are going to escalate the economic siege on the regime starting now and after the election,” says Gwisai.
Zimbabwe’s presidential re-run still on: ZEC Chair
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) says the June 27 presidential re-run election will go ahead as scheduled. This despite the Movement for Democratic Change’s announcement yesterday that they are pulling out of the run-off.
Speaking to Sabcnews.com from Harare, ZEC Chairperson George Chiwese said that the Commission had not received any notification from any of the presidential candidates of their withdrawal from Friday’s re-run.
"As far as we’re concerned it’s ‘game on’ and we’re having an election on Friday," says Chiwese. He added that candidates know the law with regards to withdrawals. "If anybody wishes to pull out he does so not with the media but with the Electoral Commission and he does so in writing. This has not happened."
Chiwese is adamant that the election will go ahead. He says everything is in place logistically and the ZEC is ready. The voters are expected to queue in more than 900 polling stations across Zimbabwe.
Chiwese could not be drawn on when a result is likely to be released. He says the ZEC will release results as soon as counting, collation and verification is complete. "This however, depends on what would have transpired during the process, the challenges we would have encountered and so on."
Zimbabwe’s Reserve Bank Governor, Gideon Gono, says a country cannot economically survive in isolation. Speaking to Sabcnews.com, Gono said that a country needs its neighbours, regional and continental partners, let alone outside partners, to survive.
The governor adds that the international community also has a role in stabilizing the economy. He says, “Sanctions are not only targeted at the 120 or so government ministers and officials - it’s also affecting the elderly, youths, women, children, the dead and unborn.
“We’ve been under immense economic sanctions over the last 10 years – sanctions which bear responsibility for some of the difficulties we are experiencing,” says Gono. He says by pointing at sanctions he’s not suggesting that sanctions are 100% responsible for the country’s situation. “There are internal policy short comings that we need to address as a people, as a government and as a nation, such as the policy distortions, corruption which needs to be nipped in the bud effectively,” he says. Gono refers to the under utilization of newly acquired land and the misuse of subsidized funds to sustain the land.
He says Zimbabwe can not solely blame the indiscipline in the economy on those imposing sanctions on the country. “It’s our responsibility - the responsibility of political leaders, society in general, clergy and business leaders.”
New strategies
The Governor believes that the country’s high inflation is due to both internal and external factors and says that they need to carefully look at and formulate strategies that deal with the situation.
“Countries go through ups and downs due to economic and political lives. History is full of lessons on very high inflationary periods and the magnitudes are different,” says Gono.
He qualifies this statement by referring to among other country’s Germany’s inflation figures during World War 1. Due to targeted sanctions, by the end of 1923, one US dollar was worth four trillion two hundred billion German marks. He says that during the American war of Independence, prices rose by 1000% over a period of two years. Gono is optimistic that, like in Germany and the US, Zimbabwe’s economy will stabilize and inflation figures will improve.
Black market
The parallel markets are not helping the situation especially with foreign currency exchanges taking place on the black market for much higher rates than offered through official challenges. Gono says, “As a country we must quickly deal with the distortions -get rid of the greater play of market forces. We need to look at targeted subsidies that will look after the vulnerable members of society who are unable to withstand the market economy. They have to be protected”.
The governor says quick action is needed and plans are already in place to capitalize on natural resources. The Reserve Bank has now provided funding to print money for the construction of a dam and irrigation infrastructure in order to harvest rain water from the recent heavy downpours for the future. “In this way we turn over the natural resources and the land. In the medium term this will result in an abundance of food which in turn will address inflationary aspect and food shortages, which account for almost 40-45% of the problem,” says Gono. He adds that with government subsidizing machinery and equipment to the agricultural sector, the country will slowly revert to its former glory of being labelled the “bread basket of Africa”.
Recovery plan
Meanwhile, the Zimbabwean business community is in the process of setting up a committee to draw up an industry and commerce driven recovery programme for the country. Business leaders from the 10 provinces are meeting to discuss and strategize in order to look at ways to rebuild Zimbabwe’s economy. At a meeting last week, the Harare Chamber of Commerce met with local business people to come up recommendations that can be submitted to the new government.
The business leaders want a reduction of control laws “that are too restrictive and prohibitive”. They also want a government that is more business orientated.
The chamber’s chairperson, Oswald Binha, says, “We want to put through a business manifesto, before a new parliamentary committee responsible for industry and trade is set up”. He adds that it’s not good to restrict, control and enforce laws that make it difficult for businesses to operate. The business leaders are adamant they want the new government to be business driven.
Business community
The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), which has the majority seats in the parliament, says it will open up the lines of communication with the business community in the country. Party spokesperson George Chiboshiwe says for a long time there has been a break down in communication between government and business and as the ruling party in parliament they’re will re-open the doors. “We will be engaging seriously with the Zimbabwean business community to resuscitate this economy”.
He says that the issue of an industrial based economy is the norm the world over and that many African economies have suffered because they remained based on agriculture so all they produce is raw materials. “And as a result they don’t process or add value to their raw materials for them to export,” he says.
“As a government we will advocate for an opportunity for business to set prices based on competitiveness so you have as many companies competing. The competitiveness and the quality of the product will then determine a price.
“We know that business is a critical player because if bus is not working, the majority of our supporters who are the workers will be out of a job and will be unable to sustain themselves. We believe in growing business in order to encourage employment.”
The MDC wants to stabilize the economy and slow down inflation to a point where goods and services exchange hands without necessarily being inflated or eroded to quickly. “The primary focus will be to resuscitate the productive sector of the economy so that our industry is able to produce, first of all for the local consumption and then external consumption,” says Chiboshiwe.
“We’ve been under immense economic sanctions over the last 10 years – sanctions which bear responsibility for some of the difficulties we are experiencing,” says Gono. He says by pointing at sanctions he’s not suggesting that sanctions are 100% responsible for the country’s situation. “There are internal policy short comings that we need to address as a people, as a government and as a nation, such as the policy distortions, corruption which needs to be nipped in the bud effectively,” he says. Gono refers to the under utilization of newly acquired land and the misuse of subsidized funds to sustain the land. 
Business leaders from the 10 provinces are meeting to discuss and strategize in order to look at ways to rebuild Zimbabwe’s economy. At a meeting last week, the Harare Chamber of Commerce met with local business people to come up recommendations that can be submitted to the new government. 
“As a government we will advocate for an opportunity for business to set prices based on competitiveness so you have as many companies competing. The competitiveness and the quality of the product will then determine a price.
