‘Economy has to come back from dead’
ZIMBABWE’S President Emmerson Mnangagwa has pleaded for time and patience to bring the economy back from the “dead”, as his government faces blame for surging inflation evoking dark days under Robert Mugabe.
Hopes the economy would quickly rebound under Mnangagwa, who took over after Mugabe was deposed in a coup in November 2017, have faded fast with Zimbabweans grappling with acute shortages of fuel and electricity and soaring prices.
In a State of the Nation address in parliament on Tuesday, which was boycotted by the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) which disputes his election, Mnangagwa acknowledged the economic crisis as well as the need for reforms.
“I’m aware of the pain being experienced by the poor and the marginalised. Getting the economy working again from being dead will require time, patience, unity of purpose and perseverance,” Mnangagwa said.
The president observed a minute of silence for Mugabe.
“As we remember him (Mugabe), let us stand emboldened by the fact that we cannot change the past but the future is in our hands,” Mnangagwa said as the opposition MPs walked out.
Mnangagwa’s opponents accuse him of lacking commitment to political reforms and using his predecessor’s heavy-handed tactics to stifle dissent.
The International Monetary Fund said last week Zimbabwe needed to intensify reform efforts and meaningfully improve transparency to boost economic growth.
A UN human rights envoy said Zimbabwe’s political and economic environment was deteriorating, causing anxiety as hopes fade for a longawaited improvement in people’s living conditions.
Mnangagwa invited the opposition party to dialogue. The MDC, led by Nelson Chamisa, has refused to take part in a dialogue forum convened by Mnangagwa, insisting on talks led by a neutral mediator.
The opposition said Mnangagwa has done little. “We have no money, we have no food, hospitals are not working,” said MDC chairperson Thabitha Khumalo outside parliament.
On the streets of Harare, Samuel Maposa, a taxi driver waiting for petrol, said: “I gave up on him a long time ago. How many speeches has he made and what has changed? Things are getting worse.”