Zim yearns for stronger opposition

THE deafening silence from Zimbabwe’s opposition gives the impression that all is well in the country.

But truth be told, our socioeconomic situation is deteriorating with each day that passes.

Many of Zimbabwe’s workers are earning way below the poverty datum line.

Inflation, estimated at 47,6% in February, continues to batter the troubled local unit, which lost about 800% of its value last year alone. In the past few days, the Zimbabwe dollar has depreciated to US$1:ZW$27 000, from US$1:ZW$14 000 in January.

It is one of the fastest pace of depreciation in the past year, and even the International Monetary Fund said recently it was worried.

The outlook is surely uncertain for many Zimbabweans. The local currency is slowly sinking into extinction, which is a worrying development.

It is now only being used in public transport as a token for change — nothing much.

Zimbabweans are feeling the effects of the El Niño-induced drought already, with prices of basic commodities, like wheat, mealie meal and sugar skyrocketing.

Many basic commodities are also being imported. Anything that can go wrong politically has gone wrong. Sanctions have been reviewed and renewed, showing a lack of confidence in President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration. The infighting in Zanu PF has reached a crescendo. As usual, all these factors have had a negative impact on possible foreign direct investment.

While Zanu PF is good at protecting the morsel of power, squabbles always heighten when the opposition is at its weakest because there will be undivided attention to it.

It is against this background that we ask whether opposition politics still exist in Zimbabwe. The Zanu Pf-led government is surely taking its time to resolve the myriad crises that Zimbabwe faces because the opposition is weak. There is not much happening in terms of checkmating government.

The move by authorities to bring up and fast track adoption in parliament of the Private and Voluntary Organisations (PVO) Bill has also weakened civil society, which is now treading carefully.

The threats of being de-registered have sent shivers across all non-governmental organisations. With a few speaking out and continuing to hold government to account, Zimbabweans are surely in trouble.

Zimbabwe now needs a vibrant opposition, which makes noise to prevent theft in public office, raises red flags over poor governance and campaigns against injustices. For now, none is really there to defend millions of suffering Zimbabweans as the economy tanks.

Since former Citizens Coalition for Change leader Nelson Chamisa ditched the party about 40 days ago, after giving President Emmerson Mnangagwa a good run in the August 2023 polls, the silence in Zimbabwe’s opposition has been worrying.

The opposition must wake up, or Zimbabwe’s challenges will continue.