The ManicaPost
Andrew Humure Post Correspondent
USING the Sadc political demarcations — economic events within the region — indicate a political problem similar to the one in Zimbabwe where the electorate eulogise political parties that parrot the retrogressive “jecha politics”.
Politics shapes the destiny of mankind, and taking it from Laswell’s perspective, politics is about who gets what, when and how.
Politics is ubiquitous and to avoid unnecessary misunderstanding, my thrust is to expose how politics in Zimbabwe is hindering efforts to resuscitate the local economy.
Zimbabwe is among countries that were delayed independence by the colonial masters and went through a hard time to structure governance machinery that promotes peace and development under diversified ethnic groupings.
Through regional blocs and the United Nations, Zimbabwe managed to transform itself into a democracy where citizens decide on governance issues.
Tracing the economic history from 1980, Zimbabwe is one of the Sadc member states that quickly established economic structures that promoted growth and empowerment.
From 1980 to 2000, Zimbabwe experienced “bait” economic stability when compared to other Sadc member states.
“Bait” refers to the period the local economy looked good in foreign eyes, but pained locals, especially entrepreneurs.
From 2000 to 2008, Zimbabwe experienced a phase of economic meltdown, which led to the formation of the Government of National Unity (GNU).
From 2009 to 2013, under the GNU, Zimbabwe experienced a new phase of economic exuberance, where the lucky ones enjoyed hefty salaries in American dollars amid poor economic infrastructure and lack of industrial resuscitation polices.
This led to massive retrenchments and I would like to term this the “food-to-mouth economic policies phase”.
From 2013 to 2018, Zimbabwe entered into a unique economic phase where even the transacting currency was in short supply.
The supply of basic resources for human survival was limited.
I would like to term this, a “political mobilisation” phase as attention was on resuscitating political industries.
The final stage was between 2018 and 2019, which I would term the phase of “political illiterate community” where infrastructures for economic growth are in place, but desired goals are hard to attain.
Different scholars propounded different views on the root causes of economic meltdown experienced in the aforementioned phases and those cited include the illegal sanctions, poor governance, the land reform programme and corruption.
Apart from above mentioned causatives, our woes were compounded by political illiteracy among Zimbabweans.
It added salt to the economic abrasion and became a stumbling block to every effort to come up with sustainable solutions to the economic meltdown.
Narrowing it down to the much talked about phase of the GNU, the employed electorate directed much of its attention towards salary pleasure, supporting policies that only fed their pockets with USD, without measuring their sustainability.
In 2013 parliamentary candidates like the then Minister of Finance Mr Tendai Biti capitalised on this political illiteracy and won the hearts of many without proffering any sustainable economic policy.
Following a misunderstanding with the late MDC-T leader, Dr Morgan Tsvangirai, Mr Biti told the same electorate that the MDC-T was not a viable party to solve the country’s economic problems.
He argued then that his failed People’s Democratic Party (PDP) was the way to go. Due to political illiteracy, the electorate blindly followed him as he formed a party that existed for zero purpose.
It only sustained its existence on political illiteracy of its supporters.
Instead of Mr Biti delivering economic solutions he boasts of, attention was given to change of political jackets and the affected citizens eulogised that.
As if that was not enough, Mr Biti rejoined the MDC-A under the leadership of Advocate Nelson Chamisa.
Sadly, the electorate praised the reunification, and without anything new to offer, Mr Biti contested in Harare East and won.
Upon being elected Harare East MP, Mr Biti led a delegation to Europe and USA to beg for the retention and tightening of sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe.
A section of the poverty-stricken electorate showered praise on Mr Biti and his delegation.
Yes, in a democracy citizens are free to elect leaders of their choice, but if we are to look at Mr Biti’s political history, one can conclude that the electorate keep electing MPs of his calibre due lack of political knowledge.
It is security risk for nation to have just one person who believes that violence is the sole weapon to win the hearts and minds of the people.
In this millennium where the member states of United Nation are focusing on sustainable goals that guarantee peace and human development, it is so disturbing that some opposition politicians in this country still believe in the use of violence to sustain their existence.
Sadly voters eulogise the toxic and inflammatory political statements by these politicians.
Under the circumstance, Government has a role to provide the correct political knowledge to assist citizens in decision-making.
The economic crisis in Zimbabwe is clear reflection of political illiteracy among Zimbabweans.
Through this lack of political knowledge, a section of electorate is gradually morphing into a terrorist movement.
Our problems as a nation are deep rooted into politics.
Political orientation should be part the efforts aimed at addressing economic crisis in this country.
Anything that excludes political orientation entails an arduous journey to wholesomely achieve the Zimbabwe we all want.
Long live Zimbabwe!
