via New year greetings from Simba Makoni President, (M.K.D) | The Zimbabwean 3 January 2014
To all citizens and permanent residents of Zimbabwe, welcome to the year 2014. Unfortunately, all indications are that, for the largest majority of us, life will remain as difficult in 2014, as it was in 2013; if not worse.
Severe food shortages continue in almost all parts of the country. Whilst acknowledging the food crisis, and making statements that `no Zimbabwean will die of hunger’, the Government has yet to unveil concrete plans to save lives.
Worse still, there are no plans to revive agricultural production, from the current season, into the future.
The industrial sector continues to bleed, with a growing number of companies ceasing operations. As with agriculture, there are no plans to arrest the heamorrage, let alone restore growth.
Job losses in the formal sectors of the economy continue unabated.
The delayed National Budget was presented on December 19 2013. What a let-down it turned out to be. In spite of all the rhetoric about it being `policy driven’, there are no rational, viable, coherent policies that can guide citizens, especially players in the economy, to plan for the future with clarity and confidence.
The new Minister of Finance triumphantly declared `the birth of a new, and the death of the old economy’. He announced that informal traders, small scale miners and small scale farmers are the anchor of the new economy. This new economy is characterised by market stalls in every open space in the urban areas, and small, crammed and darkly lit shops; selling vegetables, trinkets, used clothes and other wares. The country is one big supermarket for products from other countries.
Power and water supplies are worse than they were twelve months ago. Two national referral hospitals were reported to have run for weeks without piped water. In the last quarter of 2013, headlines screamed warnings of typhoid and other disease outbreaks; signaling further collapse of health and sanitation services.
Corruption remains endemic in all spheres of life. We hear loud declarations of `Zero Tolerance’ of it, by the highest public officer, and a coterie of others in high offices. In spite of threats of tough action against its perpetrators, nothing is being done to demonstrate the zero tolerance. On the contrary, everything that’s done shows maximum tolerance, if not active encouragement, of corruption.
The country was forced into a farce of a general election in July 2013. Even though they claim a `resounding victory’, ZANU-PF and its government are completely lost over how to take the people of Zimbabwe out of poverty, fear and insecurity.
Into 2014, we shall continue our efforts to work with those in Government, and others in politics, business, the professions and civil society; to find ways to alleviate the many hardships confronting the people every day.
In this regard, we commend and thank players in civil society, and the international community, for their sterling efforts to stem the humanitarian crises caused by food shortages, HIV/AIDS and other diseases, domestic and gender-based violence, crime and corruption, and state ineptitude and heartlessness.
At the same time, we shall strive to invigorate Mavambo.Kusile.Dawn (M.K.D) into the PARTY OF CHOICE, so that we can generate hope among the people, that they can create a better future for themselves. We remain convinced that our vision, values and principles form a solid foundation for the economic, social, cultural and moral recovery of our nation, and future progress for all our people. We are committed to creating a Grand Coalition of likeminded citizens, to lead our country out of crisis.
I wish all Zimbabweans, inside and outside the country, commitment, perseverance and resolve to contribute to the re-birth of a Great Zimbabwe in 2014.
Let’s Get Zimbabwe Working Again.
KaOne!
COMMENTS
Simba you still have to convince people you are the same man we knew in the 80’s. You have to convince people you are not after power but after doing for the suffering masses. You were tainted. You need to remove the stains. Go into the streets and speak to the people. Do what Jennie Williams and Magondonga Malhangu of woza do. Only then my brother will you be free.
And Simba I do believe you can do it.
Simba Makoni was overtaken by uncontrollable circumstances.Doc it will be difficult for him to be taken seriously after the past two elections, so I CONCUR he needs to hit the streets.
Ka 3 ,not kaOne,that u have failed to dislodge our dear leader.
No solutions,just parroting what Cross & Tsvangison said.
Remember,before u hit the streets,u nid police clearance
Hold public meetings and rallies…. hit the streets.. join Woza !!
Thank you for the good wishes saMakoni. It would be good if you admit that MKD were not the party of choice for most Zimbos in 2013. I don’t see how the election could be called a ‘sham’ as far as MKD were concerned. Disgruntlement with your party ZPF does not automatically trnslate into a vision for the correct way forward – as July 2013 has shown us. I think your past and future political prospects are inside ZPF if they will have you- because that is where you spent your most politically productive years.
When all is said and done- MKD and others are free to organise themselves in preparation for the 2018 elections but for now Zimbos want ideas on how to improve the country so that there is a better country and people to contest for come 2018. We know all the problems- we are looking for answers from all concerned Zimbos together, (not new elections)- as-One and not ‘kaOne’.
Dr Simba, it is time you prove all MDCs Zapu and Zanu pf that you are a national leader not a power hungry ruler. Engage into the people and just show the people. Challenge the economic plans and tell people way forwad. Go into the streets and villages