via Zanu PF government now becoming dysfunctional by Stewart Chabwinja March 7, 2014
‘Only a fifth of Zimbabwe has access to clean water. This situation constitutes a clear and present threat to the health of the population … The collapse of local water systems across the country has left many Zimbabweans, especially in urban centres such as Harare and Bulawayo, exposed to water-borne diseases … Zanu PF will reverse this situation after the elections.”
So reads the promise-laden Zanu PF manifesto which pitched the catchphrase “indigenise, empower, develop and create employment” ahead of the 2013 general elections which ushered the party back into power. Disingenuously but rather predictably, the manifesto solely blamed “corruption in local authorities by the MDC formations” as the reason for the service delivery breakdown.
It is about eight months after the elections and where are we? There is not even the slightest hint Zanu PF has even begun to “reverse” the situation. On the contrary, the country appears stuck on a carousel, dizzy from the same old challenges that keep haunting the country, especially the economy, with a few new ones thrown in for good measure.
Currently, most suburbs in Harare have gone for over three weeks without water thanks to rationing by council as the upgrading of Morton Jaffray Waterworks continues. It’s nothing new, of course. The bad news from council is that the water crisis would only abate when the upgrading of the water treatment plant is completed.But it is not clear when!
Not surprisingly, about 112 people have died of diarrhoeal diseases in the last two months. Health ministry officials have warned most people’s health is in danger as households in Harare are estimated to be surviving on less than 50 litres of water per day for all domestic needs.
Nor is electricity supply faring much better, with an increase in power outages being attributed to the same old technical faults that have become Hwange Power Station’s hallmark. Equally familiar is the cry from the country’s despairing industry, with the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce deputy president Davison Norupiri bemoaning that power outages had seriously hurt the industrial.
Thus the post-election narrative remains one of mostly despair rather that hope. This week Reckitt Benckiser, an international firm popular for its domestic sanitation products, announced it would be auctioning its plant and equipment mid-month, signalling the death knell of its operations here.
It cited, among others, deteriorating economic conditions in the country, highlighting operational costs related to labour, and utilities such as power and water. Benckiser’s plight is emblematic, with statistics revealing numerous companies are succumbing to a hostile operating environment, rendering more people jobless.
Even allowing for the fact that no one in their right minds expected an overnight recovery, the absence of even a whiff of progress in government’s mission to revive service delivery in general and the economy in particular is instructive.
Clueless, bankrupt, shunned by foreign investors and weighed down by corruption; the Zanu PF government now appears paralysed and dysfunctional.
COMMENTS
This situation was contemplated by many. When you have a Government that does not listen to the people they claim voted them into power.
They fail to see simple solutions right in front of them. They insult the ones that are giving aid to the Country and praise those that are plundering the Country. Someone elsewhere on this forum said, Zanu will rule forever and we should get used to it.I disagree.This Regime is nearing it’s end. My only fear is that when the crash comes it is not because of divisions in the Military which will also feel the pinch as the cake shrinks. SADEC as we know will most probably stand aside and watch.The time is near so as Zimbabweans we need to get down on our knees and pray like we have never prayed before. We need to also stick together and condemn racism, tribalism and regionalism where ever they rear their ugly heads. We are now seeing thieves asking thieves to account for their wealth. We have been asking for this for ages.
Panic is setting in. The armed forces behaviour over the Christmas period at the banks. The police beating up unarmed women who could be their mothers. That shows a Government that is now becoming dysfunctional.
When they can pay the police can’t pay or even feed the army zanu will collapse
Please do not publish stale news..’The goverment is becoming dysfunctional’ should of been published many years ago..
woosafoolinawho my brother this may be stale but what are we to do? We have to keep repeating our selves till someone hears.
To all . What have we learnt over the past 34 years . How does one destroy a once vibrant economy that was built by the people of Zimbabwe mind you and not Zanu. They were busy playing hide and seek in the bush. Any one knows you improve what you get. Its like buying a house. You build on it etc to increase its value. No our “comrades”come out bush and do the complete expected opposite. Now who is to blame Zanu. Not the people of Zimbabwe thats for sure.
Nyoni you do make some serious sense.
I don’t want to be repeatative but I do always look at similar situations. We are a Christian country. Some of our brothers are not that way inclined. The majority are. So am I. Brothers and sisters our prayers will be answered. NBS keep the faith with your prayers. We have handed this to a higher power.
Its things fall apart. Zanu is slowly dying a very natural death and slowly but surely becoming irrelevant.
The problem is not a ZANU problem only. Why is it that nothing works out really? Everybody is always looking for something for nothing. People need to start trying to be honest with themselves. Admit how pathetic most of our efforts are. Mugabe is a politician. He only pushes the policies he thinks his supporters want, all that has happened is the predictable consequence of policies that Zimbabweans have broadly supported. Some growing up and taking personal responsibility is needed. This will work much better than any amount of praying
The time is fast approaching when the Govt will not be able to pay the Security Forces and civil servants, they will probably take to the streets and the country could find itself in a toally “failed state” situation, being run by various factions and war lords.
Surely it is time that good people from all walks of life/political parties come together to stop this scenario. (that is if one can find good people amongst ZANUPF!!}
Senzachena, the security forces might not take to the streets as such. Anyone of them who thinks of such a thing will be committing suicide. There is a lot of kutengesana nd mistrust amongst them. However there is something more alligned to that, which shows how discontent they are, just look at the rate at which they are resigning, especially the juniour ranks in the middle nd low rungs who have served for sometime nd are aware of the winds of change. The question is; where are they going? If they are congregating from outside, then Zanu Pf will soon be in trouble with those guys. Let’s just pray, a lot is happening behind the scenes.
Surrender now than later. It insane to hold on to a sinking boat while an option to save the country is there. We will wait and see.
Doctor do little I can’t help but love you. And I pray for all the CIO’s who vet this site. may you find repentance and come with us to a better Zimbabwe.
Surely judgment is falling on ZPF. I wish it could be different but they have never bothered t listen!
God will NOT be mocked and He will not turn from sin ever! That is for all of us. Let our hearts be pure before Him as the prayers of a righteous man availeth much!
“Turning it to a higher power” through prayer is absolutely what is needed. But, we must never whittle on God’s end of the stick… God will determine when and how He will respond. We might envision ways God could rescue the nation, but that is not for us to choreograph. God has turned major battles by involving Himself in the result of a minor, little-related skirmish. We might pray for food, envisioning steak and lobster… His response might be a cup of groundnuts, or mealie that we must cook. Remember, there is condemnation for praying for something “that we might spend it on ourselves”.
As NBS notes, the prayer of the righteous is heard and accomplishes much… so, before we fall to our knees, let us consider how we are walking… are we walking rightly before Him in our life. Otherwise, those prayers are merely thoughts cast to the wind, and accomplish nothing but to get our knees dirty.
An Oscar winner thanked God for his award. So the losers cursed God? God plays winners and losers? God allowed a rigged election in Zim? God is happy with lots of car accidents that kill anti-ZAN-PF people? God’s happy with Gukurahundi? Well-intentioned delusionals.
@ Brian God does not play.It’s humans that play. Sorry you feel that way but these are not delusions. It is very difficult to understand the ways of God, but he did give us free choice which humans take away. He has asked us to ask in his name. There are people in Zimbabwe that have been praying for other things like the survival of this nation. Short of turning this topic in to a sermon all I can say that if you do believe the way you live, compassion for your fellow beings , love of your brother, and respect of your neighbour, some of the ideals God asks of us then this situation would not be there.
Golden opportunity for a sermon, and Doc and Chindunduma have provided good and appropriate ones.
The prayers have to be for guidance. For those in the armed forces to have the cobwebs removed from their eyes. Those that are clean in politics to be healed of their blindness. Those that are dirty to confess before the people.
God has got a reason for all this gentlemen. God is delaying our freedom for a very good reason. In the early 80’s many people were saying Mugabe for life President and God granted that. Now God has proved the folly of our thinking, we are saying he should kill Mugabe. Brothers and Sisters God does not operate that way he says everything has got a season and now is the season for suffering. He now teaching us to be humble and wait for Him to lead us