Political Analysts who spoke to the Daily News gave a chilling warning to President Emmerson Mnangagwa over the deteriorating economic situation.
Recurring fuel shortages, the ongoing doctors’ strike, a ‘permanent’ liquidity crisis, teachers threatening to go on strike and the erosion of workers’ incomes have become intolerable. A political analyst, Rashweat Mukundu said:
The truth is that the government is living a lie on issues such as the value of the bond note versus the US dollar, as well as policies that are not being responded to favourably by business and society at large.
The ongoing strikes are also symptoms of a dysfunctional government system and the earlier that Mnangagwa focuses on addressing the fundamental economic and political issues before tackling the symptoms, the better.
So far the government appears lost at sea, outside of making empty promises and threats, and this crisis will only deepen.
University of Zimbabwe political science lecturer, Eldred Masunungure that the country’s crises have been ongoing for 20 years. Said Masunungure:
Politics is sadly about promises. He will make more and more promises to extend the time for him to fulfil the promises. However, he risks damaging his credibility.
This is a long run crisis whose solution will take years. At least he (Mnangagwa) needs the whole of his term to solve this crisis. It is a big crisis.
There is no easy way out of this. He needs to recreate the conditions seen from 2009 to 2013. He needs the help of the opposition, civil society and the international community.
ZANU PF spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo said that his party is not solely responsible for the crisis.
This is not about a Zanu PF or government issue alone. It is about all Zimbabweans having to put our heads together to get the country going.
The workers who are striking are not demanding to be paid by Zanu PF, but by the government, and the employer is engaging them now. So, it will be unfair to say the government has failed now.