35 years after independence, Zimbabweans are mummified with hopeless pessimism: #SoFarSoDead

It is undeniable that Zimbabwe faces a protracted mutually reinforcing economic and political crisis of monumental proportions thirty five years after independence. Thirty five years after independence Zimbabwe's economy remains in a fragile state, with an unsustainably high external debt and massive deindustrialisation and informalisation. The economic slowdown due to liquidity challenges, outdated technologies, structural bottlenecks that include power shortages and infrastructure deficits, corruption and a volatile and fragile global financial environment continue to ravage the country. Thirty fife years on, much remains to be done in Zimbabwe to improve the business environment.

Key economic sectors continue to contract and the government struggles to pay wages and provide basic services. The government does not have a plan the country is willing to rally behind. ZANU-PF's Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (ZimAsset) is predicated on populist election promises and wishful thinking. The government has squeezed the beleaguered tax base further, securing limited fiscal remedy and generating resentment. The reality of the situation is that the country is in a crisis, a deep structural crisis. An unprecedented crisis!

The land reform programme in Zimbabwe remains a challenge in the country's economic development and progress three and a half decades after independence. The land question and agrarian reform issue feature prominently in the political and economic crisis that has engulfed the country. Today it remains a contentious issue that continues to have an adverse effect on progress towards economic and social recovery. At the same time, if the issue remains unresolved, there is a real danger that the recovery of the agricultural sector and stabilisation of food security in general, may be excessively impaired.

Thirty five years after independence the agricultural sector continue to face several challenges. Productivity is low, which is related to a low level of capital endowment, leading to a restricted uptake of productive farm technologies and, subsequently, to low yield and output. Reaching past production and productivity levels in this sector remains a dream. The rural market economy collapsed because of the economic crisis, as well as constant interventions by the state. This has led to the collapse of input and output markets and efficient price-setting mechanisms, among other things.

Thirty five years after independence several issues are hampering a shift in the agricultural sector and the subsequent re-initiation of a solid, positive growth path for both agriculture and the overall economy. The lack of a relevant and well-defined policy and institutional framework, leading to an ill-defined overall development strategy and unstructured institutional entities (parastatals, for example) and arrangements (including contractual arrangements); deteriorating infrastructure for the marketing and movement of produce, such as roads and telecommunications, as well as overall production capacity (including a lack of electricity and input manufacturing industries) leading to high costs or scarcity of production factors; a lack of efficient and effective support to agriculture, such as research and agricultural extension, leading to a limited transfer of technology from research, restricted dissemination of productive farm technologies, and a lack of commercial farming skills; limited access to working capital and difficulties in accessing agricultural finance, which stem from a lack of credit, financial services that are poorly adapted to the new tenurial situation, and unfavourable borrowing conditions; and inadequate training in production and crop management, stemming from poor extension services, and, therefore, a limited transfer of technology from research.

Thirty five years after independence, there is continued and persistent incompetence and corruption in the judiciary system. There is serious political interference in the performance of duty by judicial officers. It is in independent Zimbabwe where money speaks louder than the law. It is in independent Zimbabwe people are abducted for a no reason by the state apparatus. It is in independent Zimbabwe where a Zimbabwean cannot enjoy his/her civil rights! It is in independent Zimbabwe where the good are vilified whilst the bad are magnified! It is in independent Zimbabwe where injustice is the order of the day! It is in independent Zimbabwe where those with degrees are in the streets selling tomatoes! It is in independent Zimbabwe where the economy is being driven by the informal sector! It is only in independent Zimbabwe where the industrial sites have turned to be gravesites of the day! Surely Tongogara must be turning in his grave, surely Chitepo must be turning, Ziyapapa Moyo too, so as many fallen heroes of the liberation struggle!

Is this really the Zimbabwe that those that waged the liberation struggle fought for? Is this really the Zimbabwe we want? Is this really the independence we talk about? A Zimbabwe where the injustice and brutality of the white minority group against the black majority has been replaced by a black minority group against the majority blacks. Will you celebrate walking in 1st Street whilst you are on an empty stomach, whilst you have got fear on what will happen to you tomorrow! Surely it should be, #SoFarSoDead!

You deserve a better today!
You deserve a better tomorrow!
You deserve DARE!
Restoring our land!
Restoring our economy!
Restoring our pride!
Happy Independence day Zimbabwe!

Inserted by Clemence Nhliziyo-Deputy Head of Communication, Democratic Assembly for Restoration and Empowerment.