Opinion / Columnist
The MDC must shoulder the blame for economic decline
21 Jul 2015 at 11:50hrs | Views
Blessed are those who, after going astray for a while, come back to their senses and come face to face with reality. The Shona people would call the scenario penga udzoke.
At a recent public seminar in Bulawayo, former cabinet Minister in the inclusive Government and a well respected figure in the opposition circles, Mr Gorden Moyo admitted that the economic quagmires bedevilling the country are rooted in the opposition parties. Mr Moyo said the opposition should shoulder the blame for the economic decline because they were not proffering any solutions that could take the country out of the prevailing economic doldrums.
Mr Moyo could not have said any better truth. Indeed the opposition, especially the MDC, is the author of the economic challenges facing the country. They called for the debilitating sanctions as a way of inciting the electorate's hatred against the Zanu-PF government. The MDC was angling for economically driven socio-political discontent that would lead to mass protests and riots as a precursor to illegal regime change.
Although Mr Moyo acknowledges the role played by the MDC in the economic downturn, he chose to omit the party's contribution in calling for the sanctions. Failure by the MDC to proffer solutions is actually a lesser evil. Interestingly, the sanctions have not been selective as they are even biting the principal of the party that called for them. We are told Mr Tsvangirai can no longer even afford to fuel his vehicle. He is tasting his own bitter conconction.
The best method to undo a bewitchment is to let the witch himself or herself do it. He or she is the one who knows how the process went on. The wise men of yesterday used this method and many lives were saved as the witches effortlessly reversed the bewitchery. Those who failed to reverse the spell that they would have cast would face death.
Zimbabweans believed that since it was the MDC which bewitched the country, it could as well reverse the bewitchery. The MDC had the opportunity to do so during the inclusive government when a generous number of their officials occupied strategic ministries and other government institutions that could have easily enabled them to show the electorate what they were made of. Prior to the inclusive government, the MDC has been blaming Zanu-PF for alleged misrule.
Instead of showing Zanu-PF how the country is run, they worsened the economy. Instead of implementing what they have been generously prescribing to Zanu-PF, the MDC went on a binge of self-aggrandisement. Corruption level came at an all time high during the inclusive government with most of the MDC officials fingered in various nefarious activities. That also contributed to the economic decline. The MDC absolutely failed to undo the bewitchery they caused. I wish if the hands of the time could be turned back and invoke the yesteryear punishment that was given to offenders of this nature.
The MDC has been an armchair critic of Zanu-PF. The 'Mugabe must go' mantra was all that they could do. They had no vision whatsoever on what to do next after the president had gone. It is not that they absolutely proffered no solution to the economic woes but the alternative solutions were in most cases ridiculous. The economic policies that the MDC came up bordered on efforts to lure the hearts of the electorate.
MDC came up with the blueprint that they dubbed Jobs, Upliftment, Investment Capital, and Environment (JUICE) that was economically unviable. The policy was anchored on increased foreign direct investment inflows and creation of one million jobs. That policy was just a campaign gimmick with no practical solutions to the economic woes. It also relegated the locals to economic bystanders and that is in sharp contrast to Zanu-PF's quest to allow locals to control the economic destiny.
Mr Moyo's observation is therefore spot on though it came very late. It is hoped that his new party would not chat the same disastrous path. MDC must shoulder the blame for they called for the sanctions, involved in corruption and proffered no meaningful alternative solutions.
-------------
John Sigauke can be contacted at johnsigau@gmail.com
At a recent public seminar in Bulawayo, former cabinet Minister in the inclusive Government and a well respected figure in the opposition circles, Mr Gorden Moyo admitted that the economic quagmires bedevilling the country are rooted in the opposition parties. Mr Moyo said the opposition should shoulder the blame for the economic decline because they were not proffering any solutions that could take the country out of the prevailing economic doldrums.
Mr Moyo could not have said any better truth. Indeed the opposition, especially the MDC, is the author of the economic challenges facing the country. They called for the debilitating sanctions as a way of inciting the electorate's hatred against the Zanu-PF government. The MDC was angling for economically driven socio-political discontent that would lead to mass protests and riots as a precursor to illegal regime change.
Although Mr Moyo acknowledges the role played by the MDC in the economic downturn, he chose to omit the party's contribution in calling for the sanctions. Failure by the MDC to proffer solutions is actually a lesser evil. Interestingly, the sanctions have not been selective as they are even biting the principal of the party that called for them. We are told Mr Tsvangirai can no longer even afford to fuel his vehicle. He is tasting his own bitter conconction.
The best method to undo a bewitchment is to let the witch himself or herself do it. He or she is the one who knows how the process went on. The wise men of yesterday used this method and many lives were saved as the witches effortlessly reversed the bewitchery. Those who failed to reverse the spell that they would have cast would face death.
Zimbabweans believed that since it was the MDC which bewitched the country, it could as well reverse the bewitchery. The MDC had the opportunity to do so during the inclusive government when a generous number of their officials occupied strategic ministries and other government institutions that could have easily enabled them to show the electorate what they were made of. Prior to the inclusive government, the MDC has been blaming Zanu-PF for alleged misrule.
Instead of showing Zanu-PF how the country is run, they worsened the economy. Instead of implementing what they have been generously prescribing to Zanu-PF, the MDC went on a binge of self-aggrandisement. Corruption level came at an all time high during the inclusive government with most of the MDC officials fingered in various nefarious activities. That also contributed to the economic decline. The MDC absolutely failed to undo the bewitchery they caused. I wish if the hands of the time could be turned back and invoke the yesteryear punishment that was given to offenders of this nature.
The MDC has been an armchair critic of Zanu-PF. The 'Mugabe must go' mantra was all that they could do. They had no vision whatsoever on what to do next after the president had gone. It is not that they absolutely proffered no solution to the economic woes but the alternative solutions were in most cases ridiculous. The economic policies that the MDC came up bordered on efforts to lure the hearts of the electorate.
MDC came up with the blueprint that they dubbed Jobs, Upliftment, Investment Capital, and Environment (JUICE) that was economically unviable. The policy was anchored on increased foreign direct investment inflows and creation of one million jobs. That policy was just a campaign gimmick with no practical solutions to the economic woes. It also relegated the locals to economic bystanders and that is in sharp contrast to Zanu-PF's quest to allow locals to control the economic destiny.
Mr Moyo's observation is therefore spot on though it came very late. It is hoped that his new party would not chat the same disastrous path. MDC must shoulder the blame for they called for the sanctions, involved in corruption and proffered no meaningful alternative solutions.
-------------
John Sigauke can be contacted at johnsigau@gmail.com
Source - John Sigauke
All articles and letters published on Bulawayo24 have been independently written by members of Bulawayo24's community. The views of users published on Bulawayo24 are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Bulawayo24. Bulawayo24 editors also reserve the right to edit or delete any and all comments received.
