Ncube begging USA to lift ZIDERA to unblock funding - not until ED steps down, he rigged elections

A few weeks ago Zimbabwe's Minister of Finance, Mthuli Ncube joined the IMF, WB, Paris Club, ADB, etc. meeting in Bali Indonesia. He told the nation all the world's big financial institutions had "responded positively" to Zimbabwe's request for financial assistance. Now we hear no such thing happened, it was just another Cinderella and Pumpkin carriage story!

"Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube will soon be headed for the United States of America to engage Washington on the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Amendment Act (Zidera) of 2018, the piece of legislation that appears to be the major hurdle blocking Harare's efforts to unlock international funding," reported Business Weekly.

"In as much as Government is leaving no stone unturned in implementing far reaching reforms to turn around the economy, it emerged the US law is holding back all the efforts as it directs American officials in key international financial institutions to block the extension of funding to Harare."

If there was ever any confusion and misunderstanding over what Harare needed to have all ZIDERA sanctions lifted there was no such confusion run up to the 2018 Zimbabwe elections. Harare must hold free, fair and credible elections, the Americans explained over and over again. US Officials in Harare and two US Senators visited Zimbabwe to explain exactly what the Americans would be looking for; free public media, allow Zimbabweans in the diaspora to vote, etc.  

President Mnangagwa, himself, promised to hold free, fair and credible elections. Sadly he failed to keep his own promise as he and his Zanu PF junta went on to blatantly rig the elections. There was no free public media, the 3 million Zimbabweans in the diaspora were denied a vote; the regime failed to produce something as basic as a verified voters' roll!

President Mnangagwa and his Zanu PF regime insist the elections were free, fair and credible; with arrogance and contemptuous indifference of a school bully crushing his victim's toes! For 38 years Zanu PF has ridden roughshod over the people denying them their freedoms and basic rights including the right to a meaningful say in the governance of the country and ever the right to life.

Zanu PF has murdered over 30 000 innocent Zimbabweans to establish and retain the de facto one-party dictatorship we see today.

Zimbabweans are now the poorest nation in Africa. 38 years of Zanu PF gross mismanagement and rampant corruption have taken their heavy toll on the nation.

Zimbabwe is in this economic and political mess because for the last 38 years Zanu PF has rigged elections and got away with it. The party rigged the 30 July 2018 elections and, this time, it must not be allowed to get away with it. All pressure must be brought upon the regime, including keeping ZIDERA sanctions in place, to force it to step down.

If Zanu PF is still in power come 2023 elections we can all be certain of one thing – the party will rig those elections too! After 38 years of rigged elections, of having the school bully's big foot crushing one's toes, the thought of this going on for even another day is unthinkable!

Zanu PF rigged the elections and the party is therefore illegitimate. The party must be pressured to step down now to allow time for the preparatory work for free, fair and credible elections in 2023.

Finance Minister is reportedly travelling to Washington in January to meet US government officials. No doubt, the Minister will make fresh promises that Zimbabwe's next elections will be free, fair and credible and, in return, will be asking the American to lift ZIDERA sanctions. The sanctions were to be lifted on condition Harare held free, fair and credible elections and not on condition of yet another empty promise. The sanctions must stay until Zimbabwe holds free, fair and credible elections and the Zanu PF bully's foot is off povo's toes!