Overall Analysis
The economy continues to present challenges for citizens to fully enjoy their lives. In addition to prices of basic
commodities being unaffordable, commodities such as mealie meal have become scarce. An article in the
Newsday of 23 December 2019 indicated that many retail outlets did not have mealie meal after some millers
complained that they were still awaiting registration with the Industry and Commerce Ministry which was
proving to be a long process. Such shortages exacerbate the challenges that citizens are already grappling with to
put food on the table.
The promises made by the President in his New Year’s Eve speech and during the 3rd edition of the Annual
Thanksgiving and Dedication Service organised by the faith for the nation campaign to ensure higher productivity
in all sectors and create decent jobs in 2020 need to be turned into tangible results; if citizens’, especially youth’s
lives are to be positively transformed. Promises without follow on action will only deepen mistrust of the
government by citizens. Still on promises, the MDC president’s promises of restoring dignity, promoting
development and pushing for change in Zimbabwe should be built on principles of peace and unity and
contribute towards nation building.
The increases in school fees will likely result in an increase in school drop-out rates especially among sectors of
the community who do not believe in educating the girl child. In some cases, school fees have increased by more
than 300%. A case of reference is Mazungunye Secondary School in Bikita where school fees was increased from
ZWD50 to ZWD200. Measures need to be put in place to ensure that no child’s right to education is jeopardized
by such increases.
Communities can easily be divided by the continued politicisation of food and other aid. When fellow citizens
continue to be denied what is rightfully theirs on political grounds it only sows seeds of hatred in them and
creates perpetual tension in communities. ZPP once again quotes the preliminary report of the Special
Rapporteur on the right to food that no reference to one’s political affiliation should be made when aid is being
distributed and that the principle of non- discrimination should be adhered to. Instead of fanning divisions
through food and other aid politicisation, the government must ensure that communities are united to proffer
solutions to the hardships that the country is facing and work together to ensure safety nets are available for the
most vulnerable in communities.