Actions Speak Louder…
Introduction
As the curtain came down on 2019, Zimbabwe continued to experience economic challenges that saw the
populace having a rather troubled festive season. Prices of basic commodities remained steeply priced,
rendering them unaffordable for the majority of citizens whose monthly income is below ZWD1, 500 per
month1, against the cost of the food basket for an average family of five that was pegged at ZWD3, 159.522 in
October 2019. The continued electricity and water crises further dampened the festive mood as citizens had
to grapple with water and electricity shortages. The burden on parents has also been added by the increases
in school fees in both government and private learning institutions. These increases are despite the fact that
incomes of most citizens have remained generally stagnant.
The drought that the country is experiencing has seen citizens, in rural and urban areas relying on food aid for
their survival. The citizenry also started receiving agricultural inputs through the Presidential Input Scheme. It
is sad to note that despite the preliminary report issued by the Special Rapporteur on the right to food, Ms.
Hilal Elver in which she stated the importance of aid being distributed in a non-discriminatory manner,
Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) continued recording incidences of politicisation of food and other aid in
December 2019. The erratic rainfall received in December did not do much in raising the spirit and hope of
Zimbabweans.
The politics of the country continued on a negative trajectory with some divisive utterances being made at the
Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front (Zanu PF)’s 17th Annual National People’s Conference held
at Goromonzi High School from 11-16 December 2019. The Deputy Minister of Defence, Victor Matemadanda
declared that Zanu PF would not be removed from power, even by elections and that in the event of losing
elections, the party would stay in power by any means necessary3. Such loaded statements insinuate that the
party can easily flout the provisions of the constitution and the tenets of democracy that give citizens the right
to select a government of their choice [Constitution of Zimbabwe Section 3 {2(a, b, c, d, f)}].
1
https://www.newsday.co.zw/2019/12/cost-of-labour-vs-cost-of-living/
https://www.newsday.co.zw/2019/12/cost-of-labour-vs-cost-of-living/
33
https://www.thestandard.co.zw/2019/12/15/zanu-pf-will-rule-hook-crook/
2