E A R LY W A R N I N G B U L L E T I N
presenting a petition against Kasukuwere and Harare
province commissar, Shadreck Mashayamombe were
attacked by the duo’s supporters. Three people were injured
and anti-riot police dispersed the fighting groups33.
• May 21, Bulawayo, Davis Hall, at a meeting attended by
Vice President Mphoko, district youth chairperson Magura
Charumbira was reportedly stabbed over differences
emanating from the fate of the Political Commissar Saviour
Kasukuwere. During this melee, vendors nearby had their
wares looted34.
irregular electoral practices.37.
• April 2, Chegutu Central, fights ensued between MDC-T
members in Ward 6. It is alleged that individuals aligned
to aspiring MP Mr. Charlton Hwende fought and injured
a party member known as Mai Jojo and in the process
property was destroyed38
• April 24, Alaska Ward 4, Chinhoyi town, MDC-T
members clashed over 2018 local authority election
nominations, in the violence one person was reportedly
injured and hospitalized39.
While these incidents appear isolated and dispersed, they do
evidence the increasing tensions within the ruling party and
the easy resort to violence to resolve differences or assert one’s
position of authority.
Economic Decline: Run on the Banks
The Zimbabwean economy has seen worse, and continues
to decline rapidly characterized by increased informality,
unemployment, low industrial capacity utilization40, liquidity
crisis and depleted foreign currency reserves, increasing
domestic debt and significant trade deficit among other negative
economic growth indices. Since the official introduction of the
multicurrency regime in 2009, Zimbabwe has steadily shifted
towards the introduction of its own currency through the
printing of bond notes41, and uncontrolled issuance of treasury
bills.42 Local bank deposits are not backed by any foreign
currency reserves and cannot therefore be used for international
payments or trade prompting the Reserve Bank, and banks to
issue restrictions on non-priority payments. The local currency
of trade has effectively become the real time gross system
(RTGS). The overdraft facility under the Reserve Bank has
been used to fund several quasi fiscal activities including some
contested policies such as command agriculture. The decisions
made have grave consequences for the economy. For instance:
treasury bills were issued to offset debts owed to electricity
authority by local authorities for about $600 million; treasury
bills were issued to cover command agriculture worth over $250
million43; and treasury bills are likely to fund and subsidize
MDC-T and opposition parties
The MDC-T has gone through phases of internal violence
since its formation, contributing to splitting of the opposition.
Internal processes to address differences seem insufficient
and incapable of resolving these differences. The incidents
of violence are numerous and have created a narrative of
an opposition that is not capable of stamping out violence,
equally thrives on use of force to instil discipline, fear and
command like Zanu PF.35 The formative discussions for the
grand coalition have led to violence in the MDC-T, with
Vice President Thokozani Khupe, Chairperson Lovemore
Moyo and Organising Secretary Abednigo Bhebhe and other
members attacked in Bulawayo offices by identified youths
from Harare on August 6. The three were targeted for what was
seen as snubbing the signing of the MDC Alliance in Harare
the previous day. These actions were roundly condemned. The
Zimbabwe People First (ZimPF) also suffered a split (the
first on 8 February, and the second at the beginning of May)
with senior leaders resigning in quick succession leaving Joice
Mujuru to form National People’s Party (NPP). Senior staffers
and officials within Mujuru’s party fought publicly.36 Some of
the incidents reported involving the opposition include the
following:
• January 21, Gweru, about 150 MDC-T members gathered
at Mtapa Hall to elect a new Ward 7 chairperson but the
meeting was aborted after violence erupted over alleged
http://www.zimpeaceproject.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/ZPP-APRIL-MMR.
pdf
34
http://www.zimpeaceproject.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/MMR-May-2017-1.
pdf
35
https://www.newsday.co.zw/2017/08/10/mdc-t-violence-history-impunity/ (last accessed 5 September 2017)
36
http://www.financialgazette.co.zw/mujurus-party-splits/, http://www.herald.co.zw/
latest-zimpf-splits-again/
33
10
http://www.zimpeaceproject.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/ZPP-JanuaryMMR-.pdf
38
http://www.zimpeaceproject.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/ZPP-APRIL-MMR.
pdf
39
http://www.zimpeaceproject.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/ZPP-APRIL-MMR.
pdf
40
Passing of Statutory Instrument 64 of 2016 was also met with mixed views though
it was supported by local business member associations and chambers of commerce, see
for instance USAID Strategic Economic Research and Analysis (SERA) Program Draft
Report on the Review of the Impacts of Statutory Instrument 64 of 2016 http://pdf.
usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PA00MDKJ.pdf , (last accessed 29 August 2017)
41
http://spotlight-z.com/news/zimbabwe-secretly-printing-money-since-2012/ (last
accessed 29 August 2017)
42
https://www.newsday.co.zw/2017/06/27/govt-overdraft-stifles-2017-budget-support/
http://www.financialgazette.co.zw/treasury-bills-fuel-cash-crisis/ (last accessed 29
August 2017)
43
Statutory Instrument 79 of 2017, Agricultural Marketing Authority (Command
Agriculture Scheme for Domestic Crop, Livestock and Fisheries Production) Regulations, 2017 has been passed to prosecute those who abuse this facility. There are mixed
sentiments of whether command agriculture was successful or not.
37