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<\/p>\nLast year, during Zimbabwe\u2019s national elections, the ruling party erected dozens of banners all over the country, emblazoned with lofty promises and a giant photo of the man who won that contest, Emmerson Mnangagwa.<\/p>\n
Vote ZANU-PF, they proclaimed, for \u201cvisionary and mature leadership\u201d. Vote Mnangagwa for, \u201caffordable, quality, healthcare guaranteed\u201d, and \u201cjobs, jobs, jobs\u201d. Trust us, implored the billboards, for \u201cdelivering the Zimbabwe you want\u201d.<\/p>\n
The Zimbabwe you want.<\/p>\n
It is a good thing they have taken down those banners because the country is a mess. Unemployment is pushing 90%, inflation has hit 100%, electricity blackouts last for days at a time and public services have virtually collapsed.<\/p>\n
Public services in Zimbabwe have virtually collapsed
\nPublic services in Zimbabwe have virtually collapsed
\nDuring our visit, we met city residents scavenging for firewood in the countryside and health workers who could not source paracetamol. The deterioration of the local currency means civil servants such as teachers and nurses are earning 80p a day.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
President Mnangagwa and his ministers have shown themselves to be little better than the clique that surrounded long-time dictator Robert Mugabe \u2013 the 95-year-old who was kicked out of office by his generals in November, 2017.<\/p>\n
On Monday, Mnangagwa reintroduced the notorious Zimbabwe Dollar, last used in 2009 when hyperinflation meant that Z$35 quadrillion was required to purchase US$1.<\/p>\n
His administration has also banned foreign currency (such as the US dollar) in a move described as \u201cmadness\u201d by Opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) treasury spokesman, David Coltart.<\/p>\n
Mr Coltart said: \u201cThe government has compounded an already chaotic economic situation. Ironically, the re-dollarisation process had brought some stability but that has all been thrown out the window.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Zimbabwe you want.<\/p>\n
Civil servants are earning just 80p a day
\nCivil servants are earning just 80p a day
\nDesperation and anger simmers beneath the surface in Zimbabwe. Nobody seems to think the current situation can go on.<\/p>\n
It is because the people are so unhappy that the government has ruthlessly clamped down on dissent. Civil rights leaders, activists, lawyers and union representatives have been targeted with beating, abductions and detentions.<\/p>\n
The NGO Zimbabwe Lawyers For Human Rights told Sky News that more than a thousand community leaders and ordinary citizens have been arrested on spurious charges, such as \u201csubversion of the state\u201d, in the past six months.<\/p>\n
Obert Masaraure, who runs the Rural Teachers of Zimbabwe Union, was not summoned to court, however. Instead, eight men wearing masks and carrying machine-guns broke into his house and dragged him into the bush.<\/p>\n
Obert Masaraure was attacked by eight masked men
\nObert Masaraure was attacked by eight masked men
\nHe was stripped naked and beaten with rubber straps because he had asked for an increase in pay. \u201cWe had a petition to be paid in US dollars and we declared a work (stay away) in June. The (attackers) shouted at me: \u2018why are you asking these teachers not to go to work?’\u201d<\/p>\n
I asked him: \u201cAre you scared?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t want to lie to you, I am scared, I am human\u2026 for them to be harassing my family, to be harassing my kids. It is the lowest level of madness we can get in a country. The state is supposed to be protecting rights and our freedoms.\u201d<\/p>\n
We spoke on the roadside, in the middle of night, inside a passenger van and he was so badly beaten that he had trouble walking.<\/p>\n
The Zimbabwe you want.<\/p>\n
The party of power has proven one simple thing. ZANU-PF cannot reform itself. President Mnangagwa cannot introduce the sort of radical changes \u2013 to the economy and to society \u2013 without damaging the entrenched interests of party members.<\/p>\n
Instead, his administration will live from day-to-day, with a baton in its hand, ready to strike at its critics.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Last year, during Zimbabwe\u2019s national elections, the ruling party erected dozens of banners all over the country, emblazoned with lofty promises and a giant photo of the man who won that contest, Emmerson Mnangagwa. Vote ZANU-PF, they proclaimed, for \u201cvisionary and mature leadership\u201d. Vote Mnangagwa for, \u201caffordable, quality, healthcare guaranteed\u201d, and \u201cjobs, jobs, jobs\u201d. Trust […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":84,"featured_media":11020,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,8,12],"tags":[88,31,432,149],"class_list":{"0":"post-11019","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-all-news","8":"category-head-lines","9":"category-policy","10":"tag-mdc","11":"tag-mnangagwa","12":"tag-politicians","13":"tag-president"},"yoast_head":"\n