Post 2015 Development Agenda; has Zimbabwe leant some Lessons from MDGs.

The UN Secretary General recently titillated the need to put people at the center of development, his words on the Road to 2030 are a key factor  as we are in the advent of  new developmental goals.

Zimbabwe faced a plethora of challenges within the period of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), these challenges can be attributed to both global trend of crisis and human political era in the local discourse.

Zimbabwe is one of those 189 countries in year 2000, who adopted the MDGs categorically with the main target to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, and achieve the desired human centered development.

The country mainly prioritized three goals which are MDG 1, MDG 3, MDG 6; that is Eradication of Extreme Poverty and Hunger, Promote Gender Equality, Empower Women and Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other diseases. This indeed was favorable approach given our state of affairs in priority areas.

Having clearly defined our priorities in 2000, the momentum was stolen due to socio-economic challenges which militated against the attainment of MDGs. For instance, from the year 2000 to 2008 the country cumulatively realized negative economic growth rate of about 40(%) percent.  There was stratospheric rate of inflation, a galloping rate of 231 million in June 2008 was reached; hunger and poverty worsened, the economy remain naked with no one ready to dress it until the Government of National Unity (GNU) in 2009, that slowly brought positive growth due to the introduction of economic policies among them Short Term Emergency Recovery Programme (STERP), one of the key element of such a blue print was the formalization of the multi-currency regime.

It is clear that the country will not meet the targets set by the end of MDGs, but it is again an opportunity to introspect on lessons learnt which will be a key driver on the coming Sustainable Developmental Goals (SDGs).

Having failed to move meaningful steps toward the eradication of poverty and hunger, with unemployment raising, health sector collapsing, education became the privilege of the elite, gender equality used as political conduit, it is clear that Zimbabwe need to carry forward the unfinished business of MDGs, strategically congruent them with the new Agenda set for 2016, acknowledging her failures and political commitment, making pro-poor steps, this might trigger a new developmental era.

The major first step failure of my beloved country is failure to consult with its citizens during crafting of important goals or policies, with the contemporary world calling for pro-poor strategies that start with the active involvement of communities in the programs; Zimbabwe should de-politicize the developmental agenda to allow free flow of national programs and feedback. 

On the MDGs, government did not do enough to create awareness, Post 2015 Development Agenda; there is a dire need to involve all stakeholders from the onset.

The focus as opposed to MDGs era, should be in post 2015-economic development rather than economic growth. Economic growth as in 2009 may come without eradication of poverty.

The other lesson is on our National Budget which should factor programs that will accelerate the achievement of SDGs; the budget should strengthen our agriculture to restore our glory, support education as prescribed international and regional declarations, to maintain our glamour, support youth and children to accelerate our future and give credence to pro-poor initiatives, taking advantage of our vast natural resource and human capital base.

The country‘s effort towards development is mainly affected by the rate of corruption, resources end up benefiting the elite at the expense of the proletariat. Tough laws should be in place to deal with corruption. The government should also address inequality and marginalization, with vulnerable groups such as people living with disability, children, youth, women, and indigenous people among other getting a state of affair node that is equal to all.

 Since 2000, Zimbabwe produced about four Progress Reports on the progress of MDGs, that is, 2004, 2007, 2010, and 2012 respectively. Taking note from all this reports it is un-debatable that the country will not fulfill a number of MDGs.

There is need of political will to spear head our development, with the existence of ZIMASSET document, a lot can be done to link it to the Post 2015 Developmental Agenda, supported by other critical tenants such as respect of human rights, rule of law opposed to rule by law, mutual international engagement, favorable investment policy; Zimbabwe can trace its lost developmental route.

Let’s wait and see!

Misheck Gondo is an International Relations Expert and Regional Youth Coordinator with SADC-AAYC.

 

The Cry of a War Veteran in Mazowe Land; What’s Wrong with our Politics?

As I seek to explore the recent breaking news in Mazowe where it is alleged that Her Excellency Dr.Amai gave blessing to the destruction of villager’s property in Manzou Farm to pave way for the conservation of the vast farmland, let me briefly stop to catch three comments by readers at the Newsday Web Page.

Misheck Gondo

One emotional reader by the name Garikai noted, “And you say Grace is not in charge!! Even remotely she is in control, overzealous people who want to please the first b..ch. Chef when you were away we made this farm available for you, especially for you, your Highness, one and only one, God given, full of wisdom, courage etc. etc…” 

The other by the name Gunguwo noted, “This is very painful! Why wait until the rain season? So what is independence, what did people really fight for- Mr. and Mrs. Mugabe? To give you everything, all you want, anywhere, anytime? These people may be wrongly settled but it’s only a symptom of a myriad of problems….”

The last quote is by John, who didn’t have sympathetic words towards the villagers as he noted that, “Personally, I don’t sympathies with the people who always sing praises for dear leader and are ready to take a life if you criticize ZANU PF regime and its failure to uphold the rule of law, if you live by the sword you die by the sword and lawlessness begets lawlessness…”

As Zimbabweans express different sentiments over the Mazowe saga, many are querying why these illegal evictions have been done during the rain season, children and women left in the open. The weather experts have unpacked potential of increased floods, yet others are questioning the motive behind such cruelty in the name of development. 

There are those who are categorically denying the hand of Grace, noting that it is her detractors in the government trying to tarnish her name, yet others are saying it’s a government initiative.

 It is important to note that this process whether done by Government, Grace, Biti or Tsvangirai it is an unacceptable process that violet human rights and it is against the spirit of the Zimbabwe constitution that accords basic rights as enshrined in the Bill of Rights.

Section 74 of Zimbabwe Constitution, based on the freedom of arbitrary eviction states that, “No person may be evicted from their home, or have their home demolished, without an order of court made after considering all relevant circumstances”

In a general society the role of a mother is to protect the children, especially from harm. It philosophically known that the mothers are soft hearted, loving and considerate. The welfare of the siblings comes first before any business interest.

 Contrary to this school of thought attributed to the motherhood, media houses has been awash with reports that the hand of Dr. Amai is fingered in  the inhuman act of evicting the innocent landless Zimbabweans on their ancestral land to pave way for private and family interest. If this is true, then, something is wrong.

Whether the eviction was forceful or peaceful, eviction is eviction. It is of paramount importance to note that, government has an obligation to protect its citizens under national and international law. In case of justified evictions, there should be a proper process to allocate the victims, without delay making sure that their rights are not violated, not left on the road side with nowhere to go.

It doesn’t matter if the victims as claimed by others were once violating other people‘s rights, they are still equal beneficiary of law, hence, they need to be protected by law. 

The High Court of Zimbabwe should not stop at stopping the eviction but arrest the culprits of contempt of Court.

Let’s wait and see!

Misheck Gondo is a Political Analyst and a Human Rights Defender.