THE latest report by the Mo Ibrahim Governance Index ranking Zimbabwe among the worst governed countries on the continent has received mixed reactions from analysts and politicians across the political divide.
SENIOR REPORTER
According to the index, Zimbabwe is ranked at number 47 out of 52 countries, putting it in the same category as politically unstable countries like Somalia, Equatorial Guinea, Chad and Central African Republic.
In an interview with NewsDay yesterday, political analyst Enerst Mudzengi said the leaders needed to take heed of the areas pointed out by the report in order to improve their quality of governance.
“I think as a nation we need to look at issues that are being raised in the report and try to attend to them,” Mudzengi said.
“I wouldn’t worry about the number they gave us, but I would worry about the particular issues. For example, if they say we have no freedom of the media, then we need to assess that and find ways to improve. We have to look at ways in which we can make the situation better.”
However, University of Zimbabwe political scientist Charity Manyeruke said the report was not a true reflection of the current situation in Zimbabwe.
“I think if one looks at these assessments, it is important for the evaluators to see what evaluation techniques and factors were used in compiling the report,” Manyeruke said.
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“It is also important to note who the donors of that particular report are and in this case, the Ibrahim Index is funded by countries of the North. It is no secret that Zimbabwe is under sanctions and so there is no way they can come up with an objective assessment that can objectively look at Zimbabwe.”
Zanu PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo said: “We absolutely do not agree with the report. We are one of the few democratic countries in Africa and in the world. We hold elections every five years and we just completed one of the most peaceful elections which was a reflection of the will of the people.”
Gumbo added: “Ibrahim is one of the most wealthiest people on the continent and he can do anything he likes, but this will not change the position of the party. He is entitled to his views, negative as they are.”
But, MDC-T spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora said the Ibrahim Index was correct in its assessment because Zimbabwe was one of the worst-governed countries in the world.
“We properly agree with the Ibrahim Foundation that Zimbabwe is one of the worst governed in the world. The crisis in Zimbabwe is three-fold: it is a crisis of legitimacy, a crisis of expectation and a crisis of governance. There can never be an improvement in our rating where there is selective application of the law. For example, some people who tinkered in massive corruption in Zimbabwe are going scot-free, while people who have committed no crime are being harassed by the law. So we have a crisis,” Mwonzora said.
NCA spokesperson Blessing Vava said the country’s governance system has been deteriorating under Zanu PF’s leadership since independence.
“The deterioration of the economy from 1980 to recent times is clear testimony of the kind of governance that this country has been subjected to by a Zanu PF government. Murambatsvina, Gukurahundi, the Willowgate scandal, political violence and the deterioration of health and education services are all testimony of this governance,” Vava said.
“The gap between the rich who are in government and the poor has also increased. The numbers of people in the Diaspora is another testimony that these people are clearly running away from bad governance,” he added.
MDC deputy spokesperson Kurauone Chihwayi said: “That was a correct assessment of crisis-ridden Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe is an undisputed hard-hat area where visitors, investors and citizens live in fear every day.
This is one of the few countries with a very bad human rights record, unfavourable investment laws and the most exhausted leadership that has overstayed its welcome.”
