NOW that Zimbabwe is fast approaching the 2023 elections, it is time we ask tough questions about the diaspora vote.
Modalities to allow Zimbabweans in the diaspora to vote should be at an advanced stage as we speak, but it seems it is still water under the bridge.
If President Emmerson Mnangagwa wants those in the diaspora to contribute to economic revival, he must also allow them to chose their leaders.
In 2019, the late Foreign Affairs minister Sibusiso Moyo told diasporans in United Kingdom that the government had plans to register them to vote in 2023.
But three years down the line, nothing has materialised.
But we cannot really trust the government to do it without pressure from the citizens.
I encourage Zimbabweans living abroad and those living in the country, civic society, and most importantly, the international community, to exert pressure on government to start putting in place the mechanisms to enable Zimbabweans in the diaspora to vote next year.
Diaspora voting preparations must be used as a measure to show that the Mnangagwa government is open to do business with its own citizens living abroad.
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And Zimbabweans living in the diaspora must demand their right to vote. I am aware attempts have been made before, which did not succeed, but it needs mass action by the Zimbabweans living in the diaspora, who must carry out peaceful demonstrations at embassies in their host countries and formally write to the Foreign Affairs ministries in the same countries to push the Zanu PF government to start planning for the diaspora vote in 2023.
Fellow Zimbabweans in the diaspora, I say to you; demand your right to vote. Organise yourselves and claim what is yours in the Constitution.
A look around what is happening in neighbouring countries proves beyond reasonable doubt that Zimbabwe is lagging behind.
Mozambicans living in Zimbabwe have been participating in elections in their own country for many years.
Botswana and South Africa have similar provisions for their citizens in foreign lands. President Emmerson Mnangagwa should certainly borrow a leaf from fellow Sadc leaders.
Let me conclude by saying that there is absolutely no excuse for Zimbabweans in the diaspora not to vote and Mnangagwa should take the appropriate steps now if the world is to take his reform agenda seriously. –Chief Chiduku
Ncube casino economics killing goose that lays eggs
THE Zimbabwean dollar is tumbling at a fast rate and it will only respond positively when there is a change of government. As long as we are going to have this current leadership, nothing will change.
Zimbabwe has been reduced to a banana republic where a President just wakes up and bans lending.
You cannot employ military tactics on the economy and expect it to work.
Employing guerilla war tactics on the economy will not work.
Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor John Mangudya should do the honourable thing and resign to save his face.
The catastrophic results of the announcement a week ago have claimed more casualties as companies have been cut out of much-needed funding. This was ill-advised and tantamount to committing suicide.
This is going to wipe out remaining productive sectors and plunge the country into another economic crisis.
The damage done since the announcement will last for many years to come.
Banks are likely going to retrench as they streamline their operations.
We are likely to witness a shortage of basic commodities like cooking oil, meat and sugar, among others.
Already, a 2-litre bottle of cooking oil is selling at US$7,09 up from US$3.
The economy is being led to the graveyard by Finance minister Mthuli Ncube and Mangudya. The two musketeers are toeing the Zanu PF hook, line and sinker.
Zanu PF should know it can rig an election, but not the economy.
The country needs to start afresh and engage all the stakeholders like opposition leaders, church organisations, civic leaders, non-governmental organisations, student leaders and chiefs, among others to iron out these sticking issues.
The economy has warped and collapsed. The regime has to stop its casino economics. –Leonard Koni
COVID-19 reversed progress in closing the gender divide
WOMEN have borne the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic downturn caused by the spread of the virus and measures to combat it.
With the COVID-19 pandemic still raging across the world, a few affluent nations have got transmission under control, and we are beginning to dream of better days.
However, economic recovery will be pointless, if it does not mean a better life for everyone. Fundamental to achieving this is maternal health.
The pandemic has reversed decades of progress in closing the gender divide.
The UN Women’s From Insights To Action report estimates that by 2030, the global gender poverty gap for ages 25 to 34 will worsen from 118 women in poverty for every 100 men, to 121 women per 100.
One of the most damaging impacts of the pandemic and the lockdown has been that it is reversing the incremental progress towards gender equality by forcing women back into domestic caring and unpaid roles such as cleaning, cooking and childcare.
Early evidence indicates that COVID-19 has worsened maternal mortality, with some estimates as high as 56 700 additional maternal deaths.
Domestic violence has increased as the virus has spread. In addition, early evidence indicates that COVID-19 has worsened maternal mortality, with some estimates as high as 56 700 additional maternal deaths.
There are intersectional impacts too. UN Women reports that in Brazil, for example, the maternal death rate due to COVID-19 is twice as high among black women as in white women.
The pandemic has set back women’s empowerment and gender rights.
A study in The Lancet (https://bit.ly/39WNoYl) found significant increases in stillbirth, ectopic pregnancies and maternal death since the onset of the pandemic.
We cannot allow the pandemic to take us back to a time where women’s lives were at risk every time they fell pregnant.
Maternal health is fundamental to human progress. We need a world where women can experience a healthy pregnancy, whereby they can give birth without risking their lives, and then go on to contribute fully to the betterment of society.
Fortunately, there are organisations working to build this crucial social foundation, by forming partnerships, and investing in training, infrastructure and creating new maternal health systems. –Futher Africa
IN response to Cricket Australia are arrogant: ZC, MAJID ZELENSKY says: Authorities at Cricket Australia are not being arrogant, but they know it is just a waste of time and energy to play a Test match or increase the number of One Day Internationals (ODI) with Zimbabwe in their tour in August. The results are predictable. We have lost our competitive edge since the Zanu PF government started interfering with Cricket Zimbabwe affairs. The game has been struggling to get back on track since then.
PUNISH NDAWANA says: The Australians should not waste their time playing Zimbabwe. Look how the Chevrons were embarrassed by South Africa’s second string team.
RONALD BLESSING says: This is ridiculous. Zimbabwe cannot even beat South Africa A or Nepal, but it wants to play with the mighty Australia.
IN response to Dinha calls out SRC, SIMON PHIRI says: Local players and football administrators should protest the stance taken by the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) as this has a negative impact on their livelihoods. They should boycott matches until SRC makes a climb down.
IN response to Police boss bans use of hand-held spikes, THEMBANI DUBE says: This was long overdue. Throwing spikes in enforcing the law was barbaric. Several lives were lost and others left nursing injuries owing to the recklessness of traffic police officers. We expect traffic police officers to arrest the driver or impound a vehicle rather than putting the lives of innocent passengers at risk.
GEORGE MAKANJILA says: Well done Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga. But there are several families who lost breadwinners owing to the recklessness of your members. How about compensating all those injured during spike-throwing incidents?
SHALA NHLANGA says: The government has ordered police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga to ban the use of hand-held spikes for political reasons. Why ban them now? Is this because elections are around the corner?
