by Jasper Hloka
Doomsayers’ field days are certainly over as President Emmerson Mnangagwa thundered that the on-going ZANU PF 17th Annual Conference will introspect on successes and failures of the party which has a bearing on the developmental narrative of the whole country.
Of late, the talk had been that MDC leader, Nelson Chamisa, had successfully spoiled the party for ZANU PF (kudira jecha), but as the conference roared to life, such rumour mongers have been left reconsidering their narrative. As he manoeuvred through his demagoguery, Chamisa would like Zimbabwe to misconstrue Government’s austerity measures as signs and symptoms of a failing economy, a narrative far from the truth as all signs point to a giant awakening.
The Conference unlike other episodes of its nature is focused on the economic fundamentals of the country. In the past it was solely concentrated on power retention and factional wars in ZANU PF, with people bearing the blunt of this misdirection.
This year’s Conference speaks a lot about the paradigm structural shift as evidenced by various companies that have taken advantage of the event to exhibit their wares and line of business. This has been buttressed by the erecting of a portrait showing former President, Robert Mugabe together with President Mnangagwa.
Indeed Zimbabwe is on a developmental path, but economic and political saboteurs have been relentlessly fighting to cast aspersions and overshadow Government’s efforts to right the wrongs that had engraved themselves in the country’s various institutions.
Significant strides have been made in rehabilitating the country’s major highways as progress is noticeable countrywide with the Beitbridge-Harare road undergoing resurfacing. Most of Harare’s suburbs roads have been resurfaced giving the Sunshine City a new and refreshing look altogether.
The economic disaster narrative by the MDC is nothing short of keeping Zimbabwe in an election mode, foregoing developmental programmes that work to the advantage of the generality of Zimbabweans who are eagerly anticipating a transformation of their lives.
The MDC can certainly take a cue from the Conference to turn around their forthcoming Congress from a fighting turf to an arena where ideas to better Zimbabwe can be produced. Zimbabweans are so done with fighting each other and need to come together and fight for the betterment of their lives and create a conducive environment to create a better future for the generations to come.
