adminRomney camp had nothing tangible to offer the people of the United States.
They had no clear workable answers to the challenges faced by the US apart from merely criticising some of President Obama’s policies. For example, the Republicans argued that Obama’s policies had failed to create meaningful employment for the Americans while deliberately overlooking the economic meltdown which affected the rest of the world and the infamous activities of Wall Street.
The Republicans made bold assertions that were devoid of any meaningful practical steps they would adopt to reverse the US’ unemployment. Their approach was rather “bookish” and hence lacked practicality and national outlook.
The Americans in their intelligence and wisdom were able to decipher this politicking quite well. They did not vote for a political manifesto pregnant with mere criticisms and devoid of any meaningful and practical solutions that further the interests of their country.
As a nation, they voted for a president that offered them real hope.
At home, we are told that the MDC-T will embark on measures that would help create a million jobs in the next five years. Their chief strategy of achieving this goal is reliance on foreign direct investments. Remember fellow Zimbabweans, our Right Honourable Prime Minister used to boast of having keys to unlock foreign investment before joining the inclusive Government.
It is now four years down the line and the party seems to have either misplaced those keys or lost them altogether. The MDC-T in its Juice document does not attach any importance on national matters. Clearly this is either because the party is uncomfortable discussing such crucial issues or lacks a clear vision. Reality is there for all of us to see that the cities are dirtier today with the most erratic and unsafe water supplies under the tutelage of MDC-T councillors.
Our “juice” under MDC-T local authorities has been mainly characterised by the following among other issues, or juices:
- Deterioration in the quality of water used by City of Harare residents;
- The populace resorting to sanitary lanes for their convenience merely because the MDC-T administration has failed to maintain the few public toilets in the cities, particularly in Harare;
- Blocked drainage systems which are leading to floods in the towns and cities and further damage to the extensively potholed roads;
- Uncollected refuse all over;
- Improper use of rate payers’ monies; and
- Councillors facing “hefty” corruption allegations.
Renowned fruiterers of this world who make a living out of selling fruit juice will certainly not be impressed if they get to know the type of “juice” sold by the MDC-T party. Such type of juice will cause sane people to vomit. In order to understand the thinking behind this Juice, one should refer to the Prime Minister’s Independence Day Message published in the private press on 18 April 2012.
In that message, the Prime Minister said that; “. . . independence must come with jobs.” There was no explanation on how these jobs would be created. This is also exactly what the current Juice document lacks.
The plan is largely premised on the goodwill of foreigners, notably Western Europe, which is in turmoil due to economic meltdown and the demise of neo-liberal policies that are buttressed on absolute capitalism.
While no nation can survive in isolation, it pervades common-sense and conventional wisdom to premise a plan on sources that one has no control over. This Juice document is meant to be an alternative to Zanu-PF’s indigenisation and empowerment drive. It should show clearly how the party would do things differently.
Zanu-PF’s indigenisation and empowerment policies are clearly in tune with the current two-tier education system in Zimbabwe that has a greater bias towards producing an employer and not a worker.
l Rasputin Masamba is a political writer based in Harare.
Online Reporter