We live in an undeclared state of emergency where our basic freedoms and liberties of assembly, speech, movement and association are heavily curtailed. Political rallies, marches and demonstrations are banned. Political activists are abducted, tortured and killed with impunity.
Life expectancy is 34 years for women and 37 years for men. This cannot be liberation, freedom or independence.
An estimated four million people are in desperate need of food, while more than 3 500 die a week because of HIV/Aids-related illnesses.
The root cause of the crisis is the total collapse of our national economy. The economic meltdown is human-made by the misrule, incompetence, dictatorship, corruption and lack of vision of Zanu-PF. The people demand better custodians and defenders of their independence and freedom than this regime.
There is a revolutionary mood pregnant with expectations. The people will not accept anything short of a revolution. This new mandate is an economic one that seeks to transform the country into a globally competitive and high-performance economy.
The vision should be for Zimbabwe to become the leading democracy in Africa, characterised by people-centred social development and economic growth. GDP and per capita income should be in the top three in Africa. Human rights and economic rights must be cherished and respected. We want a nation of prosperity, economic opportunities, affordable and high-quality public services, social justice, equity and gender justice. We want a country of business growth, productive commercial agriculture, innovative entrepreneurship, creative managers and productive workers who are well paid.
In order to achieve this vision, a strategy must be developed dealing with governance and economic issues.
We need to develop and live a new democratic culture. Electoral law reforms and legislative changes must allow for the holding of free and fair elections. It is our demand that the first plebiscite under these conditions should be internationally supervised. We will respect any government that is produced by these processes.
We need to stop the economic decline and the suffering of millions of families. The starting point is developing an economic recovery and a stabilisation programme.
Beyond recovery and survival, we need to develop long-term strategic initiatives that will enable Zimbabwe to emerge as an industrialised, technology driven, competitive nation.
While building upon our national core competencies such as agriculture, mining and tourism, emphasis should also be focused on manufacturing and new technologies. These include wireless telecommunication (for example: wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) and worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMax)), biotechnology, wireless power (for example: fuel cells and solar-thermal), automation, nano-technology, micro-electronic and mechanical systems and electronic commerce.
Some of these new technology platforms are cheaper and lend themselves better to countries with poor infrastructure than advanced countries.
There is need to implement investor confidence building measures to increase trade and investment.
There is need to engage partners in Africa, Europe, Asia and the Americas for investment, partnerships and global outsourcing opportunities. What is critical is to engage the IMF and World Bank with the view to extract favourable arrangements for our country.
We should ensure a fair, secure and effective use of land. What is required is equitable, transparent and economically efficient distribution and use of land. This must have emphasis on productivity, food security and self-sufficiency. Land should never be used as an instrument of political patronage. Land owners should be motivated towards beneficiation where emphasis is placed on secondary agriculture. This will facilitate entrepreneurship and job creation.
The country’s future will be determined by its citizens. External players can assist and facilitate, but the buck stops with us. All political parties must be Zimbabwean and African in outlook and activity. We must be freedom fighters and soldiers for social justice and democracy. Our struggle must be a continuation of the liberation war tradition. Our parties must be patriotic formations that defend our sovereignty.
We shall be masters of our own destiny. All the progressive and democratic forces in the country must close ranks in pursuit of the collective national interest.
A united front inspired by a single-candidate principle is a categorical imperative in every election (presidential, Parliament, Senate, council). Every vote must count against Zanu-PF.
Arthur Mutambara is president of the MDC