Restoring inflation-ravaged Zimbabwe to its previous status as a model of economic prosperity could take more than a decade, presidential challenger Simba Makoni said ahead of this weekend’s elections.
In an interview late on Wednesday, President Robert Mugabe’s former finance minister said he wanted to banish the climate of fear that he says now pervades the Southern African nation. He also wants to embark on a process to restore confidence in the battered economy.
”We must deal with the crises that are gripping the country, the food crisis, the water and sanitation crisis, energy crisis,” said Makoni, who is standing against Mugabe in presidential and legislative elections on Saturday.
”Those are important to deal with very early in the life of our government.”
Once the region’s breadbasket, Zimbabwe now experiences shortages of even the most basic foodstuffs such as cooking oil and bread.
Unemployment is currently running at more than 80% while annual inflation has passed the 100 000% mark.
Makoni, who left the government in 2002 in a row with Mugabe about devaluation, said that a return to economic prosperity would not come about in a matter of months or even years.
”This is not about the first six months after March 29 or even the first five years … it could range from 10 to 15 years,” he said.
In the interview, Makoni said reconciliation would be one of his priorities should he emerge winner in the March 29 elections.
”We must begin to lay the foundation for the reconciliation, the national healing … the removal of the fear that pervades our lives everyday, the restoration of trust and mutual confidence among our people,” he said.
Makoni, who left Mugabe’s ruling Zanu-PF party last month after announcing his independent candidacy, said it was time Zimbabweans refused to be intimidated.
”In the Cabinet, in the politburo, I was a thorn in some people’s flesh because I kept asking awkward questions and suggesting things that they didn’t believe in,” Makoni said.
”I don’t think we should be too timid about our ambitions; we shouldn’t be too apologetic, we shouldn’t accept too much of the constraints of the status quo because that will take us back. I want us to break out.”
”But reconciliation is necessary, reconciliation is part of national healing. It’s long term, but beginning to lay down the framework and the foundation for genuine unity and reconciliation is important.”
‘You must be prepared to lose’
Meanwhile, Mugabe has warned his opponents against resorting to violence if they lose the elections and has dismissed vote-rigging accusations as lies, state media reported on Thursday.
Mugabe told a campaign rally in the eastern district of Nyanga that an opposition lawmaker had threatened protests similar to what had occurred in Kenya following December elections there, the state-run Herald newspaper reported.
”Just dare try it,” Mugabe said. ”We don’t play around while you try to please your British allies. Just try it and you will see. We want to see you do it.”
He urged tolerance in the run-up to and after the elections and said losers should accept defeat.
”We want peace and we want the elections to be conducted in a peaceful atmosphere but no nonsense after victory,” said the 84-year-old.
”When you join a political fight by way of an election, you must be prepared to lose. If Zanu-PF wins, you must accept it; if you win we will accept,” Mugabe said of his ruling party.
The United States, the European Union and Britain have questioned whether the polls will be free and fair.
Zimbabwe’s main opposition leader pledged on Wednesday to revamp the country’s crumbling economy by introducing a new currency within six months if he wrests the presidency from Mugabe.
”The economy is dead,” Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), told thousands of drum-beating supporters in Murewa, 80km east of Harare, the capital. ”My government will introduce a new currency as a way of improving and stabilising our economy.”
Addressing a crowd of more than 8 000 people in an area considered a ruling-party stronghold, Tsvangirai promised to curb mass unemployment and blamed Mugabe’s anti-West rhetoric for the country’s problems.
”He blames everything on [former British prime minister] Tony Blair. He has run out of ideas. People in Zimbabwe are more interested in basic things like food and jobs.” — AFP, Sapa-AP