Why Are Zimbabweans Now Demonstrating Against "Beloved" Mnangagwa? - Ex-Adviser To Late Morgan Tsvangirai
Alex Magaisa, a law expert and former adviser to the late former Prime Minister of Zimbabwe, Morgan Tsvangirai has claimed that the parlous state of the economy was one of the fundamental reasons behind the demonstrations and intended demonstrations against President Mnangagwa’s administration.
Magaisa noted that when the general populace celebrated the demise of former president Robert Mugabe and the coming in of Emmerson Mnangagwa, they had hope that the latter would turn around the fortunes of the country.
They feel disillusioned now with the statistics suggesting that the economy has been on a downward spiral for the past 24 months. The country experienced empty gas stations, empty hospitals, empty shelves and empty pockets leading to empty stomachs. The country also has a huge deficit in electricity and potable water as well as many other essentials thereby leaving citizens frustrated.
Magaisa also cited Continued Isolation from the International Community as a factor pushing Zimbabweans to go to the streets. Zimbabwe continues to go solo even after the president “opened” the country for business. Even after Mnangagwa’s re-engagement drive. This comes which a number of disadvantages including limited credit facilities from International financial institutions, particularly the IMF and the World Bank.
To make matters worse, a Chinese bank recently blacklisted Zimbabwe, an ugly development considering the country’s limited fiscal space.
Political Reforms: Magaisa believes that the democratic space continues to shrink under the leadership of Mnangagwa as characterised by August 1 shootings and January military crackdown on civilians. The adoption of the Maintenance of Peace and Order Bill which seeks to replace the Public Order and Security Act has been viewed as moving back as far as embracing democracy is concerned.
4. Overspending on luxurious things: Hiring a private jet from the United Arab Emirates.
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