In Zimbabwe, the metaphoric reference to heart surgery draws a vivid picture of the country’s economic and political malaise. The challenges facing the healthcare sector, notably the lack of heart surgery facilities, mirror the systemic issues plaguing Zimbabwean enterprises like the Cotton Company of Zimbabwe (COTTCO). The analogy hits home when one contemplates the futile effort of replacing a faulty heart with another defective one, akin to Zanu PF’s plans of taking over ailing companies like COTTCO. This dead donkey, as it’s referred to, highlights a prevalent culture of corruption and the stark reality facing many Zimbabwean industries.
Zanu PF’s prospective acquisition of a controlling stake in COTTCO is viewed as a recipe for disaster. It’s feared this will be a death blow to an already struggling company, further hampering production, leading to job losses and dwindling foreign currency earnings from cotton exports. This move showcases Zanu PF’s reactionary approach, which often addresses symptoms rather than the root causes of problems.
The diversion of resources, mismanagement of funds meant for purchasing cotton from farmers, and asset-stripping by both company officials and affiliated Zanu PF members, all pose existential threats to COTTCO. This looming takeover is seen as nothing short of assisted suicide to an industry with the potential to play a pivotal role in reviving the comatose industrial sector.
In contrast, the period between 2008 and 2012, dubbed the golden era, saw no need for such corporate acquisitions. This era, credited to the innovative opposition, witnessed a revival of many companies, thanks to a liberalised economy and a reduced market interference. The opposition’s stance on transparency and accountability proved to be a nemesis to corruption, ushering in a brief but impactful period of economic rejuvenation.
Zanu PF’s recurrent human and property rights violations, coupled with a lack of rule of law, only exacerbate the problems facing companies like COTTCO. The persistence in clinging to power, at the expense of economic growth, showcases a futile attempt to shield past misdeeds from future prosecution.
Rather than focusing on controlling stakes in companies, the narrative suggests that Zanu PF should pave the way for a peaceful transition of power to the opposition, envisioned as a panacea to Zimbabwe’s political and economic quandary. This transition, it’s believed, would herald a new era of rule of law, accountability, and transparency, providing a conducive environment for both private and public sector growth. The restoration of constitutionalism, encapsulating both property and human rights, is seen as the crucial step towards dismantling the shackles binding Zimbabwe’s economy, thus offering a glimmer of hope in resuscitating the dead donkey that the nation has become.
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