RioVida Africa

Global Social Policies

Zimbabwe

Since basic social services in Zimbabwe collapsed last year, leaving schools closed and the health system crippled, the country’s children have been denied their fundamental rights to both education and health. A single clinic in the capital, Harare, says it has treated nearly 30,000 girls and boys who were abused in the past four years ‑ an average of 20 per day. Experts believe that the country's economic collapse under Robert Mugabe has led to widespread family breakdown and left many children vulnerable.

With little change on the horizon, the members of the Children’s Parliament have made a passionate plea to the government. Concerns about education and employment Conducting their session just as the grown-up Members of Parliament do, the child parliamentarians allowed members to present their concerns to their adult counterparts and the general public.

“The main problems affecting us as young people today are within the education system. Many children have dropped out of school for failure to pay fees, while many have failed to register for the final examinations because of the high fees being charged,” said Children’s Parliament President Gugulethu Nkomo.

The U.S. ambassador to Zimbabwe, James McGee, said Zimbabwean authorities were using food as a weapon to intimidate the population and hold on to power.

Zimbabwean Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa accused the EU delegation of siding with Mugabe rival Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC party during the weekend talks, state-controlled Herald newspaper reported. Mugabe is not worried about that since he is looking forward to gain support from the China and India.

Power sharing between Mugabe and Tsvangirai has been beset with problems as their parties accuse each other of stalling the process by not fully implementing the Global Political Agreement (GPA). The government which has been in the news since 2002 for its many terrible human rights offenses hoped to receive and additional $10 billion in foreign reconstruction aid. Western nations were reluctant to release cash without further political and economic reform promised.

One and one half years later Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and his Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) rejoined the government of national unity (GNU) after pulling out a while ago. Despite the many problems that the unity government faces, it needs work for the sake of Zimbabweans. The people of Zimbabwe have suffered for far too long.

On 29 March 2008, Zimbabwe held combined presidential and parliamentary elections already flawed by pre-poll manipulation. Despite the skewed playing field, Zimbabwe’s people clearly signaled their rejection of a status quo characterised by political repression and economic decay. For the first time, ZANU-PF lost control of parliament to the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). Results of the all-important presidential elections – withheld for over a month – gave MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai 47.9% against 43.2% for Mugabe, warranting a run-off. Nelson Mandela withdrew support for Mugabe with whom he previously was friends with. Mugabe's supporters killed opposition supporters.

The resurgent Tsvangirai claimed outright victory over the 84-year old president but has indicated he would contest an internationally supervised second round. Mugabe and his hardline supporters showed few signs of accepting defeat, launching a countrywide campaign of violence and intimidation.

On 29 March 2008, Zimbabwe held combined presidential and parliamentary elections flawed by pre-poll manipulation, though campaigning relatively open and Tsvangirai able to hold large rallies. Only “friendly” countries and institutions were invited to observe polls and most western media was barred. Despite skewed playing field, Zimbabwe’s people clearly signalled rejection of status quo: for first time, ZANU-PF lost control of parliament to MDC, which made unprecedented in-roads into rural areas.

Zimbabweans face economic turmoil and corruption, the demise of their currency due to hyper inflaction, food shortages and collapse of vital services. HIV/AIDS among adults stands at over 20%.

Up a third of population are thought to have fled over recent years. Remittances from growing diaspora have become a lifeline for many remaining. The U.S. and EU continue sanctions against members of ZANU-PF regime.