8.The Agricultural Agenda
In 2020, we face one of the most difficult years we have ever faced as a nation. The World Food Programme says Zimbabwe is one of its 2020 hunger hotspots. This is painful to every Zimbabwean, because we know we should not be in this position. We used to feed the entire region. Today we are one of the world’s biggest beggars. It is a failure to lead that brought us here.
Yes, we have a drought. We salute all the partners working to help our people. However, what kills people is not the drought, it is a failure to prepare. A failure to prepare, is a failure to lead. When people in a country as rich as ours go to bed hungry, there has been a failure to lead.
Our country is not a desert. Droughts have always been there. Having a drought is not the issue but having a drought without A plan is problematic.
If 4.1 million of your own people have to be fed by donors, while you live in luxury, there has been leadership failure. When children in a country as rich as ours are dropping out of school because they are hungry, there has been a failure to lead. When the whole country has been overtaken by violent thugs, raping women and killing each other in the mines, with no action being taken, there has been a failure to lead.
Thanks to an ecosystem of unpreparedness and lack of planning, Zimbabwe finds itself in the middle of a humanitarian crisis that the World Food Programme has described as the worst in the world.
5.5 million people are in a critical vulnerable food status across the length and breadth of the country. At the same time, as the food situation worsens, Zanu PF has privatised the distribution of food in many parts of rural Zimbabwe.
The weaponisation of food must stop and stop as a matter of urgency.
Meanwhile, as MDC we will engage the international community with a bid to ensure that the humanitarian crisis is mitigated and social safety nets are provided for. We will prioritize green and climate smart agriculture with an emphasis irrigation and issues of titles for land.
Land
Zimbabwe is for all of us. This county and this land is for all us.
Land is owned by the people of Zimbabwe. No political party owns land.
We will invest in irrigation schemes after giving new farmers title deeds.
- The Social and Humanitarian Agenda
Health
– We will push for the 15% health support in line with the Abuja declaration.
Education
We will push for the implementation of the DAKAR FRAMEWORK 22% budget support instead of the 13 % of the budget dedicated to education.
Investing in the Youth
– We must pursue a quota system for our youth and create equal opportunities for all.
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