The post-election agenda
We are going to win the next election. Some have said the MDC has no post-election plan of how to take this country forward. Today, I want to run you through our major areas of focus when—and not if—-we form the next government. Our policies are being polished and finalized ahead of our major policy council early next year but the following are going to be our major areas of focus as the new government after the next election.
1.Governance
The new government has to bring in a new governance culture; a new way of doing business. The adoption of a new Constitution was supposed to usher in a new governance culture but the supreme law of the land remains unimplemented. Three years after the adoption of a new Constitution, the country’s laws are yet to be aligned to the new governance culture determined by the people themselves and affirmed through a referendum. Our new administration will have to bring in a new governance culture that inspires confidence locally, regionally and internationally.
The new administration will also decisively deal with the issue of corruption, which has become a cancer on the country’s body politic. I want to warn Harare City council that they must decisively deal with this scourge both among the councilors and among the staff at Town House. This party does not tolerate corruption and that is why in Chitungwiza, we fired an entire council for corruption. Harare should stand warned.
2.Institutional transformation
Our national institutions need to be transformed and aligned with the dictates of a new governance culture as espoused by our Constitution.
The police, the army and all institutions should not to be controlled by any political party. They are institutions of the State. That is a very urgent matter that has to be addressed by the new administration. When you have Ministers of government admitting to having used resources of an institution of government to sponsor political marches and rallies, then the situation begins to cry out for urgent redress.
That Jonathan Moyo could use ZIMDEF funds to sponsor Grace Mugabe’s rallies and to fund the so-called one million man march shows a disturbing trend of State/party conflation. Institutions of the State have to be weaned from the ruling party, even when that party in government becomes the MDC.
3.Infrastructure Rehabilitation
The country’s infrastructure has collapsed. Our airports, roads and railways and energy infrastructure has all but collapsed and the new government must embark on a massive programme of infrastructure rehabilitation. This will cost billions but it has to be done. The dilapidated machinery in our dead industries is no longer relevant considering the technological advancement that has taken place over the years. We need new, modern infrastructure if we are to catch up with the rest of Africa and the world and to bring back our local expertise that is now scattered across the world because of collapsed infrastructure and a productive sector that has virtually shut down. Infrastructure rehabilitation has to be treated as an urgent matter by our new government.
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