Former Movement for Democratic Change policy advisor Eddie Cross says Zimbabwe did exceedingly well last year and everyone, not just those in power, must start doing things differently.
Writing on his personal blog, Cross said Zimbabweans must look beyond the disparities and problems that the country went through last year and recognise that their pain as a nation has borne significant fruit.
“Our domestic debt is now a tiny fraction of what it was and is manageable, our international debt has only increased marginally and is now being serviced to some extent,” he said.
“Our civil service was costing us 100 per cent of all our taxes a year ago, it now consumes 35 per cent, our fiscal deficit was massive and equal to 40 per cent of the entire budget of Government, is now positive and we ended 2019 with nearly $2 billion in the bank.
“We have liberalised our foreign exchange market and restored the viability of our export industries which are now expanding rapidly with the result that we now have nearly US$1 billion in our bank accounts and government has a small surplus in the Treasury in hard currency.”
He added: “These are not small achievements and what annoys me is that so little recognition has been given to the government and the President for their stance on these issues which have been very tough on the entire nation.
“I am pleased that at least the International Monetary Fund found sufficient reason at the year end to give us a cautious thumb up for what we achieved last year despite some serious deviations.
“So where are we going in the next decade? Is it more of the same? We just cannot handle that plus the changes now being inflicted on us by climate change.
“Everyone, and I mean everyone, not just those in power, must accept and acknowledge this – we have to start doing things differently.
“For me 2019 has set the stage – now we must move on and decisively.
“I hear that the MDC is planning a series of large scale demonstrations in early 2020. Is that really the answer? Will it really bring change or simply lead to more street violence.
“I agree with S B Moyo when he called for the Police to escort demonstrations through the streets of our towns and make sure they do not spill over into looting and violence. But we all know that these events can only be managed so far.”
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I think its time we don’t listen to Eddie Cross, he is tired and old. His analysis of issues is now biased. How can you say Zimbabwe did well in 2019, that old man is now going mad with old age.