Opposition unveils economic policies

An economic stabilisation and reform programme designed to appeal to international donors has been launched by Zimbabwe’s opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), Britain’s ‘Financial Times’ reported on Thursday. The party said this week that, after 22 years of rule by President Robert Mugabe’s ZANU-PF party, Zimbabweans were as poor as in the early 1970s. Unemployment had grown fivefold, only war-torn economies in Africa had higher inflation rates and more than US $500 million in private capital had “fled the country along with thousands of skilled Zimbabweans of all races”.

Party spokesmen highlighted the differences between the MDC and the government, claiming Mugabe had “forced Zimbabwe into a cul-de-sac”. Not only did the government have no plan for recovery, but it had turned Zimbabwe into a “pariah”. On the key issue of land, the MDC promised a “phased programme of agrarian reform to cover all aspects of land resettlement” on an integrated and transparent basis that would win support both at home and abroad.
Diplomats said the broadly orthodox programme was likely to appeal to the donor community and multilateral lending agencies.

Its emphasis on the restoration of the rule of law and on an orderly and transparent land programme would be well received in western capitals, the ‘Financial Times’ said. The party hoped that the document’s focus on issues such as inflation, unemployment, poverty, health, housing and education will be popular with urban voters. The timing of the plan’s publication could turn out to be fortuitous for Morgan Tsvangirai, the MDC leader, who will stand against Mugabe in presidential elections in March.