RUSERE BLAMES MNANGAGWA'S GOVERNMENT FOR CORRUPTION AND CLEARS THE WEST.

''WE CANT BLAME SUNCTIONS FOR OUR OWN SELFISHNESS'',SAID TALENT RUSERE

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Talent Rusere

-07/08/2020






HOW ZIMBABWE TURNED INTO A PREDATORY STATE

One reason why we are suffering is that Zimbabwe had turned into a predatory state. Zimbabwe Freedom Fighters President Talent Rusere (07/08/20) defines predatory states as those that have elites who take large amounts of otherwise invest-able surplus for their own gain in a way that impedes upon economic transformation . Those who are in control of predatory states plunder without regards to the welfare of the citizenry. Our country is a case of political predation. The reason why Zimbabwe turned into a predatory state is that wealth comes from political power, which contrasts with the Marxist assumption that political power comes from wealth. To explain this in more detail, we need to consider a crucial historical event. There was a pact reached between elites at Lancaster House in London in 1979, which involved an implicit bargain that “blacks would ascend to positions of political leadership while whites would continue to enjoy ownership of the means of economic production.” The result of this agreement was that for the majority of the population (as in black Zimbabweans), the state turned into the best way to acquire wealth due to the effective exclusion from the private sector. Additionally, the existing political elite was also dependant on the state for wealth generation and clinging on to state power turned into the regime’s main objective . Mnangagwa's government systematically uses and abuses state resources and power for private gain and the achievement of political goals for their clientele . Zimbabwe has became one of the most corrupt countries in the world, which allowed state officials to secure enormous personal profits without repercussions . This is the reason why in our Zimbabwe, wealth stems from political power.

Zimbabwe had turned into a predatory state, where the best means for wealth generation was the state itself. In many ways, the ZANU-PF sought to smash any alternative resource of political and economic power in order to increase the bargaining power of its rule . The Mnangagwa regime is so obsessed with staying in power that economic elites, growth and prosperity only represented obstacles that would decrease their relative power.

The policies implemented by the ZANU-PF in order to cement their rule internally, lead to the downfall of the country. The example of “fast track land reform” is one of many misguided policies aimed at restoring political hegemony out of fear of opposition or economic elites . Other misguided political initiatives include, the Second Congo War and the resulting hyperinflation and operation Murambatsvina ,these policies strongly contributed to the country’s falling apart.

In conclusion, the reason for Zimbabwe’s state failure cannot simply be its inherited political culture, because the situation in the country has worsened significantly since the current political regime rose to power in 1980. The main reason for Zimbabwe’s failure was the exclusion of black Zimbabweans, which form the vast majority of the population, from the private sector. This turned the state into the best vehicle for people to generate wealth and led to the emergence of a predatory state in Zimbabwe. As a result of this, clinging on to state power became the main objective of the political elite and turned not only opposition movements but also the wealth generating economic elites into enemies of the state. The fact that the state was battling economic progress by implementing policies such as the “fast track land reform” lead to the downfall of the country. In Botswana, political and economic elites were never separated along these clear lines. If this would have been the case in Zimbabwe it would be prosperous today and much tragedy could have been avoided.

https://zimnewsnet.blogspot.com/2020/08/how-zimbabwe-turned-into-state-talent.html