By Johannes Mike Mupisa Chana Chemasvingo
The cataclysmic situation in the country is quite appalling and has led to a lot of skepticism around the economy, health, and even the political area. The latter is a very delicate quicksand, and I won’t dwell much on it for fear of sinking into it.
The withdrawal of the USAID has been a major issue that has rocked the developing world in general and Zimbabwe in particular.
This decision by the new United States administration under the newly elected Donald Trump has wreaked havoc across the country, leaving a dark cloud of uncertainty over the pertinent issue of antiretroviral treatment for HIV/AIDS patients.
While political activists have been lauding Trump’s action, saying it’s a necessary evil to make African governments deal with health issues on their own, overall the consequences of this action have dire circumstances affecting thousands of HIV/AIDS frontline staff from viral load collection, transportation, and specimen testing. It is such a pathetic situation. We wish the gods would intervene.
On the global arena with Trump taking office, everyone thought he had the trump card to end the Putin-Zelensky crisis. A lot of hope was expected, with many anticipating Zelensky to quickly give in to the self-alleged global prefect, but alas, he refused to budge, leaving another wave of uncertainty on the future of Europe and the United States of America.
Putin on the other end seems to be somehow not interested in any peace talks with anyone. The Russo-Ukraine crisis has really reached a stalemate. So sad a situations the prospects of imminent world peace seem extinguished. Political analysts have argued that if not handled well this crisis may be the ‘Sarajevo assassination’ of WWIII-that matchstick that will light the embers of a fire that lacked a sparking glow.
Then, coming back home, the Head of State and Government and the Commander of the Defence Forces of Zimbabwe, Dr. E.D. Mnangagwa, has disputed claims that he wishes to extend his presidential term of office. He held a press conference to discard news making rounds that has led to the GEZA controversy.
Geza, an ex-combatant, made a public address allegedly purporting to represent the masses, blaming the current economic and political chaos on the presidium. This incited the public, resulting in even the dormant activism in the opposition having its feathers ruffled.
The Geza issue caused quite a stir, with some shortsighted political fanatics expecting a repeat of November 2017. The opposition was now raising its head in the political cemetery and, like chemical weathering, wanted to seek relevancy by taking advantage of what they termed internal power struggles within ZANU PF. This political storm is slowly being calmed, and it seems everyone is back to his or her usual business devoid of any wild expectations.
Geza and all his accomplices get a whip from party leadership for causing anarchy and rifts in the party. Let’s keep our fingers crossed as fate decides the future of Zimbabwean politics.
The climatic changes in the country have also curtailed and acted as a barrier towards economic prosperity. The previous year was characterised by El Nino conditions which saw many farmers losing their livestock to drought not to mention the famine that humans themselves with many households barely affording meals.
A very pathetic situation. Such unfortunate incidents have been very detrimental in achievement of the government plans towards revamp of the economy. Moreso, the rainy season which kick started around end December up to mid-February saw the country receiving above normal rainfall that resulting in flooding and crop failure. To add salt to injury, the fewer crops that were left fell prey to the outbreak of the fall army worm that terrorised Masvingo, Matebeleland and even parts of Manicaland.
That is a real blow to the nation
