Fixing Zimbabwe – Ideas/outline on what should be done in the months
following 2008/08
Aims –
- Fix hyperinflation
- Fix economy
- Depoliticize society and government
- Eliminate Corruption
Hyperinflation – is caused by the Government printing money on a large scale for 2 purposes:
- To pay government workers’ wages and salaries, pay subcontractors, buy supplies – to keep the economy afloat
- To provide monies which the President and the Elite can steal and (usually but not always) externalise
The solution is twofold –
- Get international budgetary and balance of payments assistance from external donors for a period of time (e.g. 6 months/2 years/5 years) which will amount to 10-40% of GNP every year
- Eliminate present and future corruption, especially at Presidential and Crony levels. This will probably require a moratorium on past corruption, including corruption from the recent past, and will require very stiff penalties for any and all future corruption, with no immunity.
Budgetary assistance as above will also enable the currency to be replaced by the ZAR (South African Rand) or the USD (US Dollar), or any other suitable currency, including the Chinese Renimbi or Wan. Legalisation of the use of one or several non-Zimbabwe-Dollar currency should be implemented immediately.
Budgetary and BOP assistance can come either from the West or from China (or both or from anyone else who is willing)
Fix Economy
Will involve eliminating hyperinflation and eliminating corruption. It will also require budgetary and balance of payments support. Then it will require domestic and foreign investment, and especially investment in productive activities and sectors. The question of protection and protectionism should be considered, although international conventional wisdom is completely against such practices. One has to hope that the economy will largely fix itself (i.e. the population will autonomously rebuild the economy) once the macroeconomic conditions are right (i.e. zero or very small inflation, stable currency, availability of forex etc).
Eliminate Corruption
- Repeated from above - Eliminate present and future corruption, especially at Presidential and Crony levels. This will probably require a moratorium on past corruption, including corruption from the recent past, and will require very stiff penalties for any and all future corruption, with no immunity (to the Highest Levels)
Depoliticize society and government
This does not mean institute a one-party or a no-party state – it merely means remove government propaganda from the streets and the media, and depoliticize the army, police, the CIO (Zimbabwe’s secret service), all kinds of militias. Indeed all militias must be formally demobilised and reintegrated into society. The motto must be that the Government is now the servant and not the master of the People. The system whereby membership of the ruling political party brings economic and legal/immunity benefits must be abolished and deconstructed.
Other Topics needing discussed include:
Immunity and compensation
Elections (future)
Poverty (alleviation/elimination)
NGO’s and Donors
Diaspora
Politics and Parties
Land
Human Rights
Utilities (electricity, water, postal services, telephone, etc)
Media
International Relations
Look Outwards
Immunity and compensation
As per the policy on Corruption, there should be immunity for past political and President-directed Human Rights crimes, but strong enforcement of justice and punishment for any and all such future crimes. Blood Money for past crimes should be payable by a Central Fund (possibly externally funded?) or by the Perpetrator(s) – i.e. Past crimes may in some cases become civil and not criminal offences. Even and especially past crimes which receive amnesty should still be documented and noted in the criminal record of the individuals concerned (to the Highest Levels). Submission of false claims for monetary gain and/or to blacken the reputation of accused should be treated as a serious criminal offence.
Elections (future)
Un-Fraudable Voting and Election Systems must be chosen and written into law so that the Dictatorship which has degraded Zimbabwean Society and Economy cannot be repeated
Poverty (alleviation/elimination)
It may (or may not) be necessary to institute social payments for a limited period of time during the reconstruction phase. Low-cost electronic banking systems should make this possible and affordable
NGO’s and Donors
Most NGO’s (including the big names internationally) and Donors have never ever been serious in any country about treating or alleviating or eliminating poverty – it is just a game played mainly by the West against the Third World. Therefore not all (domestic and international) NGO’s and Donors should be allowed to operate – they should be given selective permission to conduct sensible and effective programs. Permission should be given on technical and not on political grounds. Feeding Programs should be allowed to operate again with immediate effect.
Diaspora
Diaspora should be encouraged to return and/or to invest and/or to retire in Zimbabwe. Dual citizenship should be allowed.
Politics and Parties
It should be accepted that possibly new, effective and popular opposition party(s) might form and/or might be required. A political opposition is a healthy thing in a democratic society and economy. A free and independent media can fulfil that function to some extent also.
Land
Major work on land reform is now required. There has been a transfer of land and resources from rich whites to rich blacks. There must now be a second land redistribution exercise which transfers from rich blacks to poor (but capable) blacks. Sometimes this transfer must be a literal and physical transfer. Other times there may be mechanisms such as shareholdings in farming companies and organisations. Policy on land must be a compromise between efficiency and equity. Training, selection, de-selection and ejection from land must all be used where appropriate.
Human Rights
With the effective elimination of dictatorship, then human rights to a large extent will automatically come right. The voting and election systems are key in this respect.
Utilities (electricity, water, postal services, telephone, etc)
The utility situation in the urban areas has deteriorated severely over the last 10 years. This must be rectified and should be a priority of government.
Media
A free and vibrant media must be encouraged. All repressive legislation repealed. The print and electronic media opened up, with appropriate light regulation. In particular the Daily News or its successor must be allowed to operate immediately from inside Zimbabwe. And petty censorship of the broadcasting services from other African countries must cease (i.e. disallowed DSTV Channels). Despite its many sins and omissions, and biased political reporting directed by the UK Foreign Ministry (FCO), the BBC World Service Radio remains probably the best radio service available; 24x7 BBC FM transmission in Harare, Bulawayo and possibly other urban centres should be invited and implemented. When BBC censures and/or distorts international, African or Zimbabwean news, then ZBC can counter with the truth (in a non-political and non-propagandist way); repeated gross violation of international journalistic standards can be punished with temporary or permanent shut-down and/or withdrawal of licence.
International Relations
No nation should get favourable treatment over any other on political and/or historic grounds. But the Look East policy should probably be replaced by a Look African policy.
Look Outwards
All Zimbabwe citizens should be able to get a passport with the minimum of procedure and trouble. This applies also to all government services, which at the moment are embroiled in corrupt practices which waste the time and money of Zimbabweans.
Mr Alex Weir, Harare, 09/08/2008