Most people have expressed frustration and sense of anger at the course of events in Zimbabwe over the last eight months. But there seems to be some light at the end of the tunnel. So we have drafted a Programme of Reconstruction for that country.
Since the March 2008 election in Zimbabwe, various people have been involved in trying to reach some sort of political agreement between the major parties – whether as a “government of national unity” as proposed by former President Thabo Mbeki or more generally a shared power arrangement. Mbeki, acting as a negotiator on behalf of the SADC grouping of countries, understandably chose to describe the political accommodation which he hoped to achieve as a “government of national unity”. This obviously is based on South Africa’s transformation experience, which worked: between 1990 and 1994 the main political parties served in what was described as a “government of national unity” (GNU). The agreed purpose of the GNU was to defuse the political situation and create space and time for the constitutional, structural and legal changes which would transform South Africa from a white-minority dominated state to a full non-racial democratic one. And M beki was right in thinking that something like the South African transition was needed also in Zimbabwe. However, it is important to highlight a specifically relevant difference between the two situations. As it happened, the ANC in the election of 1994 took control of a fully functioning state. By contrast, the parties who take control in Harare in terms of their political agreement of September 2008 take control of a failed state.
The point is that, however well-intentioned Zimbabweans may be, they are simply not in a position to turn that country around. They are going to need massive international assistance, and that is the purpose of the Reconstruction Programme which we have formulated. While I personally take responsibility for it, I listened to the views of a great many people in formulating it. An electronic copy is available for download here: The Reconstruction of Zimbabwe: A Proposed Strategy for Africa. If you agree with it, we would be happy for you to pass it on to any political or business decision-makers you think should see it.
Denis Worrall is Chairman of Omega Investment Research, a South African based investment advisory and strategic marketing consultancy. He is a graduate of the University Cape Town (M.A.), University of South Africa (LLB) and Cornell University (Ph.D) where he was a Fulbright Scholar He started his career as an academic lecturing at universities in the US, Nigeria and South Africa . His last post was as research Professor at Rhodes University. He practised as an advocate for seven years in Cape Town, before going into public life. He has been a Member of Parliament, chairman of the Constitutional committee of the Presidents’ council, South African Ambassador to Australia and the Court of St James (London).Email: kamreyac@omegainvest.co.za
US EXPORT COUNCIL PROVIDES ASSISTANCE TO US COMPANIES SEEKING ACCESS TO HIGH GROWTH MARKETS OVERSEAS. http://usexportcouncil.com/
