Current factionalism in Zimbabwe’s political realm is likely to hinder the progress of reform efforts the country is embarking on, an economic analyst says.
Reforms are a key measure for the removal of sanctions and for international funders to consider offering funds to Zimbabwe.
Flitch Solutions, analysing Zimbabwe, expects political tensions between and within political parties to present headwinds to policy formation over the coming quarters of 2020.
The tensions will arise both between opposition groups and ZANU-PF and within the ruling party itself, notwithstanding efforts by President Emmerson Mnangagwa to increase his control according to the analyst.
“Amid inter- and intra-party divisions, and a continued focus on short-term political requirements, we expect the government to make little substantive progress on reform over 2020,” the analyst says.
“The IMF continues to stress the need for reforms to restore stability, improve foreign-exchange policies and the monetary policy framework, and contain fiscal spending. However, the authorities have struggled to stabilise the currency, and efforts to placate striking public-sector workers are constraining efforts to reduce expenditure.”
This week Zimbabwe witnessed a conflict between government officials Deputy Minister of Information Energy Mutodi and Foreign Affairs minister Sibusiso Moyo exposing the divisions within the country’s ruling party.
Mutodi and Moyo clashed with the musician criticising Tanzanian President John Magufuli’s handling of COVID-19 outbreak in East Africa.
Moyo distanced the government from Mutodi’s remarks in response to the musician’s Tweet.
Such developments have raised questions on whether the public clashes of top official were a tip on an iceberg on the deep-rooted divisions within the ruling party.
The largest opposition party in Zimbabwe MDC is also battling on the succession of the late Morgen Tsvangirai, with the supreme court declaring Nelson Chamisa as an illegitimate leader and compelling the movement to hold an extraordinary congress.
The division has resulted in Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda sanctioning the expulsion of four pro-Chamisa legislators Chalton Hwende, Thabhitha Khumalo, Prosper Mutseyami and Lilian Timveous on the basis that the quartet were no longer members of the MDC-T.
But, Chamisa argues that he leads MDC Alliance which is different from MDC T led by Thokhozani Khupe, therefore the Supreme court ruling should not have an effect on the cleric’s political group.
Besides MDC’s constitutional clashes, opposition parties hold divergent views with some being part of the government’s negotiation forum known as POLAD, while other groups remain clear, off the negotiation table claiming that such a dialogue is captured by the ruling party.
Factionalism in former Robert Mugabe’s administration and the ZANU-PF party is blamed for stalling progress, with politicians on internal battles rather than Zimbabwe’s economy.
The current turbulence in the opposition camp, which is also spilling into the parliament triggers questions on the capacity of the opposition in enforcing the government to reform.
