Zimbabwe: New president on Zimbabwe challenges

 President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa has been  long time government minister, Mnangagwa has served in state security, defense, justice, finance, rural housing Speaker of Parliament and most recently as vice president and now is the President of Zimbabwe.

That diverse experience show that  qualified and prepared to lead Zimbabwe during this crucial stage of transition from the Robert Mugabe regime, characterized by declining economic fortunes.During his speech of inauguration  his task to rebuild Zimbabwe based on economically, socially and politically. He faces a number of challenges on all three fronts and as he also mentioned in the speech he must “hit the ground running,” because time is not on his side.

Economic challenges

Zimbabwe has been facing economic crisis by many years after the economic sanctions made by various countries due to Robert Mugabe leadership. This  accelerate the brink of poverty. Jobs are scarce as unemployment hovers above 90 percent. Company closures have accelerated; prices of basic goods continue to rise rapidly; cash has ran out from banks; corruption has become endemic

.A huge government debt, depressed investor confidence, low productivity and crumbling infrastructure are among the major hurdles that need to be cleared if Zimbabwe is to achieve meaningful recover.Zimbabweans believe that their new leader will abandon the laissez faire approach of his predecessor so as they can make a Zimbabwe that they want.

Political challenges

More than 15 years Zimbabwe's political platform has been characterized by  inter party  burning violence and polarization.There was a brief hiatus during the government of National Unity (2009 -2013), but it was soon replaced by a return to instability. Zimbabwe needs to restore democratic principles, level the political playing field, eliminate political violence and intimidation and implement a number of outstanding electoral reforms that will lead to a credible, free and fair election in 2018.Now that the lingering question in Zimbabweans' politics of who will succeed Mugabe has finally been answered, Mnangagwa has the delicate and complex job of uniting the party again, galvanizing supporters who may all not have backed him as their preferred candidate and to campaign vigorously to  deliver a victory in the upcoming elections. All this while under the scrutiny of a judgmental international community that will be watching closely how Zimbabwe conducts the first election where Robert Mugabe will not be on the ballot paper. 

Social challenges

 The hardships have driven impoverished girls into early marriages or prostitution; young boys into crime and substance abuse. Families have been broken and moral decadence has become pervasive. 

Mnangagwa faces the task of healing the people scared by years of hardships, rebuilding the moral and social fabric and uniting a country split apart by racial, tribal and class divisions apart from health delivery system, ensuring medicines and qualified health professionals are available when they are needed, particularly in the rural facilities and pension fund for retired workers.

   

All eyes are on Zimbabwe’s new leader to see how and when he will turn things around. Many here have pinned all their hopes on him and are desperately wishing the faith they have placed in him gets repaid.