Fellow Zimbabweans,

Zimbabwe today is the epitome of a failed nation in a terrible state of disrepair. This is not by choice of the Zimbabwean people, but due to the disastrous policies of the self-indulging government of Robert Mugabe and his ZANU PF.  This corrupt and inefficient government will not stop at anything in their destructive course of mal-governing a country that was once the pride of Africa.

Zimbabwe was once a source of inspiration to Africans and the world over.  Ours was one of the most promising African nations that by now could have achieved strides towards economic development and social emancipation. Yet sadly, 21st Century Zimbabwe is a nation under siege from a government that has long lost the mandate and credibility to preside over its people.

Zimbabweans are being ruled by force and against their will.  Respectable men and women of Zimbabwe have been reduced to second-rate citizens with neither rights nor lives.  Zimbabweans are now pawns in a political game pitting a heartless ruling party and the hapless opposition MDC party.  Zimbabweans deserve better.

The lives of innocent children have been completely ruined while their future prospects irreparably damaged.  Hunger, disease and death now characterise what is life for Zimbabweans.  Those who are neither hungry nor sick are limping, dying or fleeing the country in capitulation.  Health delivery has collapsed while food supply has dried up.

The entire Southern African region has at best fumbled over the crisis and at worst completely failed the people of Zimbabwe. The African Union is moulded too much in the shadows of 1960’s Africa such that trying to apply that ancient Pan-African philosophy to the current challenges facing modern Africa is neither rational nor does it serve the African people.

Just as the United Nations failed Rwanda in the 1990’s and almost failed Darfur (Sudan), the international body has thus far failed to move an inch on Zimbabwe.  The European Union, the United Kingdom, the United States and Australia have all demonstrated an active desire to see Zimbabwean lives preserved.  These countries have quietly maintained a significant level of humanitarian support while openly condemning the actions of the ZANU PF government.  However, sanctions targeting the Zanu PF government are instead directly punishing the people of Zimbabwe and grievously contributing to the sea of what has become of the Zimbabwean problem.

This is what makes it incumbent upon Zimbabweans to reclaim what is left of their pride because failure to do so will mean the imminent death of our nation.

The determination of the Zanu PF government to accelerate along their destructive path can no longer be over-emphasised. The deliberate disdain, arrogance and corruption in the government and the ruling Zanu PF party is draining the life out of all Zimbabweans.

Mugabe is determined to stay put until he drops dead.  The ruling party has already indicated that they see no urgency in resolving the malaise, yet now is the time to review the approach to Zimbabwean politics.  Others in ZANU PF are already actively campaigning for Mugabe’s life Presidency.

This is why the ZPDP is calling upon all Zimbabweans to see beyond the cheap ZANU PF political gimmicks of dolling out poor quality tractors and cars to chiefs and selected sections of the population at the expense of the starving tax-payer. The entire Zimbabwean civil service needs looking after because they are doing a wonderful job in treacherous circumstances. It is not just the elite who deserve to be rewarded.  What about our teachers, nurses, low-ranking army and police officers?

The ZPDP has a holistic approach to the economic and social challenges facing our nation. We will not use piece-meal methods of pacifying sections of the civil service. Neither will the ZPDP selectively parcel out goodies to sections of the population while others are living in poverty. The ZPDP has a national package for Zimbabweans, a package that will accommodate all the needs and aspirations of Zimbabweans.

The time is fast approaching for registered Zimbabwean voters to make momentous choices that will determine the future of our nation. I encourage all of you, my fellow Zimbabweans, to vote wisely – choose the ZPDP as your party in the upcoming Elections.

Ms. Isabel Shanangurai Madangure
President, Zimbabwe People’s Democratic Party (ZPDP)