COVID-19 pandemic escalates in hyper-inflation economy, but political dialogue prospects greatly improved

Submitted by admin on Sat, 02/13/2021 - 06:25

With inflation measured at over 470 per cent in 2020, the people of Zimbabwe are really struggling to survive as 2021 gets into full swing. Several high profile political, business and church people have died from COVID-19 in recent weeks, sharply focussing the government on more effective action.

The arrest of former Minister of Labour and Social Welfare Petronella Kagonye, on fraudulent sale of residential land, continues to demonstrate the government’s efforts to confront corruption. And the Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations have put forward a viable process for an inclusive national political dialogue, which may end the fruitless negativity of MDC alliance leader Nelson Chamisa.

This should open up the possibility of a more constructive engagement with the international community, and the new Biden-Harris Presidency in the USA is also an opportunity to re-set the hostile US attitude of the last two years towards a supportive mode.

 

Zimbabwe
Information Centre, Australia
February 13, 2021