Zimbabwe: Year ending with Omicron threat

Political pressure on the Mnangagwa government continued from the US Congress and the UK parliament, with a focus on human rights and political reform. But on its part the Zimbabwe government was able to announce the payment of 13th month pay to civil servants in US dollars and that it had begun paying small amounts to its principal international creditors. It has been able to obtain almost US$1 billion from International Monetary Fund Special Drawing Rights.

However, the emergence of the Omicron strain of the coronavirus has triggered more restrictions on movement of people and on business operations, which means more hardship for the people, especially in urban areas where the street vendors are pleading to be classified as an essential service.

As well, the South African government is threatening to cancel the visas of 300,000 Zimbabwean workers at the end of December, following threats of xenophobic violence. This is being countered by the Congress of South African Trade Unions. If it happens this would cause immense hardship.

On the political front, MDC-T is talking with the government about forming a government of national unity to better address the deep economic and social difficulties faced by the people.

A very disturbing event was the killing of prominent business figure Douglas Tawanda Munatsi on November 29, 2021, at around 4am inside his ninth floor Northfields apartment in Harare. Northfields is one of the highest security buildings in the country. This death seems similar to the assassination of Solomon Mujuru at his homestead in August 2011, since both were burnt to death.

With the Zimbabwe Peacebuilding Initiative (ZimPI), Daniel Zinyama excelled in an Empretec course, scooping the award for the most viable business idea of the Training Course 2021. See photo above. Tamuka Hove will undertake his Empretec Training course in mid January 2022. Both these participants are sponsored by Zimbabwe Information Centre, Australia.