By Mlondolozi Ndlovu
Zimbabwe is on the verge of collapse and if urgent measures are not taken to resuscitate the economy, the country could be headed for disaster a local NGO research has established.
Presenting a Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition Zim-Government Barometer, Policy and Research officer at this institution Thulani Mswelanto said the country was on a ‘regressive’ rather than ‘progressive’ path.
‘Zimbabwe is stagnant and on the verge of backsliding in its quest for democracy. The economy will continue on a free fall in the absence of radical economic reforms’ read part of the report.
The same report also established that while investors were negotiating and ready to explore investment opportunities the crisis of legitimacy was still haunting the Zanu PF regime.
Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition also bemoaned the slow process in the process of re-aligning the country’s laws with the new constitution.
In this Zim- Government Baromenter, the organisation also revealed that it is impossible for the much hyped reforms to be implemented by 2018.
‘Civil society organisations must continue with advocacy since Zimbabwean laws are likely to be completely re-aligned with the constitution of reform policies by the year 2018’ said the researcher.
He further revealed that they are over 450 laws that must be aligned with the new constitution.
If the laws are not effectively re-aligned this means that the 2018 elections will be largely controversial since the major opposition party the MDC-T has always insisted that they will not participate in elections without reforms.
This report which is bi-annual is aimed at gauging the achievements of the ruling government on the ground vis- a- vis the promises they made while coming into power.
The research looked at the period between 15 May and 15 July 2015.
The organisation revealed that as part of their efforts to bring economic change into the country they would offer ZIMSMART an alternative economic blue-print to Zanu PF’s ZIMASSET.
The event was held at the Media Centre conference room was attended by journalists and members of the civil society.