ZANU PF’s ambitious Vision 2030 appears to be nothing more than an empty promise, divorced from the grim realities of Zimbabwe’s political and economic landscape. The party’s penchant for producing fancy yet impractical policies, coupled with a host of underlying issues, threatens to push the country further into a state of failure. As marginalized and alienated youths turn to unconventional activities such as raiding graves, it is clear that desperate times have given rise to desperate measures in Zimbabwe’s political arena.
ZANU PF’s Vision 2030, which is likely to be forgotten long before the year 2030 arrives, fails to grasp the true challenges facing Zimbabwe’s political economy. The prevailing political landscape is marked by critical factors that render the party’s policies ineffective. These factors include the continuous manipulation of the country’s constitution, a submissive military, a politically biased police force, and a compromised judiciary system—all of which erode the checks and balances necessary for upholding the rule of law and protecting human and property rights.
These factors contribute to a malignant environment of economic stagnation and political instability, driving youth to engage in criminal behavior as a means of survival in a climate of inflation and marginalization. Centralized power, in contrast to the promised devolution, has prevented the opposition from taking control and implementing much-needed reforms. A transition of power to the opposition would have ushered in a period of national healing, reconciliation, and unity.
The ongoing assault on Zimbabwe’s constitution by ZANU PF, fueled by its desire for unchecked power and wealth accumulation, only reinforces the belief that Vision 2030 will lead to more grave violations and worse. The youth, feeling the brunt of economic hardship, resort to unconventional means of income generation in a country plagued by inflation, unemployment, and deindustrialization—a country that has, under ZANU PF’s rule, surrendered its sovereignty to become a mere consumer province of South Africa.
Unemployed and marginalized, many of these youths turn to drug abuse and even child marriages as desperate coping mechanisms. Their inability to access affordable basic services, a result of years of neglect by ZANU PF, worsens their plight. Meanwhile, ZANU PF’s extravagant spending exacerbates the economic crisis.
The culture of impunity and the rule of law by those in power foster corruption, which in turn fuels ZANU PF’s quest for a one-party state. The establishment of such a state would only serve to further entrench the party’s self-enrichment agenda, as resources would be monopolized and access restricted. ZANU PF’s use of veteran saboteurs and its disregard for accountability ensure that even well-intentioned policies like ZIMASSET and Vision 2030 remain unattainable dreams.
In this environment, it is not surprising that grave vandalism has become a disturbing trend, signaling a broader problem of societal breakdown. Unless there is a peaceful transition of power to the opposition, Zimbabwe is likely to witness more of these destructive coping mechanisms. The current path leads not to prosperity, but to further suffering for the people of Zimbabwe. It is time for a change, a departure from the futile and impotent policies of ZANU PF, and a chance for the nation to heal, rebuild, and move forward.