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THEMOVEMENT FOR DEMOCRATIC CHANGE
Free Zimbabwe supports the MDC and their goals of a non racial and fully democratic society. We urge all those interested in helping the cause of democracy in Southern Africa to donate funds to give the MDC a fighting chance. Currently the government of Robert Mugabe has embarked on a full scale attack of MDC members and supports.
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MDC Press Release
4th May 2000
The Scorched Earth Policies of Zanu PF:
A Comment on the Zanu PF Manifesto.
It is now clear that Zanu PF has nothing to offer Zimbabwe in economic terms except its false promises of land, jobs and housing. The promises set out in the Party�s manifesto are so bizarre that they do not stand up to even casual scrutiny. In the past 20 years Zanu PF has failed to create any significant new job opportunities - now they promise 850 000 new jobs in 5 years, Zanu PF has settled 62 000 people in 20 years, now they are going to settle 30 000 people a year. After 20 years of Zanu PF government we have an official housing backlog of 900 000 units in urban areas with a requirement of 50 000 new houses every year - and now in five years this same Party is going to wave a magic wand and build a million new houses.
Before any of these grandiose promises in the Zanu PF manifesto can be embarked upon, the budget deficit would have to be sharply reduced by reducing the current level of government expenditure. In addition to these absurd claims, they promise to stabilise the value of the Zimbabwe dollar, reduce inflation and overcome shortages with a recovery program that not a single commentator has accepted as having any serious prospect of success.
They make these false promises to the people of Zimbabwe in a situation where they have destroyed our reputation as a stable prospect for investment in any field. Where the mainstay of our economy is being destroyed by illegal and irresponsible land invasions and in a situation where the country is now totally isolated internationally. The country needs to know that Zanu PF cannot deliver on any of these promises without massive external assistance from our development partners. Such assistance will not be available to a Party that has cast aside the rule of law, trampled on human rights and whose previous record has been characterised by rampant corruption and politically motivated patronage.
A victory in the election for Zanu PF would leave the country with a collapsed economy, no foreign exchange with which to buy our essential needs, high levels of inflation and the loss of thousands of jobs in all sectors. Zanu PF would return us to a controlled economy with strict controls on foreign exchange and no solutions to the debt problem except to default on our debt obligations and create conditions for hyper inflation. Our political and economic isolation would continue and even intensify. The school and health system would continue to deteriorate and as living standards fall, the quality of life of all Zimbabweans would decline rapidly. Contrary to the promises made by Zanu PF, their program would result in fewer jobs, no new housing except in uncontrolled urban slums where disease and crime would flourish. Their land program would displace 5 people for every person settled and would undermine our economy and food security.
The MDC is the only choice for the people of this country - no false promises but a return to the rule of law and a new constitution within a very short period which will put Zimbabwe onto a new path to democracy and good governance. A new team of leaders who will tackle our problems holistically and implement energetically the MDC�s soundly formulated economic recovery programme. An economic recovery program that will restore our position among the nations of the region and internationally as a stable and progressive country. An economic programme that has the broad based support of all our development partners and which will attract massive external assistance to help us deal with current economic problems and put the economy back onto the path of strong, stable economic growth.
There is a real future for all Zimbabweans under an MDC government, there is no future at all under Zanu PF and this is now confirmed by their manifesto.
Eddie Cross
Secretary for Economic Affairs in the Movement for Democratic Change