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Zim must implement of reforms before elections: President Tsvangirai
Movement for Democratic Change (MDC)
December 15, 2011

President Morgan Tsvangirai, who is also the Prime Minister of Zimbabwe, says the year 2012 must not be characterised by rhetoric about early elections that are not accompanied by the necessary reforms to ensure a free and fair election as agreed by all the political parties under the SADC facilitation.

Delivering his end of year speech to Parliament today, in his capacity as the Prime Minister, President Tsvangirai said political stability, is key to Zimbabwe's prosperity and only a free and fair election can guarantee legitimacy, peace and stability.

President Tsvangirai stressed the need to implement what was agreed in the Global Political Agreement (GPA) in order to poise the country for growth and to guarantee peace and give confidence to Zimbabweans, the region, Africa and the broader international community that Zimbabwe is able to conduct a free and fair election.

Surprisingly, one of Zanu PF's many resolutions at its just ended conference in Bulawayo was to hold elections early next year possibly without following the full implementation of a roadmap to free and fair elections.

President Tsvangirai said although the largely dysfunctional inclusive government, made up of ideologically opposed players has had its success stories it preoccupied itself with issues that it could not reasonably deal with. He said areas to note where progress has been made are; health, education and the provision of clean water in most cities and towns.

There has been macro-economic stability with inflation having been contained at 4.2 percent as compared to the period prior to the inclusive government, economic growth projected to go up to 9.4 percent in 2012 up from 9.3 percent in 2011. There has been infrastructural development as well as an in improvement in socialservice delivery.

However, he said more could have been done, particularly in dealing with the GPA issues that have remained outstanding three years after the GPA was signed.

He said the issue of food security is a national emergency. "We should make sure that no one starves as government, we will put in place a mechanism to move grain from the surplus areas to vulnerable communities," he said.

More than a million Zimbabweans are in need of food aid from now until the next harvesting season in March.

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