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Zimbabwe demands reform to end poverty
Action Aid International
April 25, 2005

http://www.actionaid.org/index.asp?page_id=430

Following the sixth Zimbabwean parliamentary election that took place on 31 March against a backdrop of severe economic, social and political crisis, ActionAid International is calling for a governance system that will benefit the poorest and most vulnerable Zimbabweans.

It is estimated that over 80% of the national population now live under the internationally recognised poverty line of US$1 per day. Zimbabwe's HIV and AIDS prevalence rate is the fourth highest in the world at nearly 25%, with the hardest hit being women and girls who are experiencing infection rates of up to 59% in some pockets of the country.

Now that the election has come and gone, ActionAid International is calling for attention to be turned to the socio-economic challenges and rights of poor and socially excluded people in Zimbabwe.

Ian Mashingaidze, Zimbabwe Country Programme Manager, ActionAid International said: "Until Zimbabwe's socio-economic crisis is resolved, the country will continue on its current downward spiral and further entrenchment of poverty and marginalisation. The need to resolve the crisis is much more urgent than before, regardless of who won or lost the recent election."

ActionAid International is calling for a governance system that enables Zimbabwe's poorest citizens to have meaningful and sustainable livelihoods, decent jobs, a functional economy, and social security. They must have:

An economic programme that revives the productive sector and creates employment opportunities. Government's current efforts to address the economic decline must be enhanced with particular emphasis on reducing inflation and budget deficit.

A guaranteed system to provide food security for over 6 million people living in both rural and urban areas who will not be able to cover their food needs this year. Emphasis should be put on appropriate targeting of food aid beneficiaries, such as HIV/AIDS affected households, poor households, female headed households, through community-orientated approaches.

Access to quality health services. Anti-retroviral drugs to extend life of people living with HIV and AIDS must be provided to those that need it. Of the estimated 260, 000 who need anti-retroviral therapy in the country, about 5, 000 are receiving it. Medicine for helping people to cope with opportunistic infections and condoms for prevention of disease transmission must be made available. Orphans and children from HIV/AIDS affected households must be given skills, guidance, love, and care. This must be made effective through a framework of intervention that put women and girls at the centre of HIV/AIDS response.

Every child of school-going age to be in school with all basic facilities/services, and the restoration of the country's once world-acclaimed education system.

Greater support from the international development community for a socio-economic turn around, e.g. through improved trade opportunities, quality aid, and debt relief.

ActionAid International is committed to upholding the rights of the poor and socially excluded. In Zimbabwe, the economic crisis is hitting the poorest hardest, and is characterized by food insecurity and commodity shortages, triple digit inflation around 127%, foreign currency shortages, falling GDP (from US$645 in 1995, US$437 in 1999 to US$165 in 2004), and an unemployment rate of over 70%.

ActionAid International is a willing and able partner to those who seek social justice for the poorest and most marginalised. The agency calls on the Zimbabwean government, the opposition, and civil society movements to come together and seek a lasting solution to the current multifaceted crisis in Zimbabwe. 

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