ZIMBABWE - HARARE - Millions of African citizens have been pauperised by odious debts incurred by the rogue and kleptocratic regimes that run governments in several African countries.

 

Odious debts are defined as debts incurred by the state that do not serve the needs or interests of the state but merely strengthen the state's despotic power as well as to repress the population that fights against despotism.

 

 

Such debts include loans that are incurred by members of the government to serve interests that are manifestly personal; interests that are totally unrelated to the cause of the majority of the people.

 

These debts are referred to as odious debts simply because they are in extremely bad taste.
 
It is beyond debate that most developing countries, particularly in Africa, have a complicated web of debts resulting in innocent and pauperised citizens having to continuously pay debts while corrupt and negligent borrowers and lenders get away scot-free.

 

There is an inverse relationship whereby the developing world's debt continues to balloon simultaneously with the escalation of poverty and destitution; especially amongst the ordinary people.

 

It is therefore, necessary to interrogate how odious debts contribute significantly to the spread of poverty, destitution and squalor on the African continent.

 

The majority of African countries have been caught in a debt trap.

 

They cannot run their governments without balance of payment support from the Bretton Woods institutions - the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

 

These Bretton Woods institutions are hardly the best friend of Africa. They will prescribe one-size-fits-all economic policies to the developing world.

 

They will robustly encourage African governments to cut down on public expenditure, reduce the subsidisation of strategic parastatals and generally discourage government spending in social and other related key services.

 

Most of the economic blue prints prescribed by the Bretton Woods institutions have dismally failed to work in developing countries. We all recall the debilitating effects that were brought about on the ordinary people of Zimbabwe after the adoption by the government of the Economic Structural Adjustment Programme(Esap) in 1990.
 
Zimbabwe's domestic and international debt runs into millions if not billions of United States dollars. The ZANU-PF government has incurred a colossal debt that still remains a yoke around the necks of the toiling masses of Zimbabwe; some kind of the sword of Damocles.

 

What is particularly puzzling is the fact that while the government continued to obtain loans, firstly from the Bretton Woods institutions and of late, from '' friendly'' countries such as China and Iran, the living conditions of the average person in Zimbabwe continue to deteriorate to hopeless levels. All right-thinking people continue to wonder where all the money from these debts is going to.

 

It is a notorious fact that most of this money has corruptly lined the pockets of corrupt ZANU-PF politicians and other bureaucrats who feed on the kleptocratic gravy train.

 

For how else can one explain the virtual collapse and failure of the state in Zimbabwe if it is not a direct result of massive looting of public resources and the privatisation of state funds.

 

Some well-placed politicians and public officials in Zimbabwe have managed to amass unbelievable and obscene ill-gotten wealth. These corrupt politicians and public officials have even managed to buy and/or build properties and holiday villas in such far flung countries such as Malaysia and Singapore.
 
Today, Zimbabwe is on the verge of entering a new era. In the next few days an all-inclusive government will be formed. It is beyond the scope of this article to discuss the merits and demerits of the all-inclusive government. Suffice to state that such a government will be a very complex machine to operate.

 

This quickly reminds me of my brother Luke Tamborinyoka's description of this type of government: he calls it a mermaid government, half man, half fish! I am tempted to agree with Luke's sentiments on this one! The MDC is basically a social democratic party. As I have stated in my previous articles on this forum, the MDC represents the present and the future of Zimbabwean politics.

 

We are a democratic party that believes in robust debate within the party. Unlike ZANU-PF, the MDC allows its members to freely debate topical issues affecting the country. Some misguided elements, particularly in the ZANU-PF controlled media, are presently waxing lyrical; dreaming that the MDC will split because Tendai Biti is up against Morgan Tsvangirai.

 

Regai zvavo varote vana Caesar Zvayi, George Charamba na Tafataona Mahoso! I have already done a piece on Morgan Tsvangirai; the indefatigable fighter against ZANU-PF tyranny and oppression. Morgan Tsvangirai, whatever his detractors might say about him, is the face of the struggle against the kleptocratic regime run by Robert Mugabe.

 

He is our undisputed leader. He is a hero of the people of Zimbabwe. Morgan Tsvangirai or Save as we affectionately refer to him, is a charismatic leader who acts as the focal point of the MDC. Morgan holds the party together. He is the rock upon which the party is built. We have one leader and his name is Morgan Richard Tsvangirai.  

 

Tendai Biti is our secretary-general. Chibadura,as we affectionately call him, is a passionate and resolute human rights defender. He is a suave and smart lawyer and politician. I can safely and confidently state that Biti respects and indeed, idolises Morgan Tsvangirai. Morgan is our undisputed leader and we will support his guidance and direction.

 

The MDC is and shall remain a united party; much to the chagrin of the doomsday exponents. In stating these basic facts about the MDC; the people's party, I will hasten to add that I am not singing for my supper. I will be modest and state that I am a practising lawyer and businessman. Though not rich as in the sense of Jay Z and Tokyo Sexalwe, I am unable to consider myself a pauper!
 
A new and accountable government in Zimbabwe should prove that all debts incurred by the state served the public interest and that the creditors were bona fide lenders who knew, exactly, the intended beneficiaries of their loans.

 

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Those debts that will be found to be odious should simply not be honoured. We know that there a few US dollar billionaires in Zimbabwe, people who got filthy rich because of ZANU-PF's policies of patronage, cronysim and kleptocracy. This clearly shows that the issue of odious debts is symbiotically linked to the scourge of corruption.

 

Odious debts should not be honoured; they should be promptly cancelled as soon as possible. Countries that corruptly loaned money and other resources to the out-going ZANU-PF regime should bear the consequences of colluding with a repressive and corrupt government.

 

Odious debts should be considered as personal debts of the individual members of the out-going regime. These debts should not and must not be the obligations of the new dispensation.

 

The all-inclusive government should, therefore, sharpen its tools for fighting graft and corruption; particularly in high places. Corruption is simply defined as the abuse of one's position for private gain.

 

The Anti-Corruption Commission should now become a lethal and potent tool to clamp down on corrupt activities in both the public and private sectors.

 

I will be honest enough to admit that there is also need to clamp down on corrupt activities within  all organisations, including the MDC; Zimbabwe's largest and most popular political party. There should be no sacred cows.

 

When an all-inclusive government takes over from the ruins created by ZANU-PF, we should always remind the people that the struggle for democracy in Zimbabwe is not a sprint but a marathon.

 

We are in for the long haul.

 

The ZANU-PF dictatorship has entrenched itself over a period of almost three decades and it will take a lot of hard work and commitment to de-Zanunise Zimbabwe; to give back the people their dignity and hope. Zimbabweans need rescue from this situation of utter hopelessness and despair.

 

We may not be where we exactly want to be, but at least we are on course running the marathon. Victory is certain because ZANU-PF is a party in complete and utter disarray. It is a party that is long past its sell-by date.

 

The people of Zimbabwe shall ultimately triumph.

 

Senator Obert Gutu can be contacted on gutulaw@mweb.co.zw

 

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JOKE OF THE DAY - CHINOZ: Doctor, in my dreams, I play football every night.

DR: Take this tablet, you will be ok.

CHINOZ : Can I take it tomorrow, tonight is final game!"

 

 

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