The Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) has welcomed the acknowledgement by both former Mozambican President Joaquim Chissano and African Development Bank (AfDB) President Adesina of the need for political reform and credible free and fair elections as preconditions for Zimbabwe’s transformation during a dialogue on debt held on Tuesday.
In a tweet, CCC Vice President Honourable Tendai Biti expressed his pleasure at the acknowledgement of the centrality of political reform in any solution to Zimbabwe’s challenges. He warned that any solution that bypasses politics, constitutionalism, and the rule of law would fail to address the underlying issues in Zimbabwe.
The CCC also welcomed Adesina’s call for the implementation of the long-forgotten Mothlanthe Report, which detailed the events surrounding the post-election violence in Zimbabwe in 2018. The report, which was commissioned by former South African President Kgalema Motlanthe, recommended wide-ranging political electoral reforms in Zimbabwe.
The CCC has long been advocating for huge reforms, a debt audit, and an inclusive open process to address the root causes of Zimbabwe’s economic and political crisis. The group has called for a national dialogue that includes all stakeholders, including civil society, political parties, and the international community.
Zimbabwe’s debt burden has been a major challenge for the country, with the government struggling to service its external debt estimated at over $10 billion. The dialogue on debt was organized by the African Development Bank in partnership with the African Union and the United Nations Development Programme.
The CCC’s call for political reform and a credible electoral process as preconditions for Zimbabwe’s transformation has been echoed by other civil society organizations, opposition parties, and the international community. The European Union, the United States, and other Western countries have imposed targeted sanctions on Zimbabwean officials accused of human rights abuses and undermining democracy.
The dialogue on debt is seen as a crucial step towards finding a sustainable solution to Zimbabwe’s debt crisis, which has hampered the country’s development and contributed to its economic decline. The CCC’s call for political reform and inclusive dialogue is seen as key to addressing the underlying issues and finding a lasting solution to Zimbabwe’s crisis.
