By Princess Mapona (Staff Writer)
The Government of Zimbabwe proves to be inconsistent in terms of its communication, policies and corporate governance since the ascendency of President Mnangagwa to power in November 2017. The noticeable inconsistencies cut across pronouncements Finance ministry, security sector, information ministry among others.
The police spokesperson Charity Charamba provided contradictory statements regarding the video on SkyNews of policemen brutally assaulting a hand cuffed man. Addressing a press conference at Police Headquarters in Harare, she insinuated that the video was shot and recorded in 2016. A few hours later, she incredibly made a U-turn saying one of the police officers captured on the video has been arrested.
Commenting on internet shutdown during a live broadcast on national television ZBC, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Deputy Minister Energy Mutodi said, “the internet was not shut down but was congested due to a lot of online traffic. This contradicted with one internet service provider Econet which sent bulk messages to its clients confirming that they have been ordered by the government to shut down the internet”.
Another area of policy inconsistency is the government mantra of Zimbabwe is Open for Business, engagement and re-engagement drive meant to resuscitate the Zimbabwean economy through attracting foreign direct investment. President Mnangagwa since November 2017, has been globetrotting in a bid to lure Western countries to invest in Zimbabwe as part of the policy goal. In contradiction, Presidential Spokesperson George Charamba has of late been accusing western countries of administrating the recent demonstrations.
The finance sector has also seen government making contradictory statements whereby the country’s Central Bank governor Dr John Mangudya and Finance Minister Prof Mthuli Ncube have made contrasting statements relating to the value of Bond Notes and United States dollars.
During the campaigning period ahead of July 2018 harmonized elections, ZANU PF promised the electorate ‘guaranteed policy consistency and implementation’. Alas, the reality shows otherwise.
