The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has urged President Robert Mugabe’s government to throw in the towel, saying it has failed to resuscitate the nation’s economy currently slumping deep into recession with reports of resurfacing shortages of commodities and spiraling prices.
ZCTU secretary general Japhet Moyo told reporters in Harare that the Zimbabwe economy can only be revived if Mr. Mugabe paves the way for a transitional authority, which would lead the nation until the next general elections.
Moyo said the ZCTU took this position at a recent meeting in which all delegates agreed that the current government has failed to deliver and as a result it needs to hand over power to a transitional authority, whose mandate would be crafted accordingly.
Zimbabwe’s constitution does not have a provision for a transitional authority, which has also been proposed by a group led by Dr. Ibbo Mandaza of the Southern African Political and Economic Series.
Critics say it is unlikely that President Mugabe’s government can hand over power to a group of people in the country.
The country is currently experiencing critical shortages of fuel in some areas and steep price increases due to the worsening economic crisis caused by lack of foreign direct investment, lack of capital and related issues.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said recently Zimbabwe’s economy is facing difficulties as a severe drought and slow reform momentum led to high expenditure levels since late 2015, despite subdued revenues.
The IMF indicated that spending pressures stemmed from high employment costs, government transfers to support specific economic sectors, and elevated discretionary expenditure.