Economic Liberalisation: Political Protectionism?
ZIMBABWE’S ECONOMIC OUTLOOK
Presentation arranged by K P M G Peat Marwick : Bulawayo
INTRODUCTION
I have entitled my talk today “Economic Liberalisation: Political Protectionism”. My thesis is that the success of structural adjustment, trade liberalisation and the economy generally will, in the long term, stand or fall on the degree of genuine democracy brought to Zimbabwe. It is trite that economies have only been successful where they have operated in an environment of genuine democracy. As we consider Zimbabwe’s economic outlook I believe that it is imperative that we consider whether Government is committed to political liberalisation as well as economic liberalisation. If Government is not committed to this then I believe that structural adjustment and trade liberalisation will not work in the long term.
How do we assess Government’s intentions regarding political liberalisation? Looking back on the last l3 months or so there is a bewildering array of new legislation and policies introduced by Government. The last year has seen the publication of Government’s plans for trade liberalisation and structural adjustment and a general loosening of controls of the economy, the lifting of the State of Emergency, the September l990 decision of the ZANU PF Central Committee that it would not legislate a one-party state but instead would “organise and mobilise the people” to support the idea, the University of Zimbabwe Amendment Act, the National Council for Higher Education Act, the Constitutional Amendments and the Ministry of Political Affairs Vote. I use the word bewildering because some of the policies are progressive and yet some are retrogressive.