The Zimbabwe we want
Chapter three: The state must not be predatory
A predatory state stifles potential and creates a patronage system that leads to the mismanagement and misallocation of resources. A predatory state unnecessarily gets involved in everything, is a bully, tends to be corrupt and does not respect the rights of private citizens.
Africa has been characterised by predatory capitalism by the state and there has been a very thin line between the state and the party. As a result, the underdevelopment we see today is mainly because resources have been hugely abused or stolen. Zimbabwe is no different.
The Zimbabwe we want is characterised by a state whose main responsibility is to facilitate development and enable citizens to live freely without limit of what they can become or achieve. We imagine an empowering state that acknowledges the critical role that is played by human capital when it comes to socio-economic development.
In the Zimbabwe we desire, the role of the state will be limited to provide the safety and security of citizens and to develop human capital to its full potential. This can be achieved through education and aggressive skills development in order to empower citizens, access to affordable health services for all and the provision of welfare services for the disadvantaged and vulnerable groups; that is all.