ZIMCODD #HowFar receives response
By Jessie Chihota
The Zimbabwe Coalition On Debt and Development launched a new campaign under the hashtag #howfar.
The move is meant to encourage citizens to ask the government questions with regards to the country’s development in terms of everything ranging from budget allocations, loans, health care issues and the state of the roads.
A majority of these issues were addressed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa in 2018.
However, there are members of the public who feel that they need to follow up on the fulfilment of the promises made and a progress report on steps taken to ensure the implementation of the solutions suggested.
The accountability campaign is trending on Twitter and there already seems to be polarisation.
Those in favour of the movement and following up on the government’s promises and those who support the progress that the government has made.
The latter group responded with a hashtag of their own to launch what some called a ‘counter campaign’ under #thusfar.
One social media user who is driving the #thusFar response commented that the government allocated US$109 million to the Kunzvi Dam construction project and US$20 million to an oil mining project in Muzarabani by Australian company Invictus set to commence in 2022.
This sparked a debate between the two camps.
Those for #howFar insist that the government’s response to the question covers mega deals (as seen in the aforementioned response) and there is no mention of smaller projects.
Some of the projects that they say are not being addressed under the question are basic services such as refuse collection, sewer reticulation and portable water.
These were promised to be available as part of the government’s mandate to provide efficient services.
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