ZIMAT 2: Mining, Land & Agrarian Reforms, Infrastructure and Economic Model UPPs Cluster

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Introduction

Analysis of the various parties’ manifestos provides some indication of similarities of areas of focus and pledges made by the parties to the electorate, but in all that space of potential opportunities for engaging voters are attempts at differentiating propositions that are unique to each party. The question is whether these unique proposition points (UPPs) speak to the needs of the electorate and whether they are reflective of the dynamics of the voters’ demographics and challenges which an incoming government would need to address. Thus, a more micro-review of the intended ‘unique blue ocean opportunities for differentiation outside the common ‘established red ocean areas of opportunities’ is useful in further separating the various parties ‘supposed unique propositions to the electorate.’ This is particularly important given the fact that our overview has already indicated a high level of similarities in the broad pledges made by the parties. We can only address this by identifying potential unique propositions for various clusters covered by the Manifesto analysis.

 

Overview of UPP Focus by Parties

A summary overview of the parties’ unique proposition points in figure 1  indicates that all the five parties drafted UPPs targeted at addressing challenges in  mining, land & agrarian reforms, infrastructure and overall economic model. Only two parties positioned their UPPs around manufacturing, informal sector and employment.  Interestingly there is no explicit coverage of social services oriented UPPs although some of these could be integrated into other UPPs in areas such as infrastructure development. Although one would expect some explicit UPPs to reinforce the parties’ pledges in areas such as education and health and general social well-being of the voters.

Summary Commentary

All the parties recognize the potential role of mining in achieving economic turnaround. Hence the various differentiation propositions. Three of the parties explicitly identify opportunities in targeting artisanal mining.

UPP Review

The parties’ recognition of small scale mining is important but there could be further opportunities for clearer differentiation through innovations in this sector given its potential role in economic turnaround.

Summary Commentary

All the parties have identified different opportunities for differentiation which range from revisiting land allocation and to identification of niche groups such as students and women.

UPP Review

There is a fair outline of diverse UPPs. Parties could look for scope to integrate these with their UPPs in the agri-business cluster.

Summary Commentary

All the parties recognize the potential for differentiation in investing in infrastructure investment primarily in the energy sector. There is still an element of generalized UPPs.eg.BZ and APA

UPP Review

There was a need for a diverse coverage of infrastructure projects besides the energy sector. UPPs could have been structured around transportation of and other social services related infrastructure.

Summary Commentary

Broad based UPPs but there is recognition of the central role economic revival in any turnaround strategy of the country. Building capacity and planning capabilities is a common foundation for the parties’ UPPs although this is manifested in different ways,MDC Alliance and Zanu (PF) are more explicit in their pronouncements. The others have outlined strategies that are part and parcel of the established mantra on economic revival .eg, cutting debt ,increasing revenue or on-going value addition in the mining sector.

UPP Review

More emphasis on articulating measurable unique ‘blue ocean -unoccupied points of differentiation could be outlined by the parties