The United African National Council (UANC) has accused the government of failing to improve the lives of ordinary citizens, citing worsening economic conditions, social decay and deepening corruption as the country approaches the end of 2025.
In a press statement released on Friday, UANC spokesperson Aliphios Mapuranga said most Zimbabwean families are struggling to survive on less than a dollar a day, a situation he claims has contributed to rising drug abuse, moral decline among youths and the breakdown of family structures.
“Many children are being pushed into immoral behaviour and substance abuse as families fail to cope with economic pressure,” Mapuranga said, adding that the country is witnessing an increase in single-parent households.
The opposition party also criticised churches, accusing some religious leaders of allowing themselves to be politicised. Mapuranga alleged that church leaders are being influenced through gifts and financial incentives to promote the ruling party’s controversial “2030 agenda”, which he said has caused divisions both nationally and within the ruling ZANU PF party.
On the political front, the UANC accused the main opposition party of abandoning its mandate after being compromised through bribery. According to Mapuranga, corruption and what he described as “stomach politics” have weakened political accountability, allowing repressive laws to be passed without resistance.
“National issues have been forgotten while corruption has become normalised,” he said.
Economically, the party accused government officials of corruption, nepotism and mismanagement, arguing that the country continues to lose valuable natural resources through corrupt deals involving senior figures.
Mapuranga specifically criticised the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC), alleging that it failed to pursue a case involving businessman Wicknell Chivayo due to his alleged links to powerful individuals.
He said such actions undermine public confidence in anti-corruption institutions and called on authorities to demonstrate genuine commitment to fighting graft.
Despite the criticism, the UANC expressed cautious optimism over internal dissent within ZANU PF against the 2030 agenda, saying it hopes the faction opposing it will push for reforms, including the establishment of a transitional authority to address what it described as “systemic decay” in the country.
Mapuranga concluded by extending Christmas and New Year greetings to Zimbabweans, wishing them a peaceful festive season and a better 2026.
Efforts to obtain comment from government officials and ZACC were unsuccessful by the time of publication