×
NewsDay

AMH is an independent media house free from political ties or outside influence. We have four newspapers: The Zimbabwe Independent, a business weekly published every Friday, The Standard, a weekly published every Sunday, and Southern and NewsDay, our daily newspapers. Each has an online edition.

Govt lagging behind on promises to uphold socio-economic development

Opinion & Analysis
President Emmerson Mnangagwa

IN 2017 and 2018, President Emmerson Mnangagwa made promises for his government to uphold people-oriented leadership centred on socioeconomic development.

These were pronounced first in his first state of the nation address (2017) and in the pledge card (2018).

Five years on, we reflect on the current socio-economic conditions, especially defining the lived realities of the poor and a far from pleasing picture is painted.

Unemployment remains high, currency instability reigns, “catching and releasing” of the corrupt persists, healthcare remains a preserve of the rich and infrastructure development lags behind.

This is of great concern to us as the poor, women, the rural folks, youth, people with disability among other social groups bear the brunt of this gap and continue to be left behind.

Over the years, the State has been failing to guarantee employment for the majority, which has sadly resulted in loss of critical skills as a majority of graduates leave the country in search of greener pastures.

This is despite government’s promise to create 760 000 jobs. An average 80% of youths are unemployed and of these 59,6% are women (Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency).

The form of employment that has been normalised is the informal sector, which government is also failing to support.

Zimbabwe has not been spared from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns, which led to closure of a lot of businesses.

Throughout the pandemic, government didn’t provide adequate support to these informal businesses and continues to overtax them.

Government’s recent spending priorities are concerning for the public.

Expensive acquisitions are coming at a time when the country is in the middle of an economic crisis and worsening poverty levels.

Whilst on the other hand we have rising public debt levels of US$16,7 billion which reduces chances of securing credit lines.

Recently, the President reportedly approved the acquisition of a presidential jet, costing about US$60 million.

Treasury is said to have reached the decision after analysing the long-term benefits as compared to chartering planes.

According to the source, the jet is either a US$62,5 million Dassault Falcon 8X or the US$53,8 million Dassault Falcon 7X.

Granted this is a good consideration, but what’s discouraging is that it’s also reported that government has plans to buy four helicopters for VIP transportation.

All this increased splurging would be detrimental to the confidence of the citizenry, especially considering the economic crisis the nation is facing.

Confidence is low especially because of the experience with the “previous” regime.

Would such funds not be better spent addressing socioeconomic challenges such as health?

Access to improved health outcomes remains a preserve for the rich. Recently, government hiked user fees at public hospitals by 1 748%.

This is in an effort to match the new process of pegging user fees against the United States dollar. As such, the fees will follow the exchange rate.

This, however, leaves the majority who earn in the local currency, which is eroded everyday, unable to access healthcare as their incomes are reviewed in tandem with the rate effectively.

This is a direct contradiction of pledge number 2: “Reducing user fees by 50%,” and construction of 78 new hospitals. Concerning this promise, we then ask, #HowFar?

Zimbabwe’s tax regime continues to reflect inequality as the poor, who already have minimal incomes, are overtaxed.

The use of a cashless system that relies on mobile money is only effective if it has sufficient support from government policy and requisite infrastructure.

As it stands, the intermediated money transfer tax, popularly known as the 2% tax, continues to erode the value of the poor’s economic participation. It should be scrapped or rationalised.

On corruption, a new term has been coined due to the persistence of the practice. The “catch and release” phenomenon speaks to the authorities playing to the gallery by arresting prominent government officials implicated in cases of corruption and then releasing them with no accountability for the resources lost.

Recently, a sitting Member of Parliament was alleged to have abused public funds and apprehended, but later released. To date, no one has accounted for the millions lost.

Considering all the above, one can state that government is not doing enough to deliver on its promises to be people-centred and to deliver meaningful socioeconomic outcomes.

This leads to a reduction in confidence and demands increased action as recommended below.

Recommendations

lPolitical will to address people’s basic needs — Promises have been made and in some cases the resources have been allocated but what remains is the will to deliver.

lPeople-centred budgeting and implementation — Health and education remain under budgeted especially reflecting on regional statutes we are party to such as the Abuja Declaration. This requires alignment.

lReform for re-engagement and investment — Investors are drawn to locations with consistency in policy and economic stability. .

lRationalisation of the tax regime — Our tax system is regressive. The 2% tax for example should be reduced or scrapped as it makes transacting more expensive for the poor and informal businesses. -Zimcodd

Thumbs up to ConCourt ruling on child marriages

THE Zimbabwe Prison-Oriented Orphans Care (ZIMPOC) applauds the Constitutional Court (ConCourt)’s landmark ruling to end child marriages.

The criminalisation of under 18 marriages is a giant step in making sure that rights of children in general are protected.

The ruling also comes as a ray hope in the fight to end sexual abuse and marriages for the vulnerable children, particularly those orphaned as a result of death or incarceration of legal guardians. We say it is a ray of hope because the ruling outlaws child marriages, but is not in tandem with the age of consent enshrined in the Constitution.

What it entails is that older people will continue to abuse juveniles by having sex with them albeit without marrying them as long as they have reached the age of consent.

ZIMPOC, therefore, urges government and responsible authorities to swiftly align the Constitution’s age of consent with the ConCourt’s landmark ruling on child marriages. -ZIMPOC

God save us from Zanu PF lies

OUR lives have become so much compressed and constrained under the so-called new dispensation that we can’t breathe anymore.

All the hope anything new coming from them has been lost.

We have noted that Zanu PF will never change the way it rules the country.

The chefs have not reformed as they continue to plunder the country’s resources.

The amount of pain and suffering the citizens have endured is too immense, all for the sake of Zanu PF to remain in power.

There is no sign from Zanu PF that it has departed from the Mugabe-ism style of leadership.

The populace is swimming in abject poverty. We thought the deposing of the late former President Robert Mugabe was going to end our problems, but we seem to have jumped from the frying pan into the fire.

A lot of people thought things would change for the better, but unfortunately, we were sold a dummy when we supported the November 2017 coup which thrust Mnangagwa into power.

The situation is not well in the country. There are no jobs, the cost of living is way beyond the reach of many and the health sector is in the intensive care unit.

Indeed, Mnangagwa’s government has no solution to the problems bedevelling our country, save for lining their pockets.

Mnangagwa, soon after his election win in 2018, albeit controversially, promised to make many changes, but to date nothing has been done.

Zanu PF is now clueless. It has run out of ideas. It is now ruling by an iron fist, whereby it threatens, harasses citizens, uses coercion, violence and repressive State apparatus.

The new dispensation promised good life, but now resorts to smear campaigns, brutality and propaganda.

Last week, we were being bombarded with stories of investment coming from the Ivory Coast, where Mnangagwa was attending an Africa Investment Forum Summit.

His five-year term is fast coming to an end and nothing fruitful has happened concerning investors coming to do business in the country.

The Zanu PF regime has exhausted all tricks to make it appear as if the environment is conducive for investment, but they have all failed to work.

It needs the hand of God for us to see the back of Zanu PF.-Leonard Koni

 

Related Topics