THE introduction of the new currency in Zimbabwe was met with mixed feelings across the country as those who were sceptical foresaw the collapse of the new currency, based on experiences from the past.
The country has gone through cycles of currency changes since the year 2000, with many people having lost all their savings in the process.
The year 2024 ushered in a new governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, John Mushayavanhu who did not delay to launch a new currency, the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG).
As expected, the perennial economic saboteurs were waiting to attack with their machines and quickly manipulate the exchange rate to their advantage.
The Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion ministry was quick to realise the malfeasance by chronic money changers, hence the gazetting of Statutory Instrument 81a of 2024 which came up with prohibitive measures against foreign currency trade, exchange rate manipulation and general financial transactions.
The ZiG needs a lot of discipline from everyone.
Government has a duty to protect the local currency and it should now be easy to pay import duty of commodities, including vehicles, using the local currency to instil confidence in the financial markets.
It should now be mandatory for all domestic payments to be made using our local currency and those who are caught on the wrong side should face the full wrath of the law, including the painful ZiG200 000 gazetted as penalty for flouting exchange control laws.
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Jailing currency manipulators is a desired measure that will be a long-time deterrent in the country.
Zimbabwe will rise from the ashes to reclaim its economic status and Vision 2030 will be achievable.
There should come a time when there will not be a scramble for United States dollar.
There should come a time when Zimbabweans behave the same way as Tanzanians, Zambians, Malawians, South Africans, Motswana and many other nationals with regards to the US dollar.
Why is it that our country is the only one that is struggling in southern Africa when it comes to currency issues yet it is the richest in terms of natural resources, considering the availability of more than 30 precious minerals?
Discipline is needed if our country is to progress.
The country continues to lose about seven lives daily from road traffic accidents, with more than 40 people being seriously injured on a daily basis.
The causes of accidents are numerous, but chief among them are drunken driving, unlicensed drivers, speeding, bad roads and faulty vehicles.
Why does the Transport and Infrastructural Development ministry not come up with statutory instruments that penalise heavily those who drive without licences?
A prohibitive fine of ZiG200 000 is again required in order to bring sanity to the transport sector.
Punishing drunken drivers with extortionate penalties will make would-be-offenders think twice and failure to pay the required fine should invite a jail term. Order is needed if our country is to move forward.
Discipline should be a culture that should linger in our brains.
The education system is riddled with indiscipline, with numerous unregistered schools mushrooming everywhere countrywide.
Houses are turned into schools with no quality control measures in place, a development which should not be typical of a supposed highly literate country like ours.
The Primary and Secondary Education ministry perennially threatens unregistered schools with closure, which is now becoming cheap talk.
Why are we allowing ourselves to become a lawless society, yet we aim to attain Vision 2030?
We need serious regulation of all institutions for checks and balances.
The medical field is not spared either. There are some errant practitioners who are running unregistered backyard practices, a development that is undesirable for ethical and quality service.
The aesthetic medical practice is sprouting lately, with many women getting intravenous drips of drugs like glutathione, Vitamin C; and what is worrisome is that many the centres that administer intravenous drugs are not registered with the Health Professions Authority of Zimbabwe.
The country requires strict laws that instil order. Discipline is a vital ingredient of for economic development.
- Johannes Marisa is a medical practitioner who is the current president of the Medical and Dental Private Practitioners Association of Zimbabwe
