ZIMBABWE is in a crisis where everyone is incapacitated to an extent of not carrying out their normal duties because of poor earnings.
The government has allowed the Gold Mafia club to go scot-free after plundering State resources worth billions of dollars. Government has also prioritised buying state-of-the-art vehicles for traditional chiefs so that they cow their subjects to vote for the ruling Zanu PF party. This is coming at a time when people in urban areas are fetching water from unprotected sources for domestic use.
Instead of addressing this free-for-all corruption, government has come up with legislation likely to be used against those exposing the rot.
The masses who have become the target of State repression have nothing to do with these superpowers who have imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe.
We have a president of the Zimbabwe Minerals Federation Henrietta Rushwaya trying to smuggle 6kg of gold to Dubai and her involvement in the Al Jazeera document shows that behind her there is someone very big who shields her from facing justice.
Such is a crisis in a country were 90% are living under the poverty datum line and the rich are getting richer.
This talk of sanctions is just a smokescreen. There is a lot happening behind the scenes.
Of course, the people know what is happening and cannot only yawn under a barrage of propaganda from the State media.
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We remain stuck in the cemetery of dreams.
At this juncture can we stop talking about sanctions and start putting all corrupt people behind jails and keep them in for a while. We need to rebuild Zimbabwe and make it work again. Corruption is affecting everyone in our communities.
We have reversed the gains of independence and are being led by saboteurs who are pillaging the country, siphoning its resources and stashing the loot in foreign banks. - Citizen
Lack of maintenance, upgrades leading to huge mismatch between production, demand
LAST week, the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) and its Chinese contractors successfully synchronised the 300 megawatt (MW) Hwange Unit 7 with the national grid to start feeding electricity.
This is part of government’s US$1,5 billion Hwange Thermal Expansion Project.
The project, financed by a loan from China, will add 600 MW to the national grid when Unit 8 (300MW) which is reportedly near completion, is commissioned as expected in the second half of this year.
The expansion project will upscale ZPC’s installed thermal capacity by 51,7% to 1 760MW from the current 1 160 MW.Adding 1 050MW capacity from Zimbabwe’s sole hydropower plant (Kariba South), ZPC will soon be boasting of an installed capacity of about 2 840MW, which is about 30% above national average demand of 2 200MW.
However, despite the coming on board of Unit 7 last week, the electricity situation remains precarious as many parts across the country continue to experience prolonged load-shedding hours averaging 15 hours per day.
This is partly attributed to synchronisation procedures for new plants which require gradual injection of electricity into the national grid to allow engineers to check for possibilities of leaks or any other technical challenges.
Also, the lack of maintenance and upgrades of the national grid is leading to a huge mismatch between electricity production and demand.
The existing aged thermal plants are now uneconomical to operate due to frequent breakdowns.
Complete overhauls are overdue as the shortage of hard currency in the official markets is constraining the procurement of key spare parts.
Although the Kariba Dam water level is improving as the rain season progresses, hydropower production at Kariba South was greatly constrained by climatic changes (droughts) across the region.
More so, the prevailing high investment risk premium in the energy sector is scaring away private investment.
Many variables including policy inconsistency, corruption, vandalism, brain drain, stringent exchange controls, uneconomic tariffs, tariff collection inefficiencies, and excessive Zimdollar volatility among others are increasing the investment risk.
As such, government must address these electricity challenges which are ballooning business operating costs and deteriorating living standards through the cost-of-living crisis. - Zimcodd
Civil servants’ salaries must be pegged in US$RECENTLY, Treasury approved a 2023 remuneration framework for civil commissions, Parliament of Zimbabwe, and grant government pensioners as follows:
The 100% remuneration review to gross Zimdollar emolument:
- Reviewed cushioning and COVID-19 allowances from US$200 to US$250
- Reviewed cushioning and COVID-19 allowance for pensioners from US$90 to US$100.
- Payment of US$80 teaching allowance to every teacher per month.
- Free primary school education up to a maximum of three children at government schools Introducing a government-funded funeral insurance framework.
The review of salaries for public workers was long overdue.
The last review was effected in July 2022 upscaling average salary by 100% to $40 000
But mounting Zimdollar depreciation and inflation have significantly reduced purchasing power
Statistics show that from July 2022 to date, the Zimdollar lost at least 50% of its value against the US$ in both markets, while Zimdollar price inflation rate hovered above 200%.
This plunged civil servants below the poverty datum line.
While the latest 100% Zimdollar salary increment is lucrative in nominal terms, persisting Zimdollar deterioration is reducing the real value on a weekly basis.
For instance, at current parallel exchange rate of US$1:$1 300, a teacher’s new average salary of $80 000 reduces to a paltry US$62.
The amount is not in sync with basic household demands such as food, clothing, housing, education, health care, transport, and retirement savings.
It is, therefore, the public’s position that salaries must be pegged in US dollars with the larger portion paid in foreign currency in line with rapidly re-dollarising economy.
This will increase forex liquidity in the formal channels thereby subduing depreciation pressures emanating particularly from rent-seeking behaviours. - Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development
IN response to Storm over ED texts to voters, SIMBARASHE TADERERA says: I received a text message from President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s number saying some things about developing Glen View of which I don’t even stay in that area. These are the last kicks of a dying horse.
TAU MUTIMBA says: If I get the message I will respond by telling him that I will vote for Citizens Coalition for Change president Nelson Chamisa with my family. Not the Gold Mafia.
ANDERSON PUTIN ANDERSON says: I think I have seen everything in this country, there is nothing left to see again. I hereby donate my eyes to charity.
IN response to Govt engages contractors to fix potholes, DOMINIC MUKONDO says: How long can you put patches to an old garment?
GEORGE CHIRAPA says: The roads don’t require patching up, but a complete redo.
IN response to UK says ready to observe Zim polls, HUGH BAFOKENG says: They should come six months earlier. Elections are not just about polling day. Zanu PF always rigs way in advance through various means.
IN response to Thousands demand Uebert Angel’s arrest, NANETTE ALLMARK says: If Zimbabwe executed its corrupt government officials, as China does, there would hardly be a man/woman left standing: including quasi-government and parastatal board members, much of the Judiciary and security heads. Let’s get real Zimbabwe, corruption needs to be brutally cut out of the fabric of Zimbabwean life and then there are opposition and council members before we start on border posts and the general population. Corruption has ruined the fabric of the entire nation.
NOBERT MAKANDWA says: He can’t be arrested because he’s doing what he’s supposed to be doing. Let him continue with his duties, remember he is serving the interests of his boss.
IN response to Some characters are a danger to President, DOMINIC MUKONDO says: He cannot be captured by his own appointees. The President presides over every institution that should fight corruption, it’s really up to him to enforce measures that curb or promote corruption. Everything rises and falls on leadership.
