Price stability key to economic recovery

"A more efficient management system of scarce foreign exchange is key to price stabilisation and business growth."

According to the "Transitional Stabilisation Programme" (TSP), the aspirations of Vision 2030 will be realised through five strategic clusters, which are governance, macro-economic stability and re-engagement, inclusive growth, infrastructure and utilities and social or human capital development.

There should be no doubt that sustainable economic and social development can only happen in a stable macro-economic environment. Macro-economic stability is the absence of currency fluctuations, high debt burden and unmanaged inflation which can result in economic crises and collapse in GDP. It also includes minimising our economic vulnerability from both internal and external shocks and the pursuit of consistent well thought out economic policies which create predictability and allow effective economic planning and growth. Fiscal and monetary discipline, as well as a sustainable balance of payments position are therefore key.

A key factor which has a systemic impact on macro stability is the issue of price stability whose preserve largely falls under monetary policy effectiveness. Price stability implies avoiding both prolonged inflation and deflation.

Inflation is of course enemy number one because it complicates the economic decision making process and slows economic growth while it results in the decline in the value of money and purchasing power. Deflation also slows down economic growth as consumption and investment in the economy are both deferred.

Price stability, among other things, contributes to high levels of economic activity and growth, improves informed consumption and investment decisions and allocation of resources, increases investment levels and also prevents arbitrary re-distribution of wealth which can lead to market distortions.

In short economies, grow when prices are stable because people can plan, afford and increase their consumption while businesses can effectively plan and invest more in the economy due to profit predictability.

In Zimbabwe, for many reasons, we have been faced with the lack of price stability and high inflation which has led to a general reduction in purchasing power of incomes and lack of the required investment levels to increase our production levels.

Our inflation has originated from multiple variable factors but the two key drivers include;
Excess money supply which creates demand pull inflation. The source of this increase has been fuelled by fiscal indiscipline. A high government budget deficit and unsustainable debt levels have been the key root causes. This has required specific attention under the TSP and we are beginning to see the positive results as the budget deficit is managed better and month to month inflation has begun to decrease.

Exchange rate fluctuations primarily fuelled by the parallel market which have created supply side inflation are another cause. Because our economy is highly import dependent characterised by a continuing trade deficit, we effectively import our inflationary pressures. The pricing of foreign currency to feed the economy becomes key and has to date, continued to increase costs of production which are in turn passed onto consumers.

The recently announced Monetary Policy Statement (MPS) by the Reserve Bank Governor John Mangundya has certainly impacted positively on taming inflationary pressures, stabilising foreign exchange rates and reducing speculative fluctuations in our pricing regime.

The inter-bank foreign exchange market has sort to take the wind away from parallel market sails and thereby redirect foreign exchange trading to a more formalised and transparent platform. This has had the effect of reducing high corporate demand of foreign exchange from the parallel market, effectively dampening the impact of informal and speculative rates on inflation. As a result, we have begun to see more stable foreign exchange rates which are likely to further reduce as we get increased foreign exchange inflows.

Currency reforms will also create confidence and stability in the short to medium term as we seek to attract new investment inflows. Despite the usual typical cacophony which accompanies all policy changes, the market has accepted the RTGS$ as a step towards own currency but more important, as the antidote to three tier pricing structure which has been a source of price instability.

One expects that as the budget deficit improves and more foreign exchange trading migrates to an efficient inter-bank market, the economy will begin to turn around as confidence builds and there is more predictability in price structures and foreign exchange availability which should allow effective planning and subsequent investment in the productive sector.

In my opinion, despite continued scepticism of the role and intentions of the RBZ, more driven by lack of appreciation of contextual socio political and economic dynamics than by understanding fundamentals, the Reserve Bank has significantly shifted from previous quasi-fiscal activities to more facilitative role to create both price and currency stability while sourcing appropriate credit lines for the productive sector. This should result in economic recovery underpinned by production and not consumption. The reduction of the trade deficit, however, still remains a clear challenge which can only be addressed by aggressive import substitution. Localised value addition and beneficiation will be key.

The TSP is a two year stabilisation programme which seeks to create a stable foundation for future growth driven mainly by a highly responsive and productive economy and, as on a ship, most passengers may not realise when the economy is turning. Zimbabwe can indeed turn the corner but it will take bold policy moves and then some.

Vince Musewe is an independent economist and you may contact him on vtmusewe@gmail.com