Opinion / Columnist
Ordinary Zimbabweans Dollarised the Economy on their Own
14 Apr 2011 at 01:14hrs | Views
Ordinary Zimbabweans Dollarised the Economy on their Own not ZANU PF/MDC-T Politicians.
Mavambo.Kusile.Dawn (M.K.D) feels obliged to unpackage the true story about who exactly is behind dollarization of Zimbabwe's economy. Countless times, we have listened to MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirayi using every forum available to him to tell anybody who cares to listen, that MDC-T brought about dollarization of the economy. The same applies to ZANU PF.
We are all allowed to politick but when our politicking reaches the height of deceit, it leaves some of us with no option but to set the record straight in a bid to protect the easily deceived. In M.K.D, honesty is one of our greatest partners in our fight for the Zimbabwe we want. We have no intention whatsoever to keep any flattering record at any given time in our archives.
Looking back in retrospect, this Writer recollects only too well that dollarization of the economy started way back in December 2007, although it was deemed illegal. Despite transacting in foreign currency being turned into a punishable crime then, by ZANU PF government, enlightened Zimbabweans always found a way to move forward.
We reached a time whereby the country had a parallel economy. Several arrests connected to 'illegal' foreign currency transacting were made, all this in a bid to prevent proactive Zimbabweans from going ahead with what ZANU PF and MDC-T leaders are now stampeding each other to lay claim on: dollarization of the country's economy.
There was intense bidding in foreign currency for rental space. Most retail outlets emptied their shelves and instead piled their stocks on street vendors to sell the commodities on their behalf for a commission. Basics such as mealie-meal, sugar, cooking oil, salt and so on disappeared from supermarket shelves and resurfaced in constant supply on pavements of exactly the same shops. Those with foreign currency had access to basic goods while those without fell by the wayside. Fuel was only available to those with fuel coupons/foreign currency and transactions were carried out on the backside of shops or service stations.
At some stage, accommodation was available to those that were willing to part with foreign currency. Statistics are full of plenty men and women who quit formal employment opting for shady deals which included exchanging foreign currency on the parallel market.
Employers, both MDCs included, did not make the situation better as they were not willing to pay salaries in foreign currency giving the same overused excuse that it was illegal.
Several people migrated to different countries to fetch foreign currency from the source. Those that remained in the country did not give up the fight. We kept on piling the pressure to knock sense into the heads of the ZANU PF government then, that dollarization was the only alternative.
After being cornered and realizing that there was no any other option, Zimbabweans were shocked to hear from Patrick Chinamasa, acting Minister of Finance then, on 29 January 2009, presenting a budget statement in foreign currency terms, formalizing what the people of Zimbabwe had already done on their own, in a high sounding tone as if dollarisation was a ZANU PF initiative.
Basic goods and all other essentials which had disappeared started finding their way back from parallel to formal markets. MDC-T upon realizing that ZANU PF had pulled a fast one on them by formalizing dollarization of the economy, subsequently triggering return of goods into the formal market, hurriedly signed the flawed Global Political Agreement (GPA), a thing which they had refused to do for several months on end. The Inclusive Government is yet to record meaningful progress on service delivery.
The long and short of it is that no leader of a political party should try to fool anyone that he/she brought dollarization of the country's economy because it is the ordinary Zimbabweans who braved beatings, hunger and sometimes sleepless nights in police cells in a fierce fight which left the politician as the biggest casualty, bruised with no option but to surrender to our demand to dollarize the economy. As Zimbabweans, we proved that we have the capability to direct operations on how we should be governed, the same stance we should take in demanding that since the Inclusive Government has failed, it be replaced by establishment of a Transitional National Authority (TNA) for the nation to move forward. The IG has become a goldmine for ZANU PF, MDC-T and MDC-M/N where, although recording very minimal progress in service delivery, all the three (3) political formations are vowing to brazen it out in the unworkable arrangement. This is despite serious problems, chief among them crumbling infrastructure that increasing numbers are facing which point to the IG as the source.
Once more, Zimbabweans, let us applaud ourselves for being proactive. In M.K.D, we will remain strongly opposed to shameless politicians inclined to making the country's citizens owe credit where it is not due, yet yesteryear, it is the same individuals who wanted to crucify us for having foresight and doing that which is right.
It is time we elect leaders with vision and not allow ourselves to be led by people who act on hindsight while thriving on deceit.
Mavambo.Kusile.Dawn (M.K.D) feels obliged to unpackage the true story about who exactly is behind dollarization of Zimbabwe's economy. Countless times, we have listened to MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirayi using every forum available to him to tell anybody who cares to listen, that MDC-T brought about dollarization of the economy. The same applies to ZANU PF.
We are all allowed to politick but when our politicking reaches the height of deceit, it leaves some of us with no option but to set the record straight in a bid to protect the easily deceived. In M.K.D, honesty is one of our greatest partners in our fight for the Zimbabwe we want. We have no intention whatsoever to keep any flattering record at any given time in our archives.
Looking back in retrospect, this Writer recollects only too well that dollarization of the economy started way back in December 2007, although it was deemed illegal. Despite transacting in foreign currency being turned into a punishable crime then, by ZANU PF government, enlightened Zimbabweans always found a way to move forward.
We reached a time whereby the country had a parallel economy. Several arrests connected to 'illegal' foreign currency transacting were made, all this in a bid to prevent proactive Zimbabweans from going ahead with what ZANU PF and MDC-T leaders are now stampeding each other to lay claim on: dollarization of the country's economy.
There was intense bidding in foreign currency for rental space. Most retail outlets emptied their shelves and instead piled their stocks on street vendors to sell the commodities on their behalf for a commission. Basics such as mealie-meal, sugar, cooking oil, salt and so on disappeared from supermarket shelves and resurfaced in constant supply on pavements of exactly the same shops. Those with foreign currency had access to basic goods while those without fell by the wayside. Fuel was only available to those with fuel coupons/foreign currency and transactions were carried out on the backside of shops or service stations.
At some stage, accommodation was available to those that were willing to part with foreign currency. Statistics are full of plenty men and women who quit formal employment opting for shady deals which included exchanging foreign currency on the parallel market.
Employers, both MDCs included, did not make the situation better as they were not willing to pay salaries in foreign currency giving the same overused excuse that it was illegal.
Several people migrated to different countries to fetch foreign currency from the source. Those that remained in the country did not give up the fight. We kept on piling the pressure to knock sense into the heads of the ZANU PF government then, that dollarization was the only alternative.
After being cornered and realizing that there was no any other option, Zimbabweans were shocked to hear from Patrick Chinamasa, acting Minister of Finance then, on 29 January 2009, presenting a budget statement in foreign currency terms, formalizing what the people of Zimbabwe had already done on their own, in a high sounding tone as if dollarisation was a ZANU PF initiative.
Basic goods and all other essentials which had disappeared started finding their way back from parallel to formal markets. MDC-T upon realizing that ZANU PF had pulled a fast one on them by formalizing dollarization of the economy, subsequently triggering return of goods into the formal market, hurriedly signed the flawed Global Political Agreement (GPA), a thing which they had refused to do for several months on end. The Inclusive Government is yet to record meaningful progress on service delivery.
The long and short of it is that no leader of a political party should try to fool anyone that he/she brought dollarization of the country's economy because it is the ordinary Zimbabweans who braved beatings, hunger and sometimes sleepless nights in police cells in a fierce fight which left the politician as the biggest casualty, bruised with no option but to surrender to our demand to dollarize the economy. As Zimbabweans, we proved that we have the capability to direct operations on how we should be governed, the same stance we should take in demanding that since the Inclusive Government has failed, it be replaced by establishment of a Transitional National Authority (TNA) for the nation to move forward. The IG has become a goldmine for ZANU PF, MDC-T and MDC-M/N where, although recording very minimal progress in service delivery, all the three (3) political formations are vowing to brazen it out in the unworkable arrangement. This is despite serious problems, chief among them crumbling infrastructure that increasing numbers are facing which point to the IG as the source.
Once more, Zimbabweans, let us applaud ourselves for being proactive. In M.K.D, we will remain strongly opposed to shameless politicians inclined to making the country's citizens owe credit where it is not due, yet yesteryear, it is the same individuals who wanted to crucify us for having foresight and doing that which is right.
It is time we elect leaders with vision and not allow ourselves to be led by people who act on hindsight while thriving on deceit.
Source - M.K.D Communications Department
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