Spare the government and pay for your services

Given the attaining socio economic conditions in Zimbabwe, a paradigm shift from free goods to pay for the services is of paramount importance to survive the gruesome economic meltdown. The government has gone a long way to address the anomaly through the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (ZimASSET).

National pride and commitment to set governance system right should be a concern for at least every Zimbabwean. The government can incentivise the individual efforts by zooming in on transparency in a manner the ordinary citizen is left satisfied and with a tangible result of their input.

The assertion follows the recent increase in toll fees by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development. The decent outcry can be justified by the past events where the tax payers have contributed to a certain entity and the results or changes have never been realised. The same net traps essential services providers like PSMAS who usurp money from the general public and deny them medication at the end of the day.

It is prudent for government to restore confidence in the country that their monies will be well accounted for and put to good use.

It is no secret the government has a lot on its plate to deal with at the moment but the refereeing role cannot be much to ask for to ensure sanity in the running of the state of affairs. As long as the system has loopholes so shall the government be drained of the minute resources it has.

Noble programmes such as the Presidential Well wishers fund have been abused by benefiting equally undeserving and able individuals. The farming inputs if directed to the A1 farmers would have been put to good use than having an A2 farmer scrambling for the same. The dependence of most individuals on government helps worsen the situation at the detriment of the poor.

The beneficiaries of the farm mechanisation equipment have categorically not paid back their loans and the impact has seen most of these people still looking up the government for assistance.

The desire for free goods has infiltrated most sectors and corners of the country. If one as an individual cannot pay for what they enjoy, who then should?

The notion "ndezvenyika" (government property) will not head us far. Actually state property should not be taken for granted rather invite due diligence in their utilisation.

The same translate to Presidential scholarship fund. A mere sight of the beneficiaries tells a different story of the qualifications one has to have for them to enter the program. The intended beneficiaries are left ailing and wailing in their rural homes when those able to foot their educational bills trample on the heads of the poor.

Selfish ambition peddles such inconsideration which leaves the rest of the population equally disgruntled. The government can name and shame such individuals by at least publishing the list of the beneficiaries the same way local universities do.

What may help our beloved Zimbabwe back on her foot is a selfless refocusing of production lances into the future. That is achievable by patience rather than quick money ambitions. Lets engage on projects in good faith of benefiting generations to come by desisting from operating as if Zimbabwe is due for closure hence engage a giveaway sale.