Opinion / Columnist
Mugabe defies the odds
21 Apr 2015 at 11:22hrs | Views
President Robert Mugabe's vow to accord civil servants their 13th cheque has re-ignited hope in the civil service silencing the prophets of doom who had already begun touting of a perceived failed state of affairs.
The announcement and assurances over bonuses are no ordinary public statements as they have projected President Mugabe's concern and commitment to the welfare of the entirety of the men and women in public service.
As Morgan Tsvangirai would have it under the same circumstances, when people had lost hope at the height of the illegal economic sanctions: opened fresh wounds by his infamous "Mati madii" statement. However, it takes visionary and people centred leadership of President Mugabe to defy the odds pushing for the welfare of the people.
The civil service is the force to reckon if we are to realise and achieve the targets and benefits of the economic blueprint Zim-Asset as a nation. The insinuation that President Mugabe risks endangering talks between Minister of Finance Cde Patrick Chinamasa and the International Monetary Fund by reversing Treasury's decision is subjective. Lest we forget how ESAP came to be, the country was under duress to please the Bretton Woods Institutions hence made wrong turns were made, whose adverse effects we are still experiencing presently.
However, inasmuch as Finance Minister Chinamasa would want to restore the economy, efforts should be redirected to the total unearthing of the cancerous corruption which has eaten the greater part of the Zimbabwe's economy. This can only be achieved through scrapping the impunity enjoyed by a plethora of sacred cows.
To deny civil servants bonuses meant straddling on the poor as most of the civil servants are earning below the poverty datum line while the fat cats are lining their pockets. At least some teeth have to be forged into the harmless Anti Corruption Commission.
The political will which saw the ouster of rogue elements in Zanu-PF is the final solution which can make a difference in restoring the economy.
Another lasting solution would be to remove the illegal economic embargoes which have helped to degenerate the economy. Once the economic sanctions are done with, investor confidence will be restored and business as usual follows.
An interesting point to note is that, only the West and opposition aligned persons and sections of the media are thumping up the antagonistic decision. Honestly, there are other ways that can lead towards economic restoration other than scrapping the meagre token of appreciation given to civil servants.
It is however, not surprising as the only language understood by these perpetrators of human suffering is sabotage. The message that would follow had the decision remained standing was government has failed you to the already disgruntled public office bearers.
The government can seal the pores in the economy and porous borders then proffer home grown solutions which do not harbour political ambitions that satisfy bootlickers.
President Mugabe's timely statement on bonuses has just resuscitated the morale of the public workers and necessitated motivation for the achievement of Zim-Asset.
-----------
Caitlin Kamba can be contacted at caitlinkamba@gmail.com
The announcement and assurances over bonuses are no ordinary public statements as they have projected President Mugabe's concern and commitment to the welfare of the entirety of the men and women in public service.
As Morgan Tsvangirai would have it under the same circumstances, when people had lost hope at the height of the illegal economic sanctions: opened fresh wounds by his infamous "Mati madii" statement. However, it takes visionary and people centred leadership of President Mugabe to defy the odds pushing for the welfare of the people.
The civil service is the force to reckon if we are to realise and achieve the targets and benefits of the economic blueprint Zim-Asset as a nation. The insinuation that President Mugabe risks endangering talks between Minister of Finance Cde Patrick Chinamasa and the International Monetary Fund by reversing Treasury's decision is subjective. Lest we forget how ESAP came to be, the country was under duress to please the Bretton Woods Institutions hence made wrong turns were made, whose adverse effects we are still experiencing presently.
However, inasmuch as Finance Minister Chinamasa would want to restore the economy, efforts should be redirected to the total unearthing of the cancerous corruption which has eaten the greater part of the Zimbabwe's economy. This can only be achieved through scrapping the impunity enjoyed by a plethora of sacred cows.
To deny civil servants bonuses meant straddling on the poor as most of the civil servants are earning below the poverty datum line while the fat cats are lining their pockets. At least some teeth have to be forged into the harmless Anti Corruption Commission.
Another lasting solution would be to remove the illegal economic embargoes which have helped to degenerate the economy. Once the economic sanctions are done with, investor confidence will be restored and business as usual follows.
An interesting point to note is that, only the West and opposition aligned persons and sections of the media are thumping up the antagonistic decision. Honestly, there are other ways that can lead towards economic restoration other than scrapping the meagre token of appreciation given to civil servants.
It is however, not surprising as the only language understood by these perpetrators of human suffering is sabotage. The message that would follow had the decision remained standing was government has failed you to the already disgruntled public office bearers.
The government can seal the pores in the economy and porous borders then proffer home grown solutions which do not harbour political ambitions that satisfy bootlickers.
President Mugabe's timely statement on bonuses has just resuscitated the morale of the public workers and necessitated motivation for the achievement of Zim-Asset.
-----------
Caitlin Kamba can be contacted at caitlinkamba@gmail.com
Source - Caitlin Kamba
All articles and letters published on Bulawayo24 have been independently written by members of Bulawayo24's community. The views of users published on Bulawayo24 are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Bulawayo24. Bulawayo24 editors also reserve the right to edit or delete any and all comments received.
