Read books of basic economics, Bimha's investigation of denial won't help

ZANU-PF's failure to take responsibility of the current crisis will only serve to worsen the situation. In an attempt to shift the blame to externals a misdiagnosis of the situation is bound to happen.

We have seen it before that ZANU-PF deliberately diagnoses the problem just to suit the propaganda and spin. Bimha's investigation of the price shocks is one such act, a while goose chase which is very unnecessary.

Songs of sanctions have been composed and played over and over again just to vindicate government mediocrity.

The issue is that those in authority have an obligation to deliver; the executive is ultimately accountable for the government's actions both of commission and omission.

The past few days have displayed a balance sheet of failed leadership for everyone to see. Fuel queues are soaring which is a concern.

The crisis is less a concern than the reaction of those with the responsibility to initiate recovery, President Mugabe, Chinamasa and ZANUPF.

We expected Mugabe to announce the firing of Chinamasa when he arrived from the shopping trip in New York, when he did not announce, we expected Chinamasa to act in the right way for the first time in his life by resigning. Well both scenarios will not pen out, Zimbabweans must fire the whole party; any ZANUPF element must leave government complexes.

The continued presence of ZANUPF in office by the day will only aid and abet the unpalatable suffering of our people.
The ZANUPF government is now shifting the blame on Zimbabweans for panic buying, speculative dealings and circulating irresponsible information on social media.

The People's Democratic Party restates that speculative dealing is in itself a creation of ZANUPF, we stated before that an abused citizen rejects the authority of the government and reorganises economic activity outside the state.

ZANUPF's failure to provide a conducive environment for formal business and the introduction of totalitarian regulations like SI64,stringent bank withdrawal limits, scraping of duty free rebates and the introduction of various kinds of fascist taxes including on beef and cereals amounts to abuse of the first order.

We have always stated this was a recipe for disaster and ZANUPF will one day regret.

As for panic buying the truth is that basic commodities prices have been rising for more than half a year, but on fuel the citizen is not panic buying.

We have mentioned before that the invasion of NOSTRO accounts and RTGS balances at the RBZ would brew disaster. With empty NOSTRO accounts, fuel imports are complicated and the prices go up, gas stations run dry and the black market re-emerges.

We also stated that the billion dollar fuel industry in Zimbabwe was a subject of capture, in a scam involving the Vice President, Kudakwashe Tagwirei and Sakunda holdings all fronting a Trafigura linked cartel.

This group controls the pipeline, the wholesale and the retail, the sole reason why Zimbabwe always had the highest price of hydrocarbons. We complained then as we do now, that the regulating authority's failure to correct this mess was a concern.

The point we make is that whatever the direction you take, you end up on ZANUPF's doorstep as far as the crisis is concerned.

The PDP is glad that the ZCTU is now supporting our call for the establishment of a National Transitional Authority. It is urgently needed to address the following.
 
Attend to macroeconomic stability; in this regard we contend that fiscal discipline must be maintained and that the government must immediately resort to the principle of cash budgeting.

Financial Sector Stability and Liquidity by scraping the bond note, paying back the stolen RTGS balances, promotion of plastic money and in the long term facilitating a regional monetary union.

Industrialization through a shift from an extraction model to beneficiation, repealing the indigenisation law and investing in infrastructure which makes it easy to do business. Also of importance is the funding of distressed industries and marginalised areas.

Rationalization of the 2017 Budget, reduce the Budget to an achievable target which can fully be covered by domestic revenues and also develop external partnerships that can take care of social sector obligation in areas like BEAM and drug procurement.
Retrenchment of Expenditure, rationalizing the wage bill by dealing with the issue of ghost works.

State Owned Enterprises at least 30% of GDP is being drained through state owned enterprises that have become a vehicle of patronage. The state enterprises are increasing domestic debt making reform of the institutions urgent.

Restoration Of Land Value ,the revival of the agricultural sector is predicated upon the restoration of the land value through the issuance of land title i.e. title deeds to all the beneficiaries of the land reform program.

Mining, Zimbabwe is endowed with world class reserves of commodities which however are regulated by imperial regulation that promotes primitive accumulation and self-aggrandizement. There is need to create a framework for value addition, transparent allocation of mining rights and spatial linkages in the sector.

International Re-Engagement, end isolation of the nation, dealing with the debt question and negotiate a martial plan aimed at reconstruction.
Peace, reconciliation and electoral reform, end the current toxicity of hate language and intolerance, address grievances of the past and ensure just but more importantly prepare for a free and fair election.

Together Another Zimbabwe is Possible

Jacob Mafume
PDP Spokesperson