Was DEMAF meant for South Africans?

As we approach Workers Day on the first of May 2014 many workers have nothing to celebrate. The sad reality is that in Zimbabwe only civil servants and a few workers in the private sector will celebrate while the majority of workers wallow in poverty, the majority of workers have been reduced to destitute and they have nothing to celebrate.  Corruption, greediness, and selfishness has taken its toll on the citizens of this Country only a few individuals are enjoying the fruits of Independence, the rest of us suffer, unemployment rate is at an unacceptable level with economic analysts putting the figure at over 80%, Though the government through their blue print Zim Asset puts the unemployment rate at above 50% a figure they also agree is too high. According to Zim Asset the Gross Domestic Product [GDP] declined by about 50% by 2008. All this means the suffering of ordinary Zimbabwe citizens and is unacceptable in a democratic Country like Zimbabwe. Basic needs such as shelter, food, employment, education, health care, among many other necessities have become a privilege for a few connected individuals yet it is supposed to be a basic human right for everyone I regardless of colour, creed, or party affiliation. Politics of patronage which have destroyed our country's economy have become the order of the day in this Country. As it is it looks like the Government doesn't have a clue on how to deal with these issues or at least protect the poor.

The government of Zimbabwe have a problem of inconsistence what they say is not in tandem with what they do. The Government agrees to a curtain extent that the economy is shrinking according to the statistics in their Zim Asset the manufacturing sector remains in crisis with capacity utilisation declining from an average of 57% in 2011, 44% in 2012, and 39% in the 3rd quarter of 2013. This is attributable to structural and infrastructural bottlenecks such as erratic power supply, obsolete machinery, and dilapidated infrastructure, as well as high cost of capital hence negatively affecting value addition and beneficiation as well as employment creation.

 Yet they fail to monitor their own initiatives such as DEMAF which have caused untold suffering to ordinary workers as we speak the situation at Marvo have become unbearable for workers who have spent more than 15 months without pay. Yet the Company continue to import finished goods from South Africa. Did they [government] create DEMAF for South Africans? The reason why we ask is because they seem to be the beneficiaries of DEMAF Marvo benefited from DEMAF it was given a 758 000-00 Dollar loan to resuscitate the Company but they didn't do that we have complained and appealed to the government and Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union [ZCTU] for them to protect us as workers to no avail. It has become clear that Marvo no longer wants workers as long as they are allowed to bring in finished goods. Why? Because with importing they don't need a large number of workers they can still get millions of dOLLARS with five employees at the expense of hundreds of workers and potential workers while creating jobs for other Nations? What angers the workers most is the fact that the management refuse to pay workers their salaries and back pays the workers have even volunteer to resign since they are no longer needed on condition they pay them their back pays still they don't want to release money so far Marvo have received almost a Million Dollars from loans which they use to import. We believe that if many Companies are allowed to run their businesses in the manner in which Marvo is doing the Government will not achieve its set goals in the Zim Asset.

Lastly our view is that corruption needs to be taken care of as soon as possible. Only a few people are benefiting while the majority of citizens are suffering the government agrees that on the housing front the Country faces a huge backlog estimated at 1.25 million units due to rising housing demand in urban and resettled areas as a consequence of the land reform programme. Our question is how then government is going to reverse the poverty levels of this Country if they continue allowing corrupt people get away with it. Just imagine how many Companies are importing goods and services including the government itself how much money is being exported from this Country unnecessarily? Do we really need these imports in this Country, is it absolute necessary? We don't think so. The government must investigate how DEMAF money was used before they continue dishing out money to underserving individuals and Companies. A lot of Companies in Bulawayo have turned into net importers instead of manufacturers, a large number of Companies have fired workers and remain with a few workers while list they resort to importing is this not sabotage on the part of employers? A Company like Marvo used to employ over 500 permanent employees and more than that number of contract workers during back to school periods but now it is left with just over a hundred workers if it continue like this the number is likely to be below 50 workers even before the end of this year.