Opinion / Columnist
The move to buy cars for chiefs was wrong and a misplaced priority
14 Jan 2018 at 15:34hrs | Views
We have more than 6 million people walloping in poverty and such a huge decision to buy vehicles worthy 14 million was misplaced and misguided with no genuine background checks. ED is a good person, to me personally I think the guy has already reformed, and I would say rather he is genuine but it looks like there are vultures and hawks around him who could be putting pressure to make improper economic decisions that can come back and haunt us as a nation.
I'm one of the policy makers and academics that are ready to meet the President one on one so that I can make good propositions that can really benefit the nation. My worry is productivity, levels have really gone down and it's pathetic. To start with I don't know who exactly is advising the president for now, but it looks like the graph the President had when he was sworn, is going down drastically, there are so many blunders that the President has made and in deed personally I'm very worried as a policy maker I would suggest that some of the implementations be done with proper consultations. I was following news today when they said those cars for chiefs were bought during Mugabe's reign; honestly this is not a genuine reason.
To start with any deal can be cancelled, given the timing and the period we are going through I would not suggest for an ailing economy like this, we would make such huge expenditure. I've no problem for chiefs to get cars from the Government, they are traditional leaders and we respect them for the role they play in our society particularly rural areas, but for us to say a chief will simply walk away with a car worthy 80 000.00 could this be genuine? Do we afford this as an economy? Is that sustainable? Over the weekend I was watching so many civilians sleeping in pavements for the sake of $30 a day whilst the country can afford to buy such luxurious vehicles?
If you listened to Chinamasa's speech very well at Highfields stadium you could easily tell that this was a Zanu PF thing which had nothing to do with people. To make matters worse, this could be a huge debt and I don't think this money came from local funds, and this could be an external debt ballooning on our treasury. Our coffers are dry and we don't have money to pay civil servants and you find someone buying vehicles worthy 14 000 000.00. One thing for sure you should know is that investors are watching and there is a clear sign out there, they are fast losing confidence in the system. The bill for those cars is not really worthy to talk about, and it's still huge. A chief can get an affordable car worthy 15 000 USD. It can still remain decent for a chief.
Eat What We Kill
Zanu PF Government must be financially disciplined. We must eat what we call. I've a clue that something is not adding up and I think our debt level has ballooned as a nation. I've no problem with us as a nation or Government buying even more cars, but my worry the debts and expenditure are not sustainable. What are we producing as n nation for us to have huge expenditures like that? I thought the President would outline his vision first then launch it and then we know as a nation we are moving forward. To tell you the truth this is shocking. He has set a target of 100 days and we are almost clocking and no significant signs of improvement of the economy. The economy is in a mess and I suggest we have to tighten the purse and implement the "Eat what we kill" principle. Something is not adding up. The President must walk the talk. If he begins his journey this way he is likely to have a bad ending. Those people around him are giving him wrong information and by the time he realizes it he will be in big trouble with citizens. We don't want a situation where history will repeat itself. We want a calm nation, with principles and ideologies that can build the nation.
Prorities of Our Country
We have more than 200 districts without electricity, clean water and ambulances. As we speak most people are dying in rural areas because they don't have proper healthy facilities and children are learning under trees. Basically we have many areas which need attention. For us to be seen spending 14 million on cars whilst the First Lady of our country Amai Auxilia Mnagngagwa has first-hand information that we have dilapidated situation in our hospitals is misplaced. We have universities where students have gone for years without grants. We have vendors on Harare streets, we have people sleeping in pavements because of shortage of cash, we have Harare city problem, we don't have clean water and we purchase such expensive vehicles. I thought the President when he made his opening remarks on his inauguration day he emphasized the need for prioritizing important things. So where is that spirit? What has happened today Mr. President? My President your brand is fast losing relevance and something should be done quickly to save the situation.
The Atmosphere on the Ground Is Not Pleasing
If you check around you can easily tell people are not happy. I thought the President should quickly move in and resolve the economic impasse people are facing. Zimbabweans are very clever and intellectual and they are watching, it is prudent to listen to people's voice and concerns. I was of the suggestion that the President can have a round table with policy makers, business community, academics, politicians and opposition and discuss the way forward so that we can achieve our economic prospects. People are sleeping in pavements and withdrawals have been limited to $30 from $50 and honestly this is an independent opinion, Zanu PF Government should sit down and something. There is a lot of jittery on the ground. Focusing on elections is not ideal for now, but the focus should be on development and economic growth. The results of economic growth once achieved they will speak for themselves.
My Advice to the President
1. Round table with policy makers
2. Address students and academics
3. Business community
4. Rope in competitive advisors
5. Engage citizens
6. Arrange an investment conference
7. Assessments of global markets
8. Court diasporas and urge them to make investments back home
9. Increase productivity levels
10. Cutting expenditure
11. Redirection of expenditure
12. Foreign missions should be cut
Tinashe Eric Muzamhindo writes in his personal capacity as the Head of Southern Institute of Policy Analysis and Research – SIPAR TRUST, which is responsible for policy analysis and research. He is also an academic and researcher. He holds a BA, MA from Solusi University, and he also holds a Masters of Development Studies from University of Lusaka, Zambia. He is currently enrolled at University of KwaZulu Natal University in South Africa (PHD in Development Studies). He is also an adviser to many financial and political institutions within and outside Zimbabwe. He can be contacted at southerninstitutepar@gmail.com
I'm one of the policy makers and academics that are ready to meet the President one on one so that I can make good propositions that can really benefit the nation. My worry is productivity, levels have really gone down and it's pathetic. To start with I don't know who exactly is advising the president for now, but it looks like the graph the President had when he was sworn, is going down drastically, there are so many blunders that the President has made and in deed personally I'm very worried as a policy maker I would suggest that some of the implementations be done with proper consultations. I was following news today when they said those cars for chiefs were bought during Mugabe's reign; honestly this is not a genuine reason.
To start with any deal can be cancelled, given the timing and the period we are going through I would not suggest for an ailing economy like this, we would make such huge expenditure. I've no problem for chiefs to get cars from the Government, they are traditional leaders and we respect them for the role they play in our society particularly rural areas, but for us to say a chief will simply walk away with a car worthy 80 000.00 could this be genuine? Do we afford this as an economy? Is that sustainable? Over the weekend I was watching so many civilians sleeping in pavements for the sake of $30 a day whilst the country can afford to buy such luxurious vehicles?
If you listened to Chinamasa's speech very well at Highfields stadium you could easily tell that this was a Zanu PF thing which had nothing to do with people. To make matters worse, this could be a huge debt and I don't think this money came from local funds, and this could be an external debt ballooning on our treasury. Our coffers are dry and we don't have money to pay civil servants and you find someone buying vehicles worthy 14 000 000.00. One thing for sure you should know is that investors are watching and there is a clear sign out there, they are fast losing confidence in the system. The bill for those cars is not really worthy to talk about, and it's still huge. A chief can get an affordable car worthy 15 000 USD. It can still remain decent for a chief.
Eat What We Kill
Zanu PF Government must be financially disciplined. We must eat what we call. I've a clue that something is not adding up and I think our debt level has ballooned as a nation. I've no problem with us as a nation or Government buying even more cars, but my worry the debts and expenditure are not sustainable. What are we producing as n nation for us to have huge expenditures like that? I thought the President would outline his vision first then launch it and then we know as a nation we are moving forward. To tell you the truth this is shocking. He has set a target of 100 days and we are almost clocking and no significant signs of improvement of the economy. The economy is in a mess and I suggest we have to tighten the purse and implement the "Eat what we kill" principle. Something is not adding up. The President must walk the talk. If he begins his journey this way he is likely to have a bad ending. Those people around him are giving him wrong information and by the time he realizes it he will be in big trouble with citizens. We don't want a situation where history will repeat itself. We want a calm nation, with principles and ideologies that can build the nation.
Prorities of Our Country
We have more than 200 districts without electricity, clean water and ambulances. As we speak most people are dying in rural areas because they don't have proper healthy facilities and children are learning under trees. Basically we have many areas which need attention. For us to be seen spending 14 million on cars whilst the First Lady of our country Amai Auxilia Mnagngagwa has first-hand information that we have dilapidated situation in our hospitals is misplaced. We have universities where students have gone for years without grants. We have vendors on Harare streets, we have people sleeping in pavements because of shortage of cash, we have Harare city problem, we don't have clean water and we purchase such expensive vehicles. I thought the President when he made his opening remarks on his inauguration day he emphasized the need for prioritizing important things. So where is that spirit? What has happened today Mr. President? My President your brand is fast losing relevance and something should be done quickly to save the situation.
The Atmosphere on the Ground Is Not Pleasing
If you check around you can easily tell people are not happy. I thought the President should quickly move in and resolve the economic impasse people are facing. Zimbabweans are very clever and intellectual and they are watching, it is prudent to listen to people's voice and concerns. I was of the suggestion that the President can have a round table with policy makers, business community, academics, politicians and opposition and discuss the way forward so that we can achieve our economic prospects. People are sleeping in pavements and withdrawals have been limited to $30 from $50 and honestly this is an independent opinion, Zanu PF Government should sit down and something. There is a lot of jittery on the ground. Focusing on elections is not ideal for now, but the focus should be on development and economic growth. The results of economic growth once achieved they will speak for themselves.
My Advice to the President
1. Round table with policy makers
3. Business community
4. Rope in competitive advisors
5. Engage citizens
6. Arrange an investment conference
7. Assessments of global markets
8. Court diasporas and urge them to make investments back home
9. Increase productivity levels
10. Cutting expenditure
11. Redirection of expenditure
12. Foreign missions should be cut
Tinashe Eric Muzamhindo writes in his personal capacity as the Head of Southern Institute of Policy Analysis and Research – SIPAR TRUST, which is responsible for policy analysis and research. He is also an academic and researcher. He holds a BA, MA from Solusi University, and he also holds a Masters of Development Studies from University of Lusaka, Zambia. He is currently enrolled at University of KwaZulu Natal University in South Africa (PHD in Development Studies). He is also an adviser to many financial and political institutions within and outside Zimbabwe. He can be contacted at southerninstitutepar@gmail.com
Source - Tinashe Eric Muzamhindo
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