Tsvangirai: Big man, small brain

While every Zimbabwean is putting efforts to revive the economy, it is disheartening that a grown up man who has ambitions of being the leader of this country is busy inciting citizens to demonstrate against those key measures, among them the introduction of bond notes.

Irresponsible sentiments from a leader of an opposition party show the level of ignorance and lack of understanding by Morgan Tsvangirai. How can Tsvangirai move around telling people that the decision to launch bond notes made by Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Dr John Mangudya amounted to a re-introduction of the Zimbabwe dollar through the back door?

It is unfortunate that Tsvangirai did not pass through basic economics class. The best advice that can be given t0o Tsvangirai is to go to the nearest institution that offers introduction to basic economics so that his brains will be unlocked for him to understand what Dr Mangudya explained on this issue of bond notes.

It is a shame that Tsvangirai, who is not even a business person, cries more than the bereaved. Even if the bond notes were to start circulating in the market today, Tsvangirai would lose nothing. He is just a cheap commodity being looked after by his opposition party.

The Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) as well as the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) welcomed the idea of bond notes saying the move was meant to boost the local industries through the buy Zimbabwe.

Quoted in The Sunday Mail, CZI president Mr Busisa Moyo said the introduction of the bond note would provide an incentive which is referred to as a bonus scheme of up to 5 percent of export receipts paid in bond notes as well as restoring liquidity to the market.

Most people are informally employed, and some of the materials they use are locally available. For instance, a local home industry at Glen View complex uses timber as their main source of material. There are many timber plantations in Manicaland, meaning those carpenters will purchase their material locally thereby promoting and boosting the local industry. Hence, bond notes will circulate smoothly in the economy without the risk of it being externalised.

Tsvangirai has always been criticizing every economic measure taken by the Government. What he wants is to see the people of Zimbabwe suffering. Instead of proffering solutions that can assist in solving the economic challenges, Tsvangirai thinks of destructive demonstrations. Sadly, demonstrating is not a new thing with Tsvangirai, it started way back during his heydays as ZCTU secretary general. Tsvangirai by now should have come up with alternative policies that can transform the living standards of the people of Zimbabwe. Demonstrating for the sake of demonstrating is not an economic solution.

During the Zimbabwe dollar era, depositors who wanted to purchase essential commodities outside the country would go to their respective banks and make applications for foreign currency.

As clarified by Dr Magudya, the same law will also apply when bond notes are in circulation. Anyone with the intention of importing essential commodities can apply for foreign currency at his/her respective bank. However, this policy accommodates those importing vital commodities only.

If Tsvangirai was serious about reviving the economy, he should think of removing the illegal economic sanctions that he called for. It is those unlawful sanctions that are worsening the Zimbabwean economy. The US now has a propensity of extending those sanctions through other economic sectors.

This year, two local fertilizer companies were added on the sanction list. Sanctioning fertilizer companies is as good as destroying Zimbabwean economy. Most industries are agro-based industries, which depends on farm produce. What Tsvangirai and the US want is to frustrate the country's economic turnaround.

The way Tsvangirai makes his decisions depicts that he is just a political malcontent without any meaningful ideas. Recently it was reported in the press that Tsvangirai was forcing councillors in Kadoma, Kwekwe and Gokwe to pay $20 each to fund his rallies. Isn't this autocracy? How can Tsvangirai be so abusive? In other words, Morgan is an extortionist.

As a party leader, Tsvangirai should be in a better position to mobilize funds that can sponsor his rallies than to extort money from other people who are striving to make ends.

One would be tempted to think that Tsvangirai is the voice behind corruption of MDC-T councillors in most cities. Corruption has now been institutionalized within these MDC-T councillors. Remember, suspended Gweru Mayor Councillor Hamutendi Kombayi was arrested by police on allegations that included hosting MDC-T leader Tsvangirai together with his concubines at a resort game park in Gweru using council funds.

Other than that, Harare City Council corruptly appointed town clerk Mr James Mushore. According to the Urban Councils Act, the appointment of Mushore was supposed to be approved by the Local Government Board. Because of corruption, the MDC-T councillors violated the Act and appointed Mushore without following the correct procedures.