"We ran economy well, figures speaks for themselves" - economy is not even half, mess speaks volume N Garikai

"If you look at the Zimbabwean crisis in the last 20 years, the Central Bank has been at the epicentre of the distortions. Some of you might not know that during the GNU we didn't have the central bank. Yes, it was there at number 180 Samora Machel (RBZ building) but in reality was not operational,” boasted MDC VP, Tendai Biti.

"Government accounts were kept at the CBZ who treated us like a commercial client. So, I couldn't run an overdraft facility because John Mangudya (now RBZ Governor) would say 'Minister you can't do that’.

"Government accounts were only moved to Central Bank in April of 2014, but we survived, and we ran the economy well. The figures speak for themselves.”

The truth is the Zimbabwe economy had ground to a halt because of the hyper inflation, political chaos and other reasons. Scrapping the Z$ brought down the hyperinflation from 500 billion % to single digit. Sadly no meaningful political reforms were implemented in five years and hence the reason the economy never really recovered, companies did not reopen, for example. 

The primary task of the GNU was to implement the democratic reforms and thus dismantle the Zanu PF dictatorship, the root cause of the political chaos. Tendai Biti and company failed to get even one meaningful reform implemented in five years and the only reason for it was that MDC leaders sold-out. 

It is no secret that Mugabe bribed the MDC leaders with the trappings of high office, the ministerial limos, the generous salaries and allowances, a $4 million Highlands mansion for Tsvangirai, etc. And in return, MDC leaders kicked the reforms out of the window.

If MDC leaders had implemented the reforms during the GNU the 2013 elections and last year’s elections would have been free, fair and credible. Indeed, MDC leaders have continued to participate in elections even when they knew Zanu PF was rigging the elections. 

“The worst aspect for me about the failure to agree a coalition was that both MDCs couldn’t now do the obvious – withdraw from the (2013) elections,” wrote Senator David Coltart, in his book.

“The electoral process was so flawed, so illegal, that the only logical step was to withdraw, which would compel SADC to hold Zanu PF to account. But such was the distrust between the MDC-T and MDC-N that neither could withdraw for fear that the other would remain in the elections, winning seats and giving the process credibility.”

It was a feeble excuse because four of the main MDC factions did merge before last year’s elections and they still participated in these elections knowing fully well Zanu PF was rigging the elections. Zanu PF did not even produce something as basic as a verified voters’ roll and still MDC participated regardless. 

"Legitimacy is an issue - last year's elections were illegal, and not free and fair. All reasonable observers concede that," admitted David Coltart last week. 

Nelson Chamisa, Tendai Biti, David Coltart and the rest of the MDC leadership have been calling for the holding of a political dialogue with Mnangagwa which culminate in power sharing transition authority, comparable to the 2008 to 2013 GNU. Just another foolish idea from MDC for three reasons:

1.               If we agree that last year’s elections were “illegal, and not free and fair”, which is a historic fact, then an illegal process cannot produce a legitimate result. Neither Mnangagwa and his Zanu PF nor Chamisa and his MDC can claim to be legitimate ruling party or opposition party respectively. It is laughable that the two political parties can now be so presumptuous and arrogant as to believe they can declare themselves legitimate and share the spoils of political office, especial when it was them who had conspired to rig the elections and deny the people the vote. 

Political legitimacy is derived from winning the popular vote in a free, fair and credible elections. This is a principle at the very heart of democratic elections and one that must never ever be compromised particularly by those with the propensity to rig elections.

2       Whilst there were significant short-term improvements in the economic situation following the formation of the 2008 GNU, there will be no such improvements this time because economic realities are different. There were no medium and long term economic recovery last time because the underlying political problems were never addressed; the same will happen again this time. 

3       Whilst MDC leaders have said one of the tasks of the TA will be implement the reforms; it must be noted that the two political parties were in the 2008 GNU and they failed to get even one reform implemented; there is nothing to suggest this will happen this time. 

Zimbabwe is in this economic and political mess because the country has been stuck with a corrupt, incompetent and vote rigging Zanu PF complete with an equally corrupt and useless MDC. The only sure way to get out of the mess is by making sure the country has a competent, accountable and legitimate government. Zanu PF must step down to allow the implementation of the reforms, the pre-requisite for free, fair and credible elections.

“We ran the economy well, the figures speak for themselves!” For the umpteenth time Tendai Biti; Zimbabwe’s political and economic mess will never be resolved by addressing the economic problems alone whilst ignoring the underlying political problems of bad governance! You need to look at the bigger picture, it tells a totally different reality - a nation stuck in a vicious cycle and sinking deeper and deeper into the abyss. The economic mess and political paralysis speak volumes for themselves!

ED is not particularly worried even if imposing Z$ is a disaster as long as he can rig elections P Guramatunhu

“Belling the Cat is a fable concerns a group of mice who debate plans to nullify the threat of a marauding cat,” explained Wikipedia. 

“One of them proposes placing a bell around its neck, so that they are warned of its approach. The plan is applauded by the others, until one mouse asks who will volunteer to place the bell on the cat. 

“All of them made excuses. 

“The story is used to teach the wisdom of evaluating a plan on not only how desirable the outcome would be but also how it can be executed. It provides a moral lesson about the fundamental difference between ideas and their feasibility, and how this affects the value of a given plan.”

This is a moral lesson we, in Zimbabwe, have yet to learn and have paid dearly for it!

Zimbabwe is not a democratic country in which those in positions of power and authority are democratically accountable to the people. Zimbabwe is a de facto one-party state in which those in power do as they please and we, the ordinary people, have no say. None!

A lot has been said in support and against the regime’s recent decision to ban the use of the multi currency as legal tender in Zimbabwe. No one, absolutely no one can ever deny that the move could result in the hyperinflation of 2000 to 2008 because that is a historic fact. Inflation peaked at 500 billion %, the Z$ was so worthless we needed Z$35 quadrillion (35 followed by 24 zeros) to buy US$1.00. 

A Commission of inquiry has since established that US$ 5 billion was lost from the Insurance and Pension Funds as a result of the hyper inflation. Many people lost their life-time savings and many business closed and the national economic took a beating and has never recovered. 

The worthless Z$ was finally scrapped in November 2008 but the damage was already done and echos of it are still reverberating to this day.

So, even those who genuinely believe the abolishing of the multi currency system is a good thing; they cannot deny that the move could lead to yet another hyperinflation fuelled economic meltdown because it has happened before. 

Besides, inflation has already started to creep upwards again. The monthly inflation was 5% in January and is 100% today. The threat of yet another inflation fuelled total economic meltdown is not hypothetical, it is a distinct possibility. Even if it was a certainty, that would not have made an difference, Zanu PF would still have abolished the multi currency system regardless. 

Zimbabwe is in this economic mess because of a string of one economic blunder after another be it rampant corruption; the seizure of the white-owned farms to give to party cronies; the printing of money, the crazy fuelling the last hyperinflation; etc.; etc.  Many papers were written pointing out the folly of all these policies but the powers that be did not pay any attention. 

Minister Mthuli Ncube, President Mnangagwa and, indeed, all of us know that even if the banning of the multi currency system should prove to be yet another disastrous blunder; there is nothing, absolutely nothing, we will do about it other than the usual crying, gnashing of teeth and dying. Nothing!

We should have the full confidence of holding Mnangagwa and Mthuli Ncube to democratic account; removing the individual from public office in a free, fair and credible election is the ultimate expression of democratic accountability; over, not only, this matter of multi currency system but everything. We do not have any such democratic power. 

It is this political helplessness that we should be concerned about. 

At least the mice in the fable had the common sense to abandon the bell plan as soon as it was not feasible. We expend our time, energy and treasure discussing Zanu PF's fast track land reform, multi currency system, everything else whilst doing nothing to implement the democratic reforms needed to stop Zanu PF rigging elections! This is equivalent to the mice wasting time embellishing the bell plan with details of ring-tone, the colour of the ribbon, etc. 

After 39 years of corrupt and tyrannical Zanu PF misrule one would think we have finally woken up to the reality that Zimbabwe is not a healthy and functioning democracy in which the freedoms and rights of the individual are respected and protected. Instead of those in power being the servants of the people, the politicians are the lords and the people grovel before them. 

Whilst the liberation war helped to end white colonial rule it also created a big problem in that it created a hawkish ruling elite who turned the AK47 rifle on the civilians to deny them their freedoms and basic human rights including the right to a meaningful vote and even the right to life. When you are look up the business end of a gun; you do as you are told.

Still, after 39 years there is no excuse for us failing to reassert our freedoms and rights. Indeed, it is our duty and responsibility to make sure the country has a good and competent government, a government accountable to the people. Forcing Mangagwa and his Zanu PF junta to step down so we can implement the necessary democratic reforms is not the belling of the cat task some people think, especially since regime is illegitimate and the worsening economic situation is piling on the pressure for meaningful change.

Open letter to Harare Diplomatic Corp - help push Zanu PF to step down

Dear Sir/Madam

We wanted to make sure you do not miss this story!

https://bulawayo24.com/index-id-news-sc-national-byo-164940.html

The most import bit is the admission. "Legitimacy is an issue - last year's elections were illegal, and not free and fair. All reasonable observers concede that."

The admission was long in coming but it is finally out.

We, in the Zimbabwe Social Democrats, and many other ordinary Zimbabweans view the proposed political dialogue a way of sinister move by those who fail to deliver free, fair and credible election to legitimise they betrayal. It is a waste of time since no meaningful reforms will be implemented and the next elections will be rigged again.

This Zanu PF government of President Mnangagwa is illegitimate and the regime should step down and allow the country to appoint an interim administration that would be entrusted the task of implementing the democratic reforms necessary for free, fair and credible elections. 

The desperate economic situation in Zimbabwe demands that all pressure must now be brought to bear on both Zanu PF and the MDC A to step down and stop wasting time on gimmicks. We are asking your government to help push Zimbabwe in the right direction.

Best regards

Wilbert Mukori

Secretary General 

Zimbabwe Social Democrats. 

Zanu PF rigged 2018 elections, and it was not the first either but it must and WILL be the last W Mukori

Both Zanu PF and MDC know that the solution to ending Zimbabwe's economic and political crisis is implementing the democratic reforms to ensure there free, fair and credible elections. Both parties have had many opportunities to get this done but have wasted them dragging the nation deeper and deeper into this abyss.

Both Zanu PF and MDC realize the seriousness of the situation the country is in are are calling for national dialogue for the purpose of consolidating their own selfish political interest first and foremost. If the dialogue was to bring about any meaningful economic revival, that would be a bonus.

There two most important things Mnangagwa want out of the political dialogue are:

1)     Legitimacy Mnangagwa knows that Zanu PF rigged last year’s elections and all international election observers of note said so. He is hoping that the political dialogue will bring in all the political parties and civic organisations solidly behind him and thus pile the pressure on the Western nations in particular to accept that all Zimbabweans have accepted his regime as legitimate regardless of the flaws and illegalities in last year’s elections.

2)     If the political dialogue should bring about any economic recovery, Mnangagwa would claim the lion’s share of the credible. If there is no meaningful economic recovery, he would go to town in pointing out that no one else would have done better. He would certainly take exception to anyone pointing the finger of blame at him.

The two things on MDC A’s wish list from the political dialogue are:

1)     Force Zanu PF into power sharing arrangement in which MDC A are given gravy train positions.

2)     Force Zanu PF to concede power to secure more gravy train seats for the party in future. MDC would like to see the constitution amended to create the post of Official Opposition Leader complete with shadow minister entitled to all the usual ministerial limo, generous salary and allowances.

Anyone out there who expect the political dialogue to result in the implementation of meaningful political reforms and free, fair and credible elections is day-dreaming. Mnangagwa and Zanu PF would rather see Zimbabwe reduced to ruins first before they would give up power. The closest the party came to conceding to have the reform implemented was during the 2008 GNU the new power sharing being proposed will leave Zanu PF in total control, they will see to it that no meaningful reforms are ever implemented.

Besides Mnangagwa knows MDC A leaders will be quite content if their second wish is implemented.

The only way to ensure the democratic reforms are implemented is by forcing Zanu PF to step down, because nothing will ever be accomplished whilst they remain in power. Nothing.

How are we going to force Mnangagwa and Zanu PF to step down?

This is a fair question to ask but the solution is not the mission impossible of tying the bell round the cat’s neck, some people think.

"Legitimacy is an issue - last year's elections were illegal, and not free and fair. All reasonable observers concede that," David Coltart, MDC Alliance Treasurer General admitted the other day.

It has taken almost a year for the MDC A to admit this but now that they have it is up to us, the people to run with this. It is for us to remind Zanu PF, the main opposition party, the MDC A, and all the other minions of opposition parties and candidates that an election process that is accepted as having been “illegal and not free and fair” cannot produce a legitimate winner. Legitimacy only comes from winning the majority votes in a free, fair and credible election.

Having failed to hold free, fair and credible elections the contestants cannot hold their own political dialogue, indaba, in which they decree the “illegal, and not free and fair elections” legal, free, fair and credible and their claim to office legitimate. No nation worthy of that name can ever accept such blatant disregard of the rule of law and common decency.

Zanu PF, the MDC A and all those who took part in last year’s elections KNEW that with no meaningful democratic reform in place the elections would not be free, fair and credible. They all participated in the flawed and illegal elections for their own selfish reasons. They were all partners in conspiring to deny the majority of ordinary Zimbabweans their basic right to a meaningful vote. They are all committed high treason.

Is it bad enough that these politicians failed to deliver free, fair and credible elections and thus landed the nation into this constitution mess of having no legitimate government. The politicians have usurped our power to elect who governs it would be criminal to let the politicians get away with it.

Besides, if we, the people, at least those of us who understand what is going on here, allowed Zanu PF and their partners in crime usurp the people’s right to a meaningful say in the governance of the country today who will stop the usurpers doing it again and again and again. Indeed, Zimbabwe is in this economic and political mess precisely because Zanu PF thugs have been allowed to rig elections and get away with it for the last 39 years.

When Mnangagwa and his Zanu PF thugs rigged last year’s elections; it was not the first time they rigged elections, they have done so ever since the nation attained her independence in 1980. It is our duty and responsibility to see to it that Zanu PF does not get away with another rigged elections. And the only sure way to ensure the July 2018 are the last elections Zanu PF rigged is by making sure the regime step down and all the reforms are implemented before 2023.

"We must make Z$ work", who is 'we' - it's doomed and quadrillionaires are to blame; how convenient N Garikai

The Zanu PF propaganda machine has gone into overdrive in a rearguard action to justify the regime’s decision to reverse the 2009 decision to allow a basket of foreign currencies as legal tender. 

“These (foreign currency) controls allow countries to better manage their economies by controlling the in-flow and out-flow of currency, which may otherwise create exchange rate volatility. Countries with weak and/or developing economies generally use foreign exchange controls to limit speculation against their currencies,” wrote Conway Tutani.

What the apologist is ignoring is that Zimbabwe experience its worst (so far, we have just started another phase and God only knows the new heights we will scale) local currency exchange rate volatility in the period 2000 to 2008. Hyper inflation peaked at a world record of 500 billion % and Z$ 35 quadrillion, ie 35x10^24 or 35 followed by 24 zeros, was worth US$1! The Z$ was the only legal tender and so it was not the foreign currency that fuelled the hyper inflation but the Zimbabwe’s own voodoo economic policies such as the madness of printing of more Z$ in bigger and bigger denominations. 

The people lost confidence in the Z$ because it was worthless and so most economic activities ground to a halt, companies closed, shop shelves were empty, people’s savings and pensions were wiped out and millions of Zimbabweans were thrown into abject poverty. The Zimbabwe economy has never fully recovered from the economic chaos of the hyperinflation years ending November 2008; unemployment soared to 90% and has never fallen below 80% and millions of Zimbabwe still live in abject poverty to this day.

In November 2008 the worthless Z$ was scrapped and people were allowed to trade freely using a basket of foreign currency. Overnight inflation dropped to single digit, the shop shelves started to fill up with imported goods (it required a lot more than relaxing trade in foreign currency to kick start the collapse agricultural sector and industrial production). 

Zanu PF has stealthily re-introduced the local currency to be used along side the basket of foreign currency. The regime has slowly started to inject more and more of the local currency into the economy; the regime has been straining on its leash, it temptation to revert to its old way of printing money was too much, and now it has broken the leash. 

In January the monthly inflation rate was 5% or so and today, six months latter, it has already soared to 100%! The days of hyper inflation are back alright. The local currency is now losing half its value every month and there is worse to come as the inflation rate is growing exponential. It is not surprising that some people are already refusing to be paid in local currency and government’s own workers, teachers nurses and soldiers, have been demanding that their wages must be paid in US$! 

Zanu PF has decided to banish the use of the foreign currency as legal tender to force people to accept the local currency as the only legal tender. Economic activities will slow down just as happened during the 2000 to 2008 hyper inflation years; people would rather hang on to what they have than sell and be paid in worthless money! 

“Zimbabwe needs its own official currency, period. This obsession with the US dollar is unsustainable from an economic point of view. The US dollar should be traded in banks only. We need our own currency going forward,” continued Tutani (foaming and frothing). 

“The price madness should be stopped by market forces as usage of the Zim dollar increases. It's a process, not an event as some sections of the media are making it out to be with headlines screaming failure.

“It's up to us to make the Zimbabwe dollar work — it's all in our hands.”

Who is “us”? Ordinary Zimbabweans did not have any meaningful say in the imposition of this policy or anything else for that matter. The imposition of a worthless currency is already having a disastrous effect on the nation and is doomed to fail and all you are already blaming the people for it!

Zimbabwe is not a healthy and functioning democratic nation, in which the ordinary people have a meaningful say in the governance of the country. Indeed, Zimbabwe would not be stuck in this mess with this corrupt and incompetent Zanu PF dictatorship for 39 years if the people had power to remove the regime in free, fair and credible elections. It is a matter of public record that Zanu PF rigged last year’s years, even the regime’s own partners in the vote rigging crime, the MDC Alliance are finally openly admitting it.

"Legitimacy is an issue - last year's elections were illegal, and not free and fair. All reasonable observers concede that," admitted David Coltart, MDC Alliance Treasurer General.

It has taken Nelson Chamisa and his MDC Alliances friend nearly a year before they finally admitted that last year’s elections were indeed flawed and illegal and Mnangagwa and his Zanu PF are, per se, illegitimate. Now the cat is out of the bag, all the other Zimbabwe opposition minions who dutifully endorse Mnangagwa as legitimate are under pressure to renege their cock and bull nonsense. 

The people of Zimbabwe must do is to make sure those responsible for this Z$ fiasco and the country’s economic mess - Minister Mthuli Ncube, President Mnangagwa, Zanu PF apologists like Conway Tutani and the rest of Zanu PF regime - are finally held to democratic account. 

If we are ever to got out of this hell-on-earth of worthless money, economic chaos and political paralysis of illegitimate government  Zanu PF has dragged us into; we are must end the curse of rigged elections. We must make sure the next are free, fair and credible and for that to happen Zanu PF must step down to allow the implementing of the democratic reforms to dismantle the regime’s carte blanche dictatorial powers. 

“It's up to us to make the Zimbabwe dollar work!” So, the regime imposed the Z$ and we, the voiceless quadrillionaire victims of the tyrannical regime's corrupt and blundering incompetence, are to blame for Z$'s doomed failure! How convenient!

"We are not USA, use Z$" argue Professor - those lacking professional integrity must shut up P Guramatunhu

“Ever since we dollarised, everybody has been benchmarking against the US dollars,” said Zimbabwe economics lecturer Professor Ashok Chakravarti.

“We are not the United States of America, we are Zimbabwe. We need to start thinking in terms of our local currency, our costs are local costs; we pay our workers in local money, all our costs of production are in local money.”

Ever since we dollarized the US$, British £, SA Rand and Botswana Pula plus all the local currencies were all legal tender. People chose to price their goods and services in US$ for the simple reason that it was the currency most commonly used, most stable and guaranteed to maximize their profits. They paid as much of their cost as they could in local currency because it was the weakest currency they had and were only too keen to get rid of and where cost such as salary was not linked to US$, this helped maximize their own profit! This is common sense and one does not need a degree in economic to understand this!

Professor Chakravarti, Zimbabwe scrapped its local currency, Z$, in November 2008 because it was worthless with inflation peaking at a record 500 billion %. Inflating has been surging upward with monthly inflation rate rising from 5% in January to 80% last Friday. Again, one does not need a degree in economics to know that government should have left no stone unturned to make sure inflation never rose above 10%, especially with the experience of the 2008 still fresh in all our minds.

With inflation at 80% it is obvious why the people were getting rid of their local currency as quickly as possible. Who would ever want to hang on to a currency that will lose half its value every six weeks!

It is the government of the day’s duty and responsibility to implement economic policies to guarantee economic prosperity and stability including a stable local currency. This Zanu PF regime has clearly failed in this. To banish the use of foreign currency at a time the local currency is losing its value was a very sinister ploy to force people to use the local currency. The regime is punishing the people for its own failure.

The effect of forcing people to trade in a currency they have no confidence in will be a significant fall in economic activity across the board. There will be return of the 2008 with empty shop shelves and shortages of everything. There were shortages and human suffering before the trade in forex was introduced but things will get even worse not better.

The banning of the use of the foreign currency at a time when monthly inflation is already 80% and rising was just another foolish blunder by this illegitimate and incompetent Zanu PF regime. We should never forget that Zanu PF rigged last year’s elections and even the party’s main partner in this treasonous crime, MDC A, has now public admitted the elections were illegal.

"Legitimacy is an issue - last year's elections were illegal, and not free and fair. All reasonable observers concede that," admitted David Coltart, Treasurer General of MDC A, finally.

The only way to end this political and economic mess is for Zanu PF to step down so the country can finally implement the democratic reforms necessary for free, fair and credible elections. There is no other way out!

“We need to start thinking in terms of our local currency!” No, we need to start thinking of going our people hope in a stable and prosperous Zimbabwe and giving them a stable currency is a key requirement. If the government of the day cannot give the people a stable local currency because the regime cannot resist the edge to print money then the country must use foreign currency the regime will not print and fuel inflation.

Zimbabwe is in this economic and political mess because the country has had the great misfortune of having professionals cheering and applauding those in power and authority even when what they are doing something defies common sense much less established professional norms. Zimbabwe needs professions with moral and professional integrity who will speak truth to power or else shut up.

"Last year's elections were illegal" finally admitted - cannot confer legitimacy selves, step down W Mukori

"Legitimacy is an issue - last year's elections were illegal, and not free and fair. All reasonable observers concede that," admitted David Coltart, MDC Alliance Treasurer General. It has taken almost a year for the party to finally admit the elections were rigged.

What some people may not know is that Coltart and his MDC A friends KNEW the elections would be rigged but they still participated in the elections regardless. Why? Greed, plain and simple, as Coltart himself confessed in his book.

In his Book, The Struggle Continues 50 years of tyranny in Zimbabwe, former MDC – Ncube Senator and Minister of Education in the GNU, David Coltart, gave details of how Zanu PF flouted the electoral rules, it was clear the upcoming 2013 elections would not be free and fair. And yet the two MDC factions still participated in the elections regardless, blaming the decision on the failure by the two factions to form a coalition.

“The worst aspect for me about the failure to agree a coalition was that both MDCs couldn’t now do the obvious – withdraw from the elections,” he stated.

“The electoral process was so flawed, so illegal, that the only logical step was to withdraw, which would compel SADC to hold Zanu PF to account. But such was the distrust between the MDC-T and MDC-N that neither could withdraw for fear that the other would remain in the elections, winning seats and giving the process credibility.”

Blaming the failure to form a coalition for participating in elections they all knew were flawed and illegal was just a feeble excuse. The real reason for participating was greed. They all knew Zanu PF was throwing away a few gravy train seats as bait to entice the opposition to participate; they could not resist the bait.

Three of the main MDC factions did form the coalition just before last year’s election, they all knew Zanu PF would still rig the elections since not even one reform was ever implemented since the 2013 elections and yet they still participated for the same reason as before - greed.

It has taken nearly a year for MDC A to finally admit last year’s elections were “illegal and not free and fair” and so outcome is illegal and those assuming power, be there from the ruling party or the opposition, on the basis of the illegal elections are ipso facto illegitimate.  

So, what is the way forward?

"It is also no use relying on the Constitutional Court judgment because any lawyer worth his or her salt will explain how fundamentally flawed both the procedure and judgment were. So, in a dialogue it is unhelpful trying to argue that a discredited process must just be accepted,” proposed Coltart.

"I would just add, we need a dialogue arbitrated by a neutral democratic peer. We cannot have one person, who even on his own figures, in a fraudulent unconstitutional election, won by a tiny margin, dictate the terms, pace, venue and structure of the dialogue."

No, how can we have those guilty of high treason of holding “a fraudulent and unconstitutional elections”, Zanu PF for organising the elections and MDC A for knowingly participating in the illegal elections, dictate the way forward!

Yes, legitimacy is the BIG ISSUE in Zimbabwe. Since last year’s elections were illegal and not free and fair, the country does NOT have a legitimate government as of the 1 st August 2018. The idea of Zanu PF and MDC A, even with the help of a neutral democratic peer can continue to usurp the people’s power and fundamental right to a meaningful say in the governance of the country by conferring legitimacy on themselves is any abomination. It is the people of Zimbabwe alone in a free, fair and credible elections confer legitimacy.

Even if one was to overlook the patronising and political arrogance and contempt with which both  Zanu PF and MDC A leaders have treated the ordinary Zimbabweans throughout these last 39 years; one cannot ignore the political reality that the political dialogue proposed by the two parties will not deliver free, fair and credible elections. The two parties were in the last GNU in 2008 to 2013 and they failed to implement even one meaningful democratic reform, it is naïve to expect the two to do any better the second time round.

Even if not even one reform was implemented MDC A leaders would participate in the 2023 elections regardless for the same reason they participated in the 2013 and 2018 elections – greed. Why would Zanu PF implement any reforms and risk losing the elections when the party KNOWS that the MDC A will participate in the elections regardless how flawed and illegal process as long as Zanu PF offers the bait gravy train seats.

Now it is finally agreed last July’s elections were illegal, and not free and fair then both Zanu PF and MDC A must know they are both illegitimate and must step down. The nation must be allowed the political space and time to appoint an interim administration that will be tasked to finally implement the raft of democratic reforms agreed at the on-set of the 2008 GNU.

Zimbabwe history will record that Zanu PF established the de facto one-party dictatorship that has ruled the country with an iron fist these last 39 years with disastrous consequences. History will also note that MDC leaders wasted many golden opportunities to implement the democratic reforms and end the Zanu PF dictatorship. Even with the nation’s very existence on the line still it took MDC leaders a year to admit the 2018 elections were illegal. One only hopes that MDC leaders will not give Zanu PF any more excuses for refusing to step down.

Zimbabwe’s next elections must be free, fair and credible and the people’s freedoms and rights fully restored – that is not too much to ask!

Zimbabwe banish forex trading - chefs celebrate whilst povo cry - Nhamo yemakandiwa yadzoka P Guramatunhu

Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) Governor, Dr John Mangudya has cleared the air on a number of issues surrounding the abolition of the multi-currency system, among them clarifying that recipients of diaspora remittances and other foreign currency payments can still withdraw their money in hard currency.

Speaking in an interview, Dr Mangudya said non-governmental organisations, embassies and other foreign organisations, will not be affected and will continue paying salaries in foreign currency.

This is great news, it is a great comfort to all those who will send their loved ones forex to know they will get the cash in forex too. It is important to remind the recipients to insist on being paid in forex and not the local currency.

What the Governor did not say is that people will be allowed to trade their foreign currency freely. The usual thing is that all forex should be bought and sold through approved dealers who will buy at the official exchange which are way below the black-market rate. The ordinary people are then forced to sell their forex at give-away rate but will never buy any forex at the same official rate. The ruling elite will hoover the forex at the official rate and sell it on the black-market using their runners.

If the ruling elite’s runner is arrested for black-market trading; he or she will be released within hours. If an ordinary person is arrested for selling or buying forex on the black market they are in serious trouble! It is no secret that the ruling elite have made huge profits controlling the forex black market in the past. They must be singing “The good times are back again!”  

Dr Mangudya also allayed fears of shortage of goods in shops as the interbank market will supply foreign currency for critical imports.

If anything, this will be used to justify the existence of the approved foreign currency dealers. This has not worked hence the reason we still have shortages of fuel, bread, medicine, etc. We all remember the empty shop shelves of the last hyperinflation years of 2000 to 2008. Inflation peaked at 500 billion % forcing the scrapping of the Z$. The monthly inflation rate is already 80% and rising. The madness of the hyperinflation years are back!

What a nightmare! The hyperinflation of 2000 to 2008 crippled the Zimbabwe economy and force millions into abject poverty from which the nation was struggling to recover. It must be heart-breaking to be dragging straight back. Monthly inflation rate has surged from about 5% in January to 80% today. “Inhamo yamakandiya yadzoka!” (This is unending trouble!) as the great Thomas Mapfumo once sung!

Scrapping US$ as legal tender will "cushion" against US$ pricing - imposing rotten Z$ will stifle trade P Guramatunhu

Zimbabwe scrapped the Z$ in November 2008 and introduced the basket of multi-foreign currency for one very good reason - it had become impossible to do business in Z$. Because of the hyperinflation, the Z$ was losing it value exponentially and so the price of good and service in Z$ were following suit. So price doubling every year in 2000, in 2004 they were doubling every month and by 2008 with inflation now a record 500 billion% prices were doubling every hour. 

By 2008 the shop shelves were empty and most industry had closed shop because no one in their mind would accept being paid in Z$ when as soon as the transaction is concluded the amount so received is not enough to buy back the same item. “Z$ raora!” (Z$ is rotten!) people said and no one wanted to be paid in a rotten currency. 

Indeed by 2008 the only meaningful business trade taking place in the country was paid for in foreign currency directly or indirectly. It was common to buy fuel coupons in SA, pay in Rands, and claim the fuel in Zimbabwe for example. Government itself was allowing so businesses to trade in foreign currency.

Those who had no choice but to accept the rotten Z$ suffered greatly. Wages, pensions, savings, etc. are very static, they are reviewed once a year, if at all; and so they are always lagging behind. Many Zimbabweans were forced into a life of abject poverty as their pension and savings became worthless given the hyperinflation.  

So, by the time the regime finally scrapped the rotten Z$ in 2008, it was doing what it should have done a long, long time ago! 

It must be said that it was government’s voodoo economic policies that had fuelled the hyperinflation, it was the regime that had caused the rot of the Z$. It was typical of this Zanu PF dictatorship to cause the rot of the Z$ and then impose the rotten currency on a helpless people. 

Zanu PF has rigged elections denying the people a meaningful say in the governance of the the country and helpless to do anything to oppose the regime’s dictates. The party rigged last year’s elections and now it is scrapping the stable foreign currencies to bring back the rotten Z$!

“Finance Minister, Professor Mthuli Ncube has said that the Zimbabwean dollar was reintroduced to cushion workers who are now failing to access basic commodities as shops were charging in foreign currencies,” reported Spotlight Zimbabwe.

“Ncube said that he met with an Association of teachers which lamented over their inability to buy basic commodities from shops and medical facilities which were pricing their goods and services mainly in US dollars. Most workers in Zimbabwe are paid in the local quasi-currency, the Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS).”

Of all people, Finance Minister Ncube knows that the RTGS$ has been losing its value. In January it was on par with the US$, today, six months latter it is trading at 6:1 at the official rate and 10:1 on the black market. Inflation has surged up to 100% and prices and doubling every month. There is no denying that the RTGS$ has the same rot of the Z$ of 2008! 

Scrapping the stable foreign currencies only means the country is back to the bad old 2000 to 2008 years of doing business with a rotten currency. Imposing the rotten currency will cushion the workers or anybody; it will make life even harder for those who can circumvent the trading difficulties and impossible for the many forced to use the rotten currency. 

Zanu PF has done nothing to repair the damage inflicted on the national economy by the decades of gross mismanagement, rampant corruption and the lawlessness earning the country the pariah state tag. The scrapping of the stable foreign currency to impose the rotten Z$ is just one of the many blunders the regime has made this month alone; it is not done yet, there are plenty more blunders to come. 

The only reason the party has remained is power all these last 39 years regardless of its track record of failure is because it rigged elections. We are a nation caught in a trap and unless we do something to stop Zanu PF rigging elections, there is no escape.

Zanu PF must step down now so we can implement the reforms necessary for free, fair and credible elections. This is our only hope of ending the madness of this corrupt and tyrannical Zanu PF dictatorship!