Patrick Chinamasa
In recent years, Chinamasa has announced a budget of +/-$4 billion and with each presentation we learn that government wages guzzle almost the entire annual revenue. Logic dictates that if you do things the same you will get the exact results as the last time.
Same methods, same results
Yearly, we see senior politicians congregating in the Parliament Building, at great expense to the taxpayer, to basically discuss the known fact that we have no money. How often have we seen parliamentarians going on lavish retreats to Victoria Falls just to tell each other (and us) that there is no money? On the same television channel broadcasting Chinamasa’s peanut-shell budget, we also have the ruling party’s annual extortion campaign; donate money for the Zanu (PF) annual congress. On state owned media, we hear about ‘election victory celebrations’ at which privileged politicians dance and party with the gullible electorate. ‘Thank you for voting me into power.’ The actual work is not important. What matters is keeping hold of power at any cost. We are perpetually in election mode, with the ruling party already announcing its 2018 election candidate; ‘one centre of power.’
Broke but splurging
Those that travelled from all over the country to listen to Chinamasa’s budget turned up in Mercs, Ford Rangers, Jeep Cherokees, all to arrive at the same conclusion – hatina mari. Soon after, the President flew off to Paris, for a climate change seminar – where he will brag about his new tobacco farmers, without mentioning a word about the deforestation and land degradation occurring in the countryside. He took with him the usual hangers on – Mumbengegwi and Grace, together with not just an ordinary scribe but the Herald editor, Caesar Zvayi himself. We are broke and should behave accordingly; send the environment minister and a junior scribe. Mugabe received the customary send-off by his adoring service chiefs and government ministers whose fuel guzzling automobiles will make the same pointless trip to the airport on his return. Mugabe commandeered an Air Zimbabwe plane – the same airline which reportedly needs $1Billion to recapitalise.
Wrong prescriptions
The president, seemingly unaware that the problem may be elsewhere, has reshuffled his cabinet 3 times in the last year – much like a man who lays new carpets, because the roof is leaking. Psmas doctors have gone on strike. The health minister is embroiled in a $100,000 scandal at the very same Psmas which is supposed to provide health insurance for its members. The success or failure of Psmas is the difference between life and death for many who cannot afford to pay cash at hospitals. But still, we do things the same old way. Seriously? For how long will this continue? Honestly, at this juncture, no matter our political loyalties, we must interrogate ourselves; what are we really doing?
Budget analysis pointless
In the aftermath of Chinamasa’s budget, economists and other experts will all be vivisecting the minister’s presentation. It is really pointless to get into the analysis of the national budget. I could discuss the stupidity of Chinamasa’s new traffic fines; if you want to reduce lawlessness on the road, weed out corruption at VID and ZRP. I could speak at length about how higher traffic fines ($20 fines increased to $100) will simply mean motorists choosing to pay ‘mari yeDrink’ to avoid traffic tickets. I could point out that Mugabe was seen sleeping in parliament during the most important presentation of the year. I could laugh at Chinamasa’s free agricultural inputs for cotton farmers, at a time when such financial support should go towards millet and sorghum, drought resistant crops which could reduce hunger. I could shake my head at the budgeted $3,191 civil service employment costs, against anticipated $3,85Billion revenue – 83% revenue used up by salaries. Exports 3,4Billion, chump change, compared to the $6,2Billion spent on goods which we could, and once produced, locally. But all of that is not going to change the predicament we find ourselves in.
As we speak, Zanu (PF) is in congress mode. Nothing else matters. Politicians from whatever party are either hacking each other with axes or buying skin bleaching creams for their trophy wives.
What we need to do is to hold up a mirror to our collective face and ask ourselves the most difficult question: kahle kahle, siyenzani? Tirikumboitei chaizvo? What are we really doing?
Moyo-Mnangagwa war resumes
The war of innuendo between Jonathan Moyo and Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa has resumed after a month’s ceasefire. The hostilities appeared to have ceased on the death of Moyo’s daughter, Zanele, in October. Prior to Zanele’s passing, Professor Moyo had fired off two shots aimed at Mnangagwa who is also known as Ngwena (the crocodile). Moyo, who in the last year belatedly discovered Twitter, has not only used social media to disseminate party propaganda but to also attack his rivals.
Social media jibes
On 15 October, one of Moyo’s followers tweeted a photograph of a crocodile with the caption, ‘He waits patiently for the most opportune time, whence he bites with massive force.’ Moyo, forever ready with a response, shot back ‘is that a crocodile or an ambitious lizard?’
Only 48 hours later, and this time under no apparent provocation, Moyo posted the image of a burger and added the text ‘Croco Burger is a real Zim delight!’ On the same day, the higher and tertiary education minister learned of the death of his daughter and the gunfire ceased.
Friends to foes
Moyo and Mnangagwa were ever-present during Grace Mugabe’s meet-the-people tours last October. However, Mphoko has since replaced the feuding presidential hopefuls and it is the hotel-dwelling Vice President who eagerly holds up Grace Mugabe’s train while Kasukuwere has the equally obsequious role of throwing petals at the first lady’s Gucci clad feet.
Havent we seen this before?
Moyo recently resumed attacks on Mnangagwa with his tweet which shows a shirtless man with a crocodile slung across his back – which can be taken to mean a vanquished crocodile. In a situation that smacks of déjà vu, Mnangagwa – just like the last VP – has remained tight-lipped for most parts. While Moyo choreographs a media smear campaign against Mnangagwa, several of the beleaguered VP’s allies have also been purged or neutralised ahead of congress. Apparently, the less robust members of Mnangagwa’s faction wept actual tears during an altercation at the recent Zanu (PF) politburo meeting.
For Joice Mujuru who was ousted after a three month long mudslinging campaign, this must be a popcorn-and-cool-drink moment as she – in her words – ‘watches from the terraces.’
As the saying goes, Zanu ndeyeropa. There shall be blood.
Till next week, my pen is capped.
Post published in: Business