HomeOld_Posts2018 Budget: MDC-T’s waterloo

2018 Budget: MDC-T’s waterloo

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“Man should cease to be stupid and listen to the ideas of the others.”
IN the novel Mayombe by Pepetela, is a commander who goes by the name ‘Fearless’, and whose above statement tallies with the popular cliché doing rounds in Zimbabwe these days that ‘ZANU PF is back’, is without doubt making the MDC-T Alliance or whatever they call themselves uncomfortable.
Commander Fearless is a fine thinker who is presiding over a military base made up of people from all sorts of backgrounds, tribes and race and is catering for their needs and bringing them together as one people, like the responsible leader that he is.
If events of the past few days are anything to go by, then there is something terribly wrong with the MDC-T Alliance.
It is difficult to find an entry point in writing this column, especially in times like these when the MDC-T Alliance has been possessed by its usual difficult to appease demon of stupidity, absence of clear thinking.
This is the demon that seems to be emanating from the ancient world but we live in modern times, in a new Zimbabwe, where the new administration is laying the ground for the unprecedented take off, that now beckons in the horizon.
We live in a Zimbabwe that is set to execute one of the fastest economic growths ever seen in recent times.
We live in a Zimbabwe where the new leadership has opened up its arms to embrace every idea, every thought, every investor and every actor who can help the drive, for the much awaited economic growth.
This administration, like Commander Fearless, knows no colour, tribe, race or religion.
It knows one story; that of the development of Zimbabwe.
But as it is always with the nature of life, not everyone who has ears listens and not everyone with eyes sees.
On December 7 2017, Finance and Economic Development Minister Patrick Chinamasa presented the 2018 National Budget which proposed far-reaching reforms to end policy inconsistencies, reversals and uncertainties of the past.
And as widely expected, the MDC-T Alliance dismissed the budget, describing it as ‘lipstick’ budget that will do little to improve the economy.
Tendai Biti, whose political fortunes (even marital) have taken a serious nosedive since his nasty and now infamous fallout with Morgan Tsvangirai in 2014, was furiously frothing in his attack of the budget.
This is the same Biti who has tried but dismally failed to claim credit for the introduction of the multi-currency system which was done by Minister Chinamasa in January 2009 and is widely revered for stabilising the economy that was destroyed by Tsvangirai, Biti and their stuttering MDC-T Alliance’s illegal economic sanctions.
“We submit that the attempt to deal with the wage bill, through the elimination of over 3 000 or so youth officers, the attempt at repealing the Indigenisation and Empowerment Act, the attempt at reining in Government expenditure, particularly through the curtailing of travel allowances and conditions of service are things that ought to have been done many years ago, but they are nominal, normative and lipstick,” said Biti.
“If you eliminate 3 000 youth officers where you have ghost workers of over 200 000, then you have a challenge.
“The inclusive government used to pay 236 000 civil servants and they are now paying 558 000 civil servants and so 200 000 of those are ghost workers so eliminating 3 000 when faced with 200 000 that is lipstick.”
But Chinamasa’s presentation was a refreshing budget that spoke to the needs and aspirations of the majority, who have had to contend with a non-performing economy that has wrought high prices of basic commodities and a biting cash shortage crunch over the past few years.
Investors on the other hand, had been subjected to outright confusion that manifested itself through contradicting and negative signals by some Government officials, especially on the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Act of 2009.
Minister Chinamasa announced that Government would amend the Indigenisation and Empowerment Act to make the 51/49 percent threshold applicable only for diamond and platinum sectors.
There is also a reserved zone for locals.
Minister Chinamasa also proposed measures to cut the wage bill and these include a freeze on recruitment, retiring those aged above 65 and reducing the duplication of posts.
A raft of other cost-cutting measures such as minimising fuel benefits, limiting the issuance of vehicles, reducing foreign delegations while also cutting foreign missions and reducing support to parastatals, among others was announced by Minister Chinamasa.
He also proposed the reform of public enterprises, which have been a drain on the fiscus while their contribution to the economy has been a measly two percent from a high of 60 percent due to inefficiencies, incompetence and in some cases corruption.
Currently, 70 percent of parastatals are technically insolvent, a serious drain to Government which has over the years bailed them out while they are doing nothing.
Minister Chinamasa said last year’s financial audits indicated that 38 out of 93 public enterprises incurred a combined US$270 million loss due to weak corporate governance practices and ineffective control mechanisms.
It is not surprising that this budget has scared the MDC-T which has run to the US President Donald Trump for ‘salvation’.
What they miss is that salvation is found among voters in the country not from a Trump who is blowing a war trumpet throughout the world.
While they are busy globetrotting, ZANU PF is doing real work here in the country and when elections come, we shall hear the same old song ‘We have been robbed’.
They should listen to Commander Fearless and take a leaf from him.

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