





“Those using tanks, drums and jerry cans all, those forms of containers should stop and we are sending out inspectors and the Zimbabwe Republic Police and if anybody is going to be found maybe overcharging or using drums might have their licences withdrawn. We are not going to allow that…” – The Minister for Energy and Power Development Joram Gumbo (Maveriq – ‘Govt To Ban Jerry Cans, Drums, Fuel Containers At Service Stations – Energy Minister’ 16.10.2018, link: https://news.pindula.co.zw/2018/10/16/govt-to-ban-jerry-cans-drums-fuel-containers-at-service-stations-energy-minister/).
I thought the Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (Zanu-PF) and the new President Emmerson Mnangagwa would open the Republic for business. Mnangagwa is clearly out on the line. The government have issued new taxes and the costs of everything has gone up. As well as the lack of foreign exchange is now rampant.
Since the added taxes on Mobile Money was enacted, the lack of US dollars and the imports of products have gotten worse. Even shops are lacking stocks and people were stockpiling before the shops gotten empty. With this has also started a fuel crisis. Where people are waiting in line for hours for fuel.
As this is getting worse now. The Minister for Energy Gumbo has issued statements of intent of authorization of usage of jerry cans, where you need to be Authorised and stamped by Environmental Management Agency, the District Administrator and Police Regulating Authority. Where the person who is allowed to bring a jerry can, has to write which station in question and address, also drivers license information and even how many liters of fuel is allowed to fill.
The Zanu-PF is really now making life harder, as the people using motorcycles, cars and lorries have to ask permission to fill fuel into jerry cans. This is done in 2018. If you thought things was bad during Mugabe. The rising inflation and the economic crisis of 2008 might be repeated. As the state is going even further with using tactics to stall the issue.
If the state is really doing this, they will be in a special state. Where the citizens are running between the authorities to get authority to use the jerry cans before going to the Petroleum-Station to get a refill of fuel.
This is a sign of how serious the lack of fuel is and what extent the state does to stop the usage of fuel. They wouldn’t do it, if they didn’t have issues with importing it and having enough foreign currency to afford new imports.
This crisis is created by the Zanu-PF and the citizens are paying. And they are making the matters worse. Instead of repealing the taxes to stop inflation and making things run out. They are instead making it harder for the public to get fuel in their vehicle. Peace.










There are now official reports from Zimbabwe that the prices are rising. This is happening as the 2 % Mobile Money Tax is hitting the businesses and corporations. Therefore, people are worried and hoarding, as the prices are not instant, but the companies are sending warnings to them as customers.
One of them is the Dairiboard Zimbabwe Private Limited, that by 8th October the prices on their products will go up by 14 %, this is told by Commercial Executive Eunice Ganyawu. As Lafarge is saying their customers cannot order more than 600 bags each and with their backlog, there will be a minimum waiting period of 10 weeks for their orders. The Trinity Pharmacy on the 5th October have suspended their acceptance of Medical Aid due to the economic conditions and the lack of foreign currency within the company.
There are also more stores writing to their customers, that they should limit their items, as they are only allowed to buy certain amounts of breads, milk, cooking oil and so on. The taxes are really not only hurting business, but also ensuring that the inflation is hitting the citizens. This because the transactions are more expensive.
There is also shortage of United States Dollars, which makes the businesses go on the black-market, that the premium prices on imports. There are also reported hour-long ques for petroleum, as the foreign exchange is in free-fall, as the other businesses has been hit too. Its like the government didn’t prepare for the ramification of the taxes, as it has hit all parts of society.
People are really starting to build up stockpiles, as the products are leaving the shelves, as they expects the prices to be higher by next week. As the inflation has hit the Republic again. The prices are surging as the hoarding, as the companies cannot afford to import and even lacking enough petroleum.
We can wonder what is the aftermath, as the Mobile Money is more expensive, the Bond Notes are too and the imported products are paid with US Dollars, which is all going up. While the prices are going up next week. Meaning the businesses are losing now, and will struggle to stock-up as the cost of doing so will be higher.
The value of the Bond Notes will go up, the Mobile Money value has also fallen because of the taxes and the cost of US Dollars is also going up. Therefore, everything is more costly and the added price will only go worse. The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) is making sure the inflation is controlled and neither the policies to secure the value of the currencies at the whole. Therefore, the ones bearing the weight is the public and not the state. Most likely the shops will run out and cannot afford to restock. As the situation will turn dire.
This is beginning of another 2008. This time the Blue Roof is relaxing and not responsible, but the same Junta is. The Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) and President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who is now doing the same as the Goblin. Destroying the economy and ensuring the currency is losing its value. Because that is how you get foreign investors interested in Republic. NOT. Peace.

Yesterday at the Plenary in the Parliament, discussed the revised Investment code of 2017. Which in its self isn’t the most exiting thing. Nevertheless, the reality is that this is now in Parliament shows a push from the Members of Parliament and the Committee of Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED). That they are up to something. They are trying to forge something ahead. However, as the President has claimed the bureaucrats for being lazy, this shows another attempt. However, if this parts of the laws are enacted. Will ensure that it takes longer and the quality of the Foreign Investor to hold onto the new demands of the state. This will also give more power to the Uganda Investment Authority (UIA).
As the September report on the bill states. They will register all investments and all incentives inventory, as off who is doing what and licensed to do. As the Foreign Investor has to comply too a more rigid laws to be able to in the first place now.
Because the change of laws is that an exports of a minimum of 70% of the production in the given incentive, hire at least up to 60% Ugandan citizens and accept to monitored by the authorities and the statutes within the law. This being the UIA, which has the oversight.
The Incentive before launching has to verified and certified by the UIA. The same authority that has oversight and register the incentives. The Foreign Investor has to notify the UIA if they are complying with their inventory to the UIA as per law.
As to make it more hectic for anyone to invest is not allowed to directly to be investing in farming, as production of agricultural output. They cannot do that, but they can be able and allowed to own factories and businesses that helps the farmers to get better crops or bigger livestock.
The law states further the priorities for a Foreign Investor, as per law: “1. agro processlng; 2. food processing; 3. medical appliances; 4. building materials; 5. light industry; 6. automobile manufacturing and assembly; 7. household appliances; 8. furniture; 9. logistics and ware-housing; 10. information technology; or ll. commercial farming”.
This really put the parameter for what they can and cannot do. They are specific as to who allows, what sort of investment, who certifies and who monitors. Therefore, a foreign investor, by law has to comply a lot more and has to have more paperwork to prove his business-plan, prove his investment, his hires and his initial plan for getting exports of the giving products. This will clearly hamper investments and create a longer time-table for them. As the Foreign Investor cannot focus on local market, but on international market, because that is how it is by law. In addition, when you invest in something, you don’t want to loose your certification or your rights to produce or export given products.
Also, the same investor needs to incorporate the business with the Registrar General, a certified of remittance by the Bank of Uganda, the second, the certified of remittance to lodge an application to the Department of Immigration and this department have to give the Foreign Investor a permit to do stay and do business in Uganda. Therefore, before engaging with the new criteria of the UIA and MoFPED, the investor has to get the BoU in check and get the Department of Immigration. If all of these factors doesn’t slow down a process, nothing does. This is clearly a way of securing jobs for bureaucrats and lesser the burden of the foreign exchange and remittance in general.
If that sounds like an easier way in, it doesn’t, more offices and paperwork, before even spending money. This code will clearly hamper more foreign investors from coming, unless they are giving Presidential Handshakes to the President. I am sure he then lets them in. Peace.