Zimbabwe: You are being thrown under the bus. Accept it quietly. Open Letter to Dambudzo Emmerson Mnangagwa – The Zhuwao Brief Reloded Article 28 (ZBR27) – By Honourable Patrick Zhuwao on 14th January 2019 (14.01.2019)

Zimbabwe: ZIMRATU – Declaration on Incapacitation dated 13 January 2019 (13.01.2019)

Zimbabwe: Citizens’ Cabinet – Press Statement on the State of Economic Emergency in the Country (14.01.2019)

 

Zimbabwe: Press Statement by The Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Hon. Prof. M. Ncube on the Excise Duty Refund Framework Following the Fuel Price Increase under Statutory Instrument 9 of 2019 (13.01.2019)

Zimbabwe: ZERA – Notice On Fuel Pricing (13.01.2019)

Zimbabwe: Hiking fuel prices will touch all parts of life!

Yesterday, out of the blue, the President and his people said they would hold a Press Conference. This happen as President Emmerson Mnangagwa announced the spiking or doubling of fuel prices, as the state is struggling with the dollar shortage. This is happening as the effects of RTGS Taxes and the hurting economy in general. As the black-market bond-notes exchange rates and lack of currency in general. This is all making the financial market worse.

So, of today, there are long lines of cars going to petrol stations trying to get fuel. The videos of it is online and shown to the world. Mnangagwa statement came late at night on a Saturday and on Sunday, the results of this has occurred. As businesses are challenged, the Unions are reacting and the public are bitten by it too. This is hurting all, everything will become more expensive and the lie of 1:1 exchange between the Zimbabwe Bond-Notes and United States Dollars (USD). Therefore, the statement yesterday proves the added expenses on ordinary lives.

ZCTU Statement:

After wide consultations, the ZCTU General Council resolved to call for a nation wide STAY AWAY with effect from midnight today following the insensitive and provocative increase of fuel price by the President of Zimbabwe. 2) Workers have been facing serious hardships as a result of the general astronomical price increases since last year against stagnant salaries. The fuel increase added more misery to the suffering working class of Zimbabwe both in formal and informal sectors. The action will be embarked on an incremental basis & include other forms of actions that will be advised in due. There is nothing else pushing the workers besides the starvation & hardships afflicting every working class household. Think about your family & do the right thing” (Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, 13.01.2019).

Some people are blaming the sanctions, other like me is also looking into the added taxes done by this administration late last year. As the costs of currency has gone up, as the RTGS and the transactions are added expenses. Also, the reality of lack of currency itself, as the foreign exchange has hit the workforce of the state. There been numerous strikes, there been plenty of businesses closing and also empty shelves. Therefore, the stagnation and slow destruction of the economy without a currency. Is really hitting the common folk. Who knows what rate the inflation is at, but it must be hitting hard.

Because we know the hardships hits the citizens, not only the prices of fuel is doubled over night, but the amount of fuel you can buy has been cut in half or even less. That has even been stated by companies like Redan Coupon (Pvt.) Limited, who came out with a public statement. Showing the effects on all of them customers.

We know this is fixed prices from the government, as the President did on Live Press Conference, telling the public about the prices yesterday. The Herald wrote this about it yesterday: “Zera said the prices which were implemented recently were in line with Statutory Instruments 20 and 100 enacted in 2015. Zera notified members of the public that uel stations were at liberty to sell the commodity at lower prices “depending on their trading advantages.”” (Farirai Machivenyika – ‘Govt clears air on fuel prices’ 12.01.2019).

We are seeing clearly, that the authorities had worked together before the doubling of fuel prices happen. As the President stated. They know it will affect all parts of life, make everything more expensive. Everything in the Republic will be touched and the costs of life, will sky-rocket naturally. Not looking forward to see the inflation numbers and how it affects the prices on food and basics in general.

Also, expect more strikes and demonstrations, as the costs of living is hitting all parts of life. Peace.

Zimbabwe: Redan Coupon letter to Costumers (13.01.2019)

Zimbabwe: Statement by His Excellency the President, cde E.D. Mnangagwa on the Eve of a Major Five-Nation Foreign Official Visit, 12th January 2019 (12.01.2019)

My honest letter to Nelson Chamisa: They were not stupid, they were supporting you!

Oslo, 15th November 2018

It was very stupid even for those people who demonstrated to demonstrate for the result to be released. It was stupid because they then opened themselves for attacks and manipulation and that’s my view. I’m not insulting them, but it was premature and they opened themselves to manipulation and violence,” – Nelson Chamisa (15.11.2018).

Dear Nelson Chamisa.

I am writing to you because you have forgotten your role as a leader, as a shepard and the ones people are looking up to, as a beacon of hope even. Especially, it was like that in the days in and around the Harmonized Elections. As you proclaimed the victor, even before the announced results where there and the ZANU-PF rule has persisted since.

Chamisa, let me be clear. I saw some hope and some vision in you. As you seemed like the youthful successor to continue the legacy and hard work of Morgan Tsvangirai. However, today you have shown your true character. As you was subpoenaed yesterday to meet with the Commission of the 1st August 2018 Post-Election Inquiry.

Seems that this has hurt you and made wounded. However, you we’re not touched as so many of your peers. There was plenty within the MDC-Alliance that spent time behind bars, six people lost their lives on the streets of Harare and dozens ill in the hospital with wounds. Wounds that they are healing today or even scarred for life. Because they had faith in you, Mr. Chamisa. They looked up to you. They saw hope and potential for a New Zimbabwe.

Today, when calling them stupid. You betrayed their cause. You betrayed yourself. You gave up on the cause and the vision. You left them astray, like cold coffee. They taste bad and isn’t fresh like hot coffee. Clearly, that is what you see now in November.

They walked on the streets for the MDC Alliance and YOU. They marched and protested because they looked up to you and wanted to show that. They voiced their concerns and sparked the protest as a proof of their loyalty to the cause. The cause of toppling the junta, the regime of ZANU-PF.

However, you have deemed them now, as the inquiry is coming, as irresponsible, as stupid and in contempt with wisdom. Instead of supporting their will of securing their ballots, their votes and their election. You have given that totally up and now even calling them names.

Chamisa, I thought you were better, but I was wrong. Terribly wrong. They demonstrated for you and your cause. Instead, you are saying they was manipulated. Was they by your team and the parts of your team that was behind bars in August? That is what I wondering about after your statement. Because you proclaimed victory and so did Tendai Biti. That is maybe even the manipulation you was serving these people. The people you called stupid.

That is distasteful and disgraceful to the ones who run out on the streets fighting for the ones who voted for you. Because that was the people who went out there. This wasn’t Emmerson Mnangagwa’s supporters, they was yours.

Best Regards

Writer of Minbane

Reference;

Justin Manyenyere – ‘August 1 demonstrators stupid: Chamisa’ 15.11.2018 link: https://www.theindependent.co.zw/2018/11/15/august-1-demonstrators-stupid-chamisa/

Opinion: Mnangagwa’s albatross, the economic crisis, that is self-inflicted!

This is a short time coming. It isn’t a long ago the 2 % taxes on Mobile Money Transactions and other financial services came into effect in Zimbabwe. Still the ramifications has been dire and the consequences has hit all walks of life. Even Unions and Civil Servants are asking the government to get their salaries in US Dollars, than in the Bond Notes. That shows the lack of value in the temporary currency, which is still floated around and never was really a good idea in the first place.

That President Emmerson Mnangagwa tries to show some concern by writing to the Republic in the midst of credit crisis, a foreign exchange crisis and the sudden lack of imports of products because that is good. However, he is trying to say they ones tricking and finding a way to make is the issue. Not that the government haven’t done their job to monitor, safeguard and build a resilient economy. If they had done that, they would have known the consequences of their actions and would also have mechanisms that could ensure the balances of books and also enough reserves to fill the gaps. However, that is pipe-dream, as the ZANU-PF are making sure the hyper-inflation and lack of goods becomes a main-stay in ordinary life.

Here is notable quotes from what the President wrote on the matter:

Sadly, events of the past two weeks have shown this is not so. Not everyone is playing to the rules. Partly because of wanton illicit currency deals happening in what is known as the black market, our economy has been disturbed. We have suffered massive market failures, manifesting in complete collapse of the pricing framework for virtually all commodities, regardless of import component. There has been a run on the bond note. In all this, there have been no winners, given that at the end of the day we are all consumers who demand and buy goods and services at any one stage for our survival” (Mnangagwa, 2018).

Lately, our law enforcement agencies have been investigating these illicit activities. It has come to light that the money changers we see in street corners are mere “runners” who work for big currency sharks who operate from high places in air-conditioned offices. The real culprits are not these “runners” who are but a tip of a big and scandalous financial iceberg” (Mnangagwa, 2018).

Currently we have no legislation to deal with currency manipulators. We therefore need urgent and robust measures to deal with this financial menace. Of course, I am aware of what else needs to be done by way of policy changes and key adjustments in different sectors and aspects of the economy, including in the public sector. These changes and adjustments are already being done, and will continue to be done until Government plays its own part in stabilising the economy by living strictly within its means” (Mnangagwa, 2018).

Let’s be clear about the value of the currency and the inflation, these are rates that barren on the principal that the Financial Ministry and Central Bank are controlling. Such in a manner, where the Monetary Policy and the International influence are in tandem. To an such extent that they are making sure the wages, the prices and the value of currency are leveled. In a manner, where it is livable and create a fixed growth. However, in Zimbabwe it is a free-for-all. Where a single tax and a lack of oversight with the Bond-Notes, also the oversight of currency in general. Are the reason for the short-falls and lack of cash. This is done, because the state isn’t doing their job of creating sufficient mechanisms and reserves to have a baseline even for the economy. When that is created and the vacuum has to be filled, the prices on the currency is growing, the inflation’s and the higher prices is the outcome. This isn’t something new, but an old ways of lack of resources, lack of basics and the needs of the market to push prices to cover costs. This isn’t manipulations or sharks. This is laziness of the Financial Institutions and the ones not using their oversight rule.

The already weak Bond Notes, the hated ones, that never was a good idea. Has ensured this downfall of currency. Combined with higher taxes, that takes vital funds out of the market and also empties the reserves of the companies to get more foreign exchange, but also makes it more expensive to get new stocks in the shops. This is a negative spiral self-wounded by the government, by a quick trick of transactions expensive and seeing the short-fall happening as consequence.

The previous Finance Minister called the Zimbabwe Economy an Albatross, I think he was right. Because there seems to be no one caring for having reserves, thinking of a rainy-day and also thinking of the outcome of any measure done into the economy. They should have built graphs and expected certain reactions to the levied taxes. However, they seems shocked and the President has to make excuses. Instead of saying they are incompetent and not having the man-power to stabilize the economy. They are instead making the currency traders, the Forex businesses and whoever who imports goods to blame. Because they are not seeing the Albatross, and neither the consequence of their actions.

The President and his men, should have known better, but they act all holy. When they are the ones living in sin. Peace.

Reference:

Emmerson Mnangagwa – ‘Stabilising the economy: Tackling the parallel market’ 21.10.2018 link: http://www.sundaymail.co.zw/stabilising-the-economy-tackling-the-parallel-market/