MDC-T Shadow Minister of Finance analyses Chinamasa’s mid-term policy review statement

6. Social Protection

The country is facing a humanitarian catastrophe. Education and Health standards are collapsing due to lack of funding. About 6 million people need food aid. Government must prioritize humanitarian assistance. 

 7. Revenue Enhancing Measures

The Revenue enhancing measures announced in the mid-term fiscal policy review statement are merely addressing administrative efficiencies. These may slightly improve revenue collection provided government firmly deals with corruption and revenue leakages.

8.Corruption

Transparency and Accountability is important for economic growth and development. The levels of corruption we are witnessing in Zimbabwe are alarming. Corruption takes the form of:

• Rent-seeking
• Public procurement (tender scams)
• Asset Stripping
• Illicit financial out flows (e.g the $15 billion diamond money that has gone missing)
• Externalization

 10.Conclusion

The budget deficit is the eye of the fiscal storm. The Zanu (PF) government is clueless on how to run the affairs of the country and manage the economy. Zanu (PF) is bankrupt on economic issues. The country is experiencing a shut down as government can hardly pay civil servants salaries or contain the humanitarian crisis. The investment climate is soiled by political risk. The country is run down and the economic melt-down has reached its bottom.

The MDC will resist and take measures against the cutting of civil servants’ salaries, allowances and bonuses. The only honorable thing to do is for government to step down and allow electoral reforms to pave way for a new democratic and accountable government which can only be ushered in through free and fair elections. The MDC will not relent in its quest to force the Zanu (PF) government to accede to political, electoral and economic reforms through lawful means.      

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