THE Zimbabwe Stock Exchange (ZSE) can be the driving force behind economic growth in our country if utilised to full capacity. Empirical evidence has shown that stock markets are indeed the epicentres for economic growth and general improvement in the welfare of the habitats of world economies.
THE Editor’s Memo “The type, quality of elections matters” (Zimbabwe Independent, January 27) and Paidamoyo Muzulu’s analysis “Parastatals collapse: An indictment of GNU” (Zimbabwe Independent, January 13) were spot on as regards the embarrassing inability of Zimbabwean line ministries to viably run parastatals when compared to the Chinese, as well as the Brazilians.
According to The Economist’s Futurology edition titled “The World in 2012” state–controlled enterprises account for 80% of the market capitalisation of China and 38% in Brazil.
The world’s 13 largest oil companies, measured by reserves, are all state enterprises of one sort or another. It boggles the mind as to why our cabinet has been shy of the stock exchange.
Hwange power station, for example, may be listed whilst government retains a progressively small shareholding and applying the returns to new power stations in a Public Private Partnership framework thereby leveraging government resources.
The ZMDC, with its strong balance sheet owing to its huge reserves of platinum, diamonds and other minerals could go for an international initial public offering to raise sufficient capital not only for the PGM refinery but for a 51% stake in Zimsteel as well.
THE opinion piece by South African ambassador to Zimbabwe Vusi Mavimbela “Why the Herald is wrong about Mandela” (Zimbabwe Independent, January 27) was very informative. It delved into the problems associated with the dismantling of apartheid institutions and the reconstruction of these within a non-racial paradigm.
IN one of his works Kenyan writer, Ngugi waThiongo, examines the concept of “where the rain started to beat us” and exhorts us to dig out the real causes of our suffering as the wananchi (the masses).
THE extremely flawed indigenisation law in Zimbabwe is nothing more than one of Zanu PF’s last and desperate political weapons to win the next election and assume power through the back door. However it will lead to the demise of the former liberation party.
WHAT is Zimra doing with the proceeds from toll gates? The money is surely not being put to the correct use. From my own observation, Zimra is busy collecting money from toll gates and not repairing the roads. Meanwhile the condition of the roads continues to deteriorate with some potholes developing into gulleys.
Can the responsible ministry please respond on this issue because I don’t think I am alone in holding this view? This error of omission is contributing to the carnage on the road.
If you try to compare our roads with those of our neighbour South Africa, one will be left wondering where we are going wrong. Where are the South Africans getting their money from? It’s simple arithmetic; road users are supposed to pay for the repair and maintenance of roads by paying at toll gates as well as vehicle licences. We are doing our end of the bargain. So where is the money going?
WHILST the rest of the African continent is coming up with policies that seek to lure the much-needed foreign investment, the Zimbabwean government has opted for a different route. The country’s empowerment laws compel all foreign-owned companies to give up at least 51% of their equity to locals as part of measures aimed at empowering the economically marginalised black majority.
JUST prior to Christmas, when turning out of Helensvale road on to Borrowdale road, I noticed a very tall, slender, steel billboard frame being erected in the grounds of the Borrowdale Police station.
ZANU PF and central bank governor Gideon Gono are at it again: pushing for the return of the demonetised Zimbabwe dollar. What a pathetic sight to see some of us crying and clawing at relevance when the team bus has left without us.
OUR government officials mistake slogans for policy. They have been at it for years. The levels of mineral beneficiation have been low as the country has largely remained a net exporter of raw materials. How then can we achieve this beneficiation when our transport sector, NRZ and AirZim as well as communication, Telone and other support services are comatose?
WE now hear that the US$40 million Distressed and Marginalised Areas Fund (Dimaf) will not benefit all closed firms in Bulawayo but only priority companies determined by the Industry and Commerce ministry and CABS.
SINCE economic growth has been stunted for the past 12 months what is the worst that can happen if elections are held? This pretence or fiction that there is economic growth in this current dispensation is grossly inaccurate.
AS the year begins we are told that Christian churches are religiously committed to praying for peace in Zimbabwe. That is commendable. However, I have misgivings about the connotation of prayer by the clerics, under the prevailing circumstances.
MUNYARADZI Huni’s comments under the opinion and analysis column (Sunday Mail, January 1, 2012) headed “2011: The good, the bad and the ugly” is incorrect, misleading and malicious.
I WAS shocked to discover that South African President Jacob Zuma’s ANC has promised to send a team of strategists to assist Zanu PF come up with an “effective” campaign strategy that would ensure victory for President Robert Mugabe in elections expected either next year or in 2013.
I AGREE with the story “Supreme Court judgments take too long” (Zimbabwe Independent, December 2) that justice delayed is literally justice denied. I have no doubt the Supreme Court bench is of the same opinion.
THE year 2025 will see the Chinese economy overtake the US economy, though the average Chinese will still be four times poorer than the average American.
THE trite Zanu PF annual national conference in Bulawayo was expected to begin in earnest on Wednesday with very few outsiders interested. It provides comic relief to see a pseudo-sophisticated party failing to live up to the Darwinian necessity of evolution both for the people and for simple self-preservation purposes.
THE Zimbabwe Independent (December 2) carried an article by Qhubani Moyo entitled “Tsvangirai his own worst enemy”, which carried some informative excerpts, especially on the need for public officials to be aware of public scrutiny.
AN economics professor at a local college made a statement that he had never failed a single student before, but had recently failed an entire class. That class had insisted that socialism worked and that no one would be poor and no one would be rich as well; a great equaliser.
