HARARE - Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra)’s intention to investigate the rich is a noble idea which should be supported by everyone in the country as it encourages tax compliance.
However, it is our understanding that more needs to be done by government to increase its tax base in a sustainable way by creating a conducive environment that allows businesses and entrepreneurs to thrive.
At the moment, companies are shutting down at an alarming rate, power cuts are becoming more excessive by the day and water woes are now part and parcel of our lives — with no respite in sight.
The Zanu PF-led government, on the other hand, remains ensnared in denial and is clueless on how to turn around the fortunes of the country.
As long as policy inconsistencies are prevalent and controversial policies such as the Indigenisation Act remain in our statutes in their current form, it would be hard if not impossible, for us to attract foreign direct investment — a critical component for economic revival.
We have said it before, and we will continue to sing from the same hymn-book, that the indigenisation policy must be amended quickly and this should be put in black and white.
The law is not helping anyone but only the politically-connected at the expense of the majority of Zimbabweans who continue to wallow in poverty.
A cursory look at our regional peers clearly reveals that all our neighbours’ economies are growing remarkably, while Zimbabwe will be extremely lucky to register a 3,2 percent gross domestic product growth rate this year.
Our main problem at the moment is lack of political will and economic policy deficiency.
We have a government that is clueless and continues to celebrate winning elections, many months after the event.
This goes on to show that we have leaders that clearly have no idea how to put food on our tables.
If Zanu PF had brilliant ideas to grow our economy — as they wanted the electorate to believe through their ZimAsset blueprint — then by now we should have begun to see the results.
On the contrary, our lives are now worse off than they were before last year’s elections.
Out of the 2,2 million jobs promised by Zanu PF, there is no evidence of jobs being created.
Drugs are not available in hospitals and clinics, our education system continues to disintegrate unabated, social services delivery systems have irretrievably broken down and youth unemployment has skyrocketed to shocking levels.
With the current crop of leadership, it seems fair to conclude that our future as a nation is doomed, unless there is divine intervention.