Price increases mustn’t be arbitrary

N Zimbabwe, Government is the largest employer and when its workers are underpaid, the market will be depressed on one hand, while on the other, there will be a hive of activity in the economy when civil servants are adequately remunerated.

For some time, the majority of the civil servants have been receiving salaries below the poverty datum line ($600) and this has been affecting service delivery in the public sector.

The majority of Government workers would spend part of their productive time searching for alternative ways of sustenance.

Although that can be at times difficult to prove, reports abound that besides stealing the employer’s time, there are some workers that have been involved in a number of shenanigans that also cost their employer materially and financially.

There are some workers who spent almost half of their time daily, knocking on other people’s doors, selling some wares ranging from clothing, perfumes, cooked food — the list is endless.

Others were always off sick travelling to neighbouring countries in search of wares for resale at home to supplement incomes.

It is also critical to highlight that their counterparts in the private sector are surviving below the poverty datum line — where controls are too stringent — have been worse off.

This calls for the private sector to take a cue

100 years ago CHIPINGA, 4 April 1919. A meeting of the Gazaland Farmers’Association was held at Chipinga on March 14. There was an attendance of 26.

Ox transport was discussed, and there was a considerable difference of opinion as to whether it could be allowed locally, not at all, or right through to Umtali.

It was eventually decided to circulate the district with a view to finding the exact feeling on this important subject.

The following letter from the Director of Agriculture was read:“The resolution of your Association regarding tsetse fly has now received consideration, and I am glad to inform you that the Government is prepared to defray the expenses of Mr Swynnertton an investigations suggested.

It is hoped by this means some light may be obtained as to the best methods of combating tsetse fly in the district.

75 years ago

BULAWAYO, 4 April 1944. Over £300 was taken in Bulawayo yesterday when booking opened for Noel Coward’s performance at the Palace Theatre on April 27.

Twenty minutes before the box office was due to open half a dozen people had collected. Enthusiastic comments suggested that some folk are quite ready to pay £2 a seat for a type of entertainment so seldom enjoyed here.

Others appeared to look upon it as a contribution to the National War Fund first and foremost, and a jolly good entertainment as a secondary consideration.

More and more people began to arrive and then the manager of the theatre formed two queues, one for “Blossoms in the Dust” and the other for Coward.

Those standing in the various queues started a friendly rivalry to see which would have the largest following, Noel Coward or Greer Garson, Greer Garson appeared to be the winning when, at 10.50am, the booking began.

50 years ago

SALISBURY, 4 April 1969. The Referendum Bill published in a Government gazette extraordinary yesterday provides for a referendum to determine whether the voters of Rhodesia are in favour or against “(a) the adoption of a republican form of Government in Rhodesia and (b) certain proposals for a new Constitution for Rhodesia”.

The Bill, which is expected to be tabled and debated in Parliament shortly after it resumes on April 15, states that the Minister of Internal Affairs will publish a White Paper giving the draft constitutional proposals as soon as possible after the Bill becomes law.

After the White Paper has been published the Officer Administering the Government will issue a proclamation giving the voting hours on that day and appointing officials to be returning officers.

The Bill states that only registered voters will be able to vote at the referendum.

The majority vote cast will determine the opinion of voters on each of the two referendum questions.

25 years ago HARARE, 4 April 1994. By January next year, no driver in the Zimbabwe National Army will be allowed to drive army vehicles without a defensive driving certificate.

The new policy was announced in Harare last week by the Chief of Staff (Logistics), Major-General Edzai Chimonyo, at the launch of the first of a service defensive driving certificate courses at 2 Brigade Headquarters.

The courses come at a time when the army “is experiencing adverse publicity by the Press after a series of traffic accidents involving army vehicles. The courses are run by the army’s own instructors from the Service Training School.

Major-Gen Chomonyo said motorists had, since the early 1980s, lost confidence in the army driver’s ability to use roads.

“The public has even gone further to believe that army drivers deliberately bashed into civilian vehicles because they were not afraid of death or because army vehicles were designed to resist accident damage,” he said.

Public confidence could only be restored through good driving by the army drivers. All drivers inn the infantry battalions will undergo the course. from the Government and also economically empower their workers with salaries above the poverty datum line.

Government should be saluted because despite the hard economic environment characterised by low foreign currency inflows through foreign direct investment and export receipts and high unemployment among other things, it made a huge sacrifice and awarded its employees a $400 million cost of living adjustment. The adjustment is with effect from April 1, 2019.

The increases are from 13 to 29 percent depending on the grades after negotiations with the civil servants body, the Apex council.

The latest figure is an increase from the $350 million Government had offered to its employees. The cost of living adjustment is also in addition to the $63 million once off allowance civil servants received during the first quarter of 2019.

Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Dr Sekesai Nzenza said Government together with civil servants had agreed on the $400 million offer and this would be reviewed again in June. HEN I was in Form 1, my Shona teacher asked our class to get into pairs and, at the beginning of each Shona lesson, one pair was required to take five minutes presenting news to the class.

I never wanted to be a journalist, but one of my friends (MHSRIP) went about this task with such excitement that even when it was not his turn, he could be trusted to have some news that he could share with those on the spot, for a slice of buttered bread of course.

“‘Do you have ZIANA for me?” was how people usually approached him.

I cannot say that this is why I love watching news, but yes, I cannot do without news. So much that when I travelled recently and stayed in a hotel that did not have news, I made a point to leave a review on their website telling them exactly what I think about their decision to offer Zeeworld and not eNCA or CNN. But that, is a different story.

When at work, I take my breaks to search for news. I read about everything, I even have an arrangement with a newspaper seller that she should drop all her papers into my car as I pass the light where she sells (there is no enough time to pick all and pay before the lights change), and then I send her money later. Saying which, I haven’t

According to the Minister of Finance and Economic Development Professor Mthuli Ncube, the latest allowances culminate to about 29 percent adjustment that will see the lowest paid civil servant taking home over $600. This figure according to Government is above the poverty datum line though others argue it is now at around $800.

Whatever the arguments proffered might be by different players in the economy, the move by Government will have far reaching consequences to the economy.

By injecting such an amount into the economy that will also be reviewed until the next budget next year, we expect to see major activities in the economy as hundreds of thousands of civil servants expend the money monthly.

However, our greatest worry is the conduct of our business community that has developed a serious penchant for profiteering as they will not miss any slightest opportunity to increase prices upon hearing of civil servants salary adjustments.

We implore our business people not to behave in an unethical manner by increasing the prices of goods and services they offer upon hearing of this salary adjustment.

Businesses should develop self-regulatory mechanisms and not to be threatened by Government actions or pieces of legislations for them to conduct themselves in an ethical manner. We do not need controls on our market, the prices should be managed by perfect competition where the rules of demand and supply will be at play.

We despise businesspeople who want to make money by increasing the prices of the commodities as a way of boosting their revenue because we believe businesses should make money by moving huge volumes.

Companies that move volumes create more employment and empower many communities through downstream effect and they are assured of sustainable growth. As the civil servants in various grades’ disposable income increases, we believe a number of them will afford products that had become beyond their reach.

As the taste and preferences of many civil servants increases after the income adjustments, more companies producing a variety of products are going to benefit.

The workers should also know that a gradual and sustained salary adjustment will enable the systems to realign themselves and in the process will not provide headaches for national economic managers. Responses to “Zim sends formal

Cyclone Idai You also need to share with the nation about the donations received to date, how long will this approximately last and what is needed to see the affected community through to the next rainy season and so forth. Those statistics will be of much help as people are still eager to donate more. @Eish.

*** Work to support Cyclone Idai victims is still on going. Let us fight on and let us not get tired. @Bingari. *** Responses to “Attachment to home, prelude to disaster” Very informative and insightful piece of journalism. @Tracey. *** Very informative indeed. You really know your work. So sad, so touching. I can’t control my tears at this moment. Please God have mercy on us. @Maztec. *** Great piece. No blame here, history and attachment to home was the deciding factor. Jecketheswede. Responses to “Nyagura

blames Mugabe” There are no children here. The Vice Chancellor is the one responsible for recommending graduands to the Chancellor. He is liable. He is just citing sections that support his position. Let’s wait for the prosecution to respond. Petros Magomanzi.

*** This guy reduced ratings of the University of Zimbabwe internationally. Rossah Bingari. *** This argument is just empty. Nyagura should be answerable to this. Leave the President out of this. Sandura 1. Responses to “Govt, council renovate Matapi Flats” Good move, this is what we want to see not to focus on issues which do not transform the average life of city residents. This must spread to roads, lighting, sewage systems and so forth. We were promised the two percent tax will be put to good use, but so far we have not seen any major changes apart from the familiar story that the Government revenue has shifted from a deficit to a surplus. Eliah.

*** The new dispensation has come with a boom. We wish the MDC-led councils will support Government programmes in the Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP) priority projects. Gakangoma.

*** The flats were in a sorry state, thanks to Government for prioritising the welfare of Mbare residents who were overcrowded and living in filthy conditions. Nkosana.

Responses to “Harare billing system blacked out” All this borders on scandals and I only learnt about it last week when I tried to get my bills updated, and to make matters worse the residents were not informed through the national media fearing the worst. My suggestion is that once all is done and settled there must run another discount campaign to woo ratepayers as those who have been visiting their offices have totally lost faith in the authenticity of the billing system. Well done to RBZ for challenging some of these contracts. Eliah.

*** So then I won’t pay my rates. I pay hundreds every month for what? No water and no rubbish collection. Hokagge.

*** Only 70 grand?? Guys, you spend this tenfold on new Mercs every year and you cannot set aside enough capex for this national billing system? Bert.

*** This matter is just a tip of a huge iceberg. The whole City of Harare itself is a huge scandal that requires investigation with the findings being made public and perpetrators of corruption that stinks to high heaven being prosecuted.

The local authority cannot hide behind low revenue while cutting deals which benefit only a few top people. I appeal to Minister Oliver Chidawu to save us, from the jaws of the executive and councillor jackals at Town House who prioritise allowances, perks and benefits at the expense of the ratepayers and residents. Noblemen Runyanga.

*** Yes let’s opt for cheaper and reliable systems to use. Chikowore.

*** To be honest, the airport road was done very well and Bitumen World did an excellent job. Shabby and sub-standard work has been carried out in certain circumstances.

Derrick.

*** This is the type of development that we want and the Government must extend this to various parts in the country. We need to rebuild our new Zimbabwe which was on the verge of collapse. Arnold.