Govt must cushion citizens to stem non-compliance

THE country is now in the third week of level 4 lockdown and Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions secretary-general Japhet Moyo has warned that the restrictive measures put in place by government without provision for social grants for vulnerable groups could fuel non-compliance. Moyo could be right. Zimbabwe has many vulnerable groups which desperately need to be financially cushioned by government during such emergencies. Livelihoods have been stolen and most people are desperate for survival.

The rate of unemployment is high, the majority is relying on informal trade and even those formally employed are just a salary away from poverty. The situation has been made worse by the lockdowns that have choked even the world’s largest economies.

Other countries have tried to give their citizens some social grants, but that could not even stave off poverty. The situation has been worse in Zimbabwe where government has failed to provide significant social security nets to vulnerable communities since the outbreak of the virus and subsequent first lockdown in March last year.

Instead of giving its struggling citizens social grants, government has taken advantage of the lockdown to destroy illegal structures, mainly vending sites, in the process destroying their livelihoods and sinking them into more poverty.

During the first lockdown, government announced it had set aside $18 billion as bailout package for industry as well as provision of social grants to vulnerable communities.

The registration for the grants was politicised, with those linked to the ruling party benefiting. When the money finally came, two months after the first wave, it was worth US$5, which could not even buy a 10kg bag of mealie-meal.

Out of the three million people identified as vulnerable, a figure which was highly understated, only 300 000 reportedly benefited. According to the World Food Programme, more than seven million Zimbabweans are in desperate need of aid.

Government should seriously consider cushioning its population from poverty so that it heeds the call to stay at home. But given the rising poverty levels, citizens — especially informal traders, might be forced to breach the rules in a bid to fend for their families.

Government should set its priorities right and support its needy people.