Tendai Biti on CNN’s African Voices
FYI:
This week on African Voices, Zimbabwean Finance Minister and human rights activist, Tendai Biti. http://edition.cnn.com/CNNI/Programs/africanvoices/
Tendai Biti, is a tough-talking, football-loving Zimbabwean politician, who rose to prominence as one of the public faces of the opposition party - the Movement for Democratic Change. Tendai Biti trained as a lawyer - and his fight against injustice has taken him out of the courtroom of Harare and onto the streets… and now into the hall of power. Read more
Is Tsvangirai a cash baron? Are you?
I hope so. Not the money hording, forex trading, street dealing kind - the ‘ethical kind’. Either way… I’ll show you the four ‘Desperate Cash Baron’ keys I’ve used to get out of some downright desperate and urgent financial problems - quick and easy, without even bending the law!
See, love or hate them, Cash Baron’s can (yes they’re still around) do something that the average Zimbabwean can’t. Get money. These cash baron secrets can get you doing the same - whether you use your powers for good or evil, is your choice. The alternative to becoming a cash baron? Hard work. Read more
Morgan Tsvangirai- full inauguration speech (11 Feb 2009)
The full inauguration speech by Prime Minister of Zimbabwe, Morgan Richard Tsvangirai.
11 February 2009
Harare
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Your Majesty, King Mswati III, the Chairman of the AU Commission, Mr Jean Ping, President Mugabe, former President Mbeki, Your Excellencies, Honoured Guests, People of Zimbabwe,
Today is an historic day for our country. As we form this transitional government, we look back withreflection on the difficult journey that has brought us to this day, and look forward with determination to the road that lies ahead.
To my fellow African leaders, there can be no turning back on the political agreement which each party has signed, knowing it is not a perfect agreement but still a workable one. An agreement that if implemented with good faith, will deliver a peaceful way forward toward a stable economy, a new constitution and free and fair elections. Brothers and sisters in SADC and the AU, we are counting on you to be our partners and to ensure that this agreement is upheld as we face the challenges of rebuilding our country in the days ahead.
Though today’s ceremony marks a very significant milestone on our democratic journey, it is only the beginning. On this day 19 years ago Nelson Mandela walked free from Victor Verster prison, an historic step on South Africa’s long road to freedom. Read more
Can a fiscal policy possibly curb the inflation in our heads?
Filed under: Economy, How Zimbabwe can be better, Zimbabwean diaries
The better part of last year saw me living in a secluded place where life is still relatively easy but not necessarily unharmed by the current economic melt down. Yes this is Zimbabwe! The one reason for this is that we are very close to the Botswana border where we get our groceries cheap using our parents’ hard earned forex they send monthly to support their kids in college. Although life is okay, the area is so secluded and the only news about the outside world is through over exaggerated satellite and internet news coupled with the toned down stuff our parents told us via email or telephone. Frankly, none of this prepared me enough for the shock of a life time when I set foot in Harare.
When Reserve Bank governor, Gideon Gono introduced the forex shops we were all relieved at least inflation was going to be past, our prices would be realistic and a lot of goods were going to be readily available on the shelves a slight return to the pre-land redistribution era. Every Zimbabwean was ready to sacrifice the little forex their Diaspora relatives had sent them. But alas, this was just another distant Zimbabwean dream. Read more
Sustainability lost
Filed under: Economy, How Zimbabwe can be better, Zimbabwean diaries
The last few months have been a rollercoaster ride of emotions. Watching Obama win the US Presidential elections brought through such a powerful wave of emotions. Wonder and relief mixed with positive hope for change. There is shift happening in the world, and this feels part of this shift. But this is about America. I am Zimbabwean. Why has this affected me so much?
I feel the answer has to lie in his amazing journey. The man has won against such huge adversity. His message of change and hope for the future won out against the state machines. There was not an entirely fair or level playing field. Like many other countries, the government in power had the resources and the ability to put barriers in the way of the opposing party. Oh it was far less devastating and pervasive as it is in some countries, but it still existed. Read more
Zimbabwe Inflation at 10.2 Quadrillion Percent!
I found this article interesting:
Zimbabwe is the first country in the 21st century to hyperinflate. In February 2007, Zimbabwe’s inflation rate topped 50% per month, the minimum rate required to qualify as a hyperinflation (50% per month is equal to a 12,875% per year). Since then, inflation has soared.
The last official inflation data were released for July and are hopelessly outdated. The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe has been even less forthcoming with money supply data: the most recent money supply figures are ancient history—January 2008. Read More Here
