Opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) leader, Nelson Chamisa, says Zimbabwe will fully introduce the United States dollar if he wins the 2023 presidential election.
In a series of tweets, Chamisa said, “We will start with full dollarization and then create a conducive environment and the right confidence levels for the adoption of our local currency. As part of our de-dollarisation road map we will make sure that we meet fiscal consolidation; current account surplus; 6 months import cover (forex reserves); stable exchange rate; single digit inflation; productive& competitive economy.”
Presenting his Rapid and Accelerated Transformation of The Economy Plan, for turning around the country soon after the 2023 general elections, Chamisa on the back of a well functioning economy, powered by production and stable macroeconomic environment, his government would provide dynamic social services with a robust heath and education system, well functioning welfare system and a highly-rewarding civil service attracting workers from the private sector.
“The monster and beast we are taming - in 2018, annual inflation was 5% but the regime has guided inflation to 837.5% in July 2020 and somehow managed to drop inflation to 55% in July 2021 after having used hard-earned foreign currency from the exporters to bribe the economy by dishing it out at unreasonably controlled rates. Now they have run out of steam. Annual inflation is now raking havoc again and shot to 132% in May 2022 - its not turning back.”
Chamisa said the 2019 budget was $8.1 billion but has shot up by 11900% to $960 billion in 2022.
“Its unprecedented! Funny enough, salaries have not risen by the same magnitude. Poverty levels as reported by ZIMSTAT shows that people in extreme poverty has risen from 29% (4.64 million people) to 49% (7.9 million people), that is, an additional 69% of the population was pushed into extreme in the last 4 years.
“Civil servants were earning US$540 but teachers are now taking home ZWL$30,000 which is equivalent to US$42 ... Hospitals are now death traps. Women are being asked to buy consumables for them to be registered to give birth.”
He said his government would develop demand-driven policies informed by inclusive policies and politics anchored upon an inclusive dialogue with all political actors, economic players, labour, business, civil society and academia with a view to build a new consensus and buy-in.
“Our policies will be predictable, consistent and guarantee certainty - this will help citizens, economic agents, workers, business and investors to plan with certainty.”
Chamisa said he will fight to eradicate high levels of corruption in Zimbabwe.
“The corrupt will be an endangered species … We will eliminate corruption, enforce rule of law, foster political tolerance, constitutionalism and respect of property rights, which, combined, are critical ingredients required to attract investment, savings and production.
According to the opposition leader, his government would also tackle the nation debt amounting to more than US$10 billion.
He also said they will fight for Zimbabwe’s reindustrialization.
“We will make Zimbabwe an entrepreneurial society - new industries, new factories and new companies and new sectors and employing more. We will embark on radical Central Bank reforms on the back of wide consultation with bankers, business and labour.”