Zimbabwe commemorated its 44th year of independence on Thursday, April 18th, 2024. However, the celebratory mood was dampened by widespread hunger and anxieties surrounding the recently introduced Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) currency.
El Nino’s Devastating Impact
The El Nino weather phenomenon has caused a severe drought across Southern Africa, with Zimbabwe being particularly hard-hit. The country received little to no rainfall during the 2023-2024 growing season. This lack of precipitation has resulted in a looming food crisis.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared the drought a national disaster in April 2024. He appealed for $2 billion in humanitarian aid to assist the 2.7 million Zimbabweans facing severe food insecurity. Neighboring countries, Zambia and Malawi, have also made similar declarations due to drought conditions.
Price Increases and Anticipated Harvest Shortfall
The prices of essential commodities, such as maize and sugar, have already begun to rise. Some unscrupulous retailers are exploiting the situation by engaging in arbitrage behavior. Zimbabwe’s expected grain harvest of 868,000 metric tons falls far short of national requirements, leaving a deficit of 680,000 metric tons.
Climate change undeniably plays a role in Zimbabwe’s current hardships. However, other factors, like alleged government mismanagement and rampant corruption, are exacerbating the crisis. The nation’s ongoing currency woes, characterized by inflation and exchange rate instability, further complicate the situation.
John Mushayavanhu, the newly appointed Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) governor, painted a bleak picture of the drought’s impact on the economy in his recent Monetary Policy Statement. He introduced the ZiG, a gold-backed currency, but its success hinges on various economic factors beyond drought.
Young Zimbabweans Express Disillusionment
Interviews with young Zimbabweans revealed a sense of disillusionment and a lack of confidence in their government’s institutions. Many believe a complete economic overhaul is necessary for the ZiG currency to gain traction. They point to past failed attempts to introduce new currencies, such as Bearer Cheques, Bond Notes, and RTGS, which ultimately led to inflation and disadvantaged the public.
Young Zimbabweans are advocating for a free market system where supply and demand dictate prices, rather than government intervention. They believe this approach would incentivize production and economic growth.
Lost Opportunities and Yearning for Change
Many young people feel robbed of opportunities due to the economic crisis. They express frustration at the lack of access to resources like land or foreign currency, hindering their ability to start businesses or build a secure future.
While some express no qualms with the ruling ZANU-PF party’s leadership in principle, they criticize the perceived lack of progress in economic development since the late 1990s. Infrastructure development, financial systems, and communication networks are all cited as areas requiring significant improvement.
This year’s Independence Day theme, “Unity, Peace and Development Towards Vision 2030,” seems overshadowed by the current hardships. As the nation celebrates its independence, many Zimbabweans grapple with hunger, economic uncertainty, and a yearning for a brighter future.
Source: New Zimbabwe
