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It accounts for a significant chunk of its sales and profits. Of course, most business executives and business owners in this country own a Benz or two. This is not illegal. It’s allowed and people are certainly entitled to a life of comfort. We have people in this country who work so hard and driving luxurious cars and living in plush double-storey houses is quite justifiable. They earn it and they deserve it.
Sometimes we don’t even deserve it. We have it by God’s grace.

However, I have problems with someone owning a fleet of 15 or more cars when they could spend some of their money better by investing in the productive sectors of our economy.

Of course, as I said earlier, people are allowed to amass wealth. Many may have had terrible childhood and find comfort in amassing all these things but this country needs people who are not self-centred.

It is well and dandy that people must aim for a high quality life but in the process let’s also remember that we do not live on an island and we must aim to contribute to national development. In an African context; a child is raised by a community and not by their own parents only so would it be painful to invest in the very community and create jobs and wealth for the people that brought you up?

Zimbabwe needs entrepreneurs who can start projects, employ people and contribute to the Gross Domestic Product. People are in desperate need of jobs. University graduates are roaming the streets while thousands of employees have been rendered jobless as companies downsize or close shop in some instances.

On the other hand, we have people that are so awash with cash it is not funny. In one way or the other such people have money they do not know what to do with.

They end up chasing car manufacturers and buying such liabilities as cars and more cars when, in fact, they could start businesses or expand what they already have or they can create more wealth and employ more people.

Zimbabwe is facing serious cash constraints, a situation that needs sustained interrogation and resolving. A situation that needs a holistic approach from all of us.

This other day I had a chat with a top banker who was frank enough to tell me that if we were expecting banks to suddenly have cash we would be dreaming. He said if we hoped that Father Christmas from somewhere would bring a bag of money then we had a real surprise in store for us because that would not be happening anytime soon.

He was certainly not being mean but he was being frank and realistic. Zimbabwe will just have to figure out how it will fund its economy.
So it is the little things that each one of us will do that will make a difference. My point being that those currently with the cash should invest it wisely instead of filling their garages and yard with 15 or so liabilities in the form of cars, they could cut the figure down and invest in meaningful business that will help grow the economy.

Also, the economy is making negligible amounts from exports and yet as individuals and as a country we are importing trinkets and other things that are bleeding the economy.

What is the rationale of importing tomatoes and onions when we have our own farmers producing these in abundance? All this is doing is to choke the local farmer who has to buy seed and chemicals at a high price.

He is now being forced to sell at less than cost because tomatoes from South Africa and other such markets have found their way into the local markets such as Mbare in Harare selling at sub-economic prices for the local farmer.

I think in this instance funds being used to import the tomatoes could be saved and directed towards more productive projects. Importing tomatoes and onions that are already being produced here in abundance is not only a waste of money but brings in unnecessary trouble for the local farmer.

The economy has so many leakages through which millions of dollars are going down the drain and these need to be plugged so that funds can be channelled towards more meaningful ventures.

Those at the centre of pouring money out unnecessarily should find it in their hearts to change their attitudes and mindsets and begin to do things that will take the economy forward.

Submissions last week by our Group Political Editor Joram Nyathi pertaining to car imports for Members of Parliament are also quite instructive.

Instead of enriching the sources of imports, why do we not inject the funds into projects that will grow this economy, projects that will bring life to some of our collapsing industries.

Many firms find themselves today in a similar position as Willowvale Mazda Motor Industries. They may have viable models but they need capital to start producing and save jobs. Such people as the MPs actually need to initiate and lead debate on how the economy can overcome its challenges instead of them leading the way in terms of how not to spend money.

I have great respect for people who even choose to forgo some of their benefits for a national cause. It’s just that as a country we do not have that many of them.

Only when we deliberately change our spending patterns and our mindsets can we induce liquidity in the economy and improve our general standards of living.

Funds to finance this economy may not necessarily come from outside but from within us, from our resources and from what we already have under the pillow or in our secured case boxes.

We understand the bulk of the money in this country is circulating in the informal market.
Of course, at the end of the day God will make a way but we need to do that which we can in the natural and He will do the supernatural.
Let’s do self-introspection and see how we can individually and collectively contribute towards improving the state of the economy.
In God I trust!

My email: [email protected]