By Tawanda Chari
The globe is run by influential private corporations and they have an unhealthy affinity for chaos. Chaos breeds opportunity no matter the consequences (as this means more profits). That phenomena may have affected Africa and the Middle East heavily, more than everyone else. Africa has minerals especially down south and the Middle East has abundant oil reserves. Governments work together with these private firms/multinationals when it comes to enjoying profits generated from these precious resources, which should cater more for the people rather than the political and business elite.
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| Emmerson Mnangagwa and Kuda Tagwirei (the latter is a commodities business person; founder and CEO of Sakunda Holdings - the firm has been involved in government projects) |
What is strikingly similar between Zimbabwe and every other nation that is being exploited for its resources is leadership. Cartels run countries and Zimbabwe is no different. The West has to impose more sanctions on Zimbabwe because they benefit from chaos, and cartels that run Zimbabwe cause more chaos. It is not a secret that Western firms benefit from exploiting Africa. Worsened by our political leaders who continue to court this foreign capital in the hope that economic problems will vanish. As seen by the rapid privatization of the country’s economic sectors (for example Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube said that there are plans to privatize NetOne and TelOne as one firm).
Private capital benefits from owning businesses and generally good business (for them) requires chaos (especially when it comes to the provision of basic, fundamental social services). Almost all the problems in the world today are premised on how privatization has swept over world economies. Reducing the role of the government in regulating these firms and in providing social services. What is called neoliberalism. Even in critical areas such as healthcare.
The elite society in Zimbabwe thrives on a divided populace because a divided literate nation is cheap labour. But take for instance how rampant electricity problems are an opportunity for fuel cartels and solar or generator companies. Problems in the public health sector promote business in the private sector. It means the elite who own private medical institutions stand to benefit, while the public health system crumbles. Councils have acute shortages of water treatment chemicals every other month. The largest benefactors of that are people who own borehole drilling companies and the like. An economy where private players are benefiting more because government has reneged on its duty to ensure universal access to the above-mentioned social services. (That are vitally important for the existence of an individual.)
We now have a situation where companies are making profits through the provision of social services. It is the government's duty to ensure that it interferes strongly in the provision of social services so that citizens can have a dignified existence. So as to have a people-centred economy.
The devastating effects of extreme capitalism on the socioeconomic livelihoods of the ordinary person are almost always business problems. Perfect service delivery for the people threatens the flow of capital for the cartels and whenever things seem to be flowing, well, a drastic change always follows.
All the trauma that the ordinary citizen experiences is an effect of extreme capitalism. And it means we should be preaching loudly the word neoliberalism for this is what is killing African economies.
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