THE ZIMBABWE
PEACE PROJECT
For Zimbabwe, Covid-19 only further accelerated an
economic and social crisis that was already on a cruise to
the worst.
Due to the
skewed nature
of the economy,
and the elitist
policies of the
Finance ministry,
which has
condemned
government
workers to
poverty wages
for two years
now, the gap
between the few
rich and the
poor millions
has grown wider.
In March, Zimbabwe’s inflation was hovering above 700
percent and only receded in the month of September, and
for the first time in two years, prices remained generally
stable for those with the means but out of the reach of
the vulnerable sinking in poverty.
Zimbabwe’s story goes beyond the one month price
stability. Already, by the time price increases slowed
down, the majority of Zimbabweans had reached a stage
where they could not afford the basics due to the fact
that the two year hyper-inflation had eroded the value of
the local currency, which many, including civil servants,
earn.
For example, a teacher in Zimbabwe earns an average of
less than US$50, which is just but a poverty wage.
It must be noted that civil servants’ salaries are a
benchmark for many other industries, so it can be safely
concluded that the generality of Zimbabweans employed
in various sectors earn less than US$100 worth of salaries.
This has left many vulnerable, considering that according
to the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, which is
planning a general strike, less than 20 percent of
Zimbabweans are employed in the informal sector.
This leaves about 80 percent in the informal sector, where
they not only rely on the formally employed, but have
also had their operations hugely affected by the Covid-19
restrictions imposed by government since April.