LEAD President Christmas message

LINDA Masarira and the LEAD family says Merry Christmas Zimbabwe.

Growing up in a Christian family and community Christmas was one of my most cherished holidays. As a young girl growing in Harare we knew that Christmas was a very eventful event. It was not only the new clothes that mattered but the festivities and visitations. It was a tradition that we visited friends and relatives in and around Harare or went “Kumusha.” That was my favourite part because the travelling and seeing new places was captivating. Harare as a city also proffered on us a fair share of entertainment. The lit streets and the Christmas carols were quite an attraction. 

Who am I kidding? Those were good days. Yet gone are those days. It’s surprising what bad government and foreign interference can do to a people’s lifestyle. I find it very difficult to wish you may fellow citizens a “Merry Christmas.” It sound like an insult. I know a lot of us cannot even afford the traditional loaf of bread let alone a Christmas Chicken. I know the majority of us wish to travel to visit friends and relatives but cannot afford. For those of us in the cities it’s really a Dark Christmas without ZESA and water. My heart is heavy but my spirit is with you, especially the workers. My advice is that do what you can to celebrate life this Christmas but do not overspend otherwise January will be a more serious challenge. For those who have that little please lets share with our neighbours who do not have. The birth of Jesus continues to remind us as a people that we are not alone. The God of heaven has not forsaken us despite the failing of us the earthly rulers. To those who are travelling please arrive alive. To those who are partying please exercise restraint and avoid orgies and reckless partying. For our brothers and sisters coming from the diaspora my message is simple. We welcome you and love you. You are doing a great job in subsidising not only your families but the nation. May you join us in the spirit of Christmas and remember to reserve some money for your return trips. 

Lastly may I invite the nation to unite in the spirit of Christmas. Let us put aside the political polarisation and share bread in love. If only the love of Christ inspire a spirit of selflessness among all our political leaders. 

Thank you 

Together we can.

Reflections by Linda T. Masarira

We are forced to fight for a better Zimbabwe. Freedom does not come on a silver platter. They lied to us that education is key. Here we are educated and jobless because they changed the lock of the door by their corrupt ways, now we have to take back our country and create a brighter future for our children so that when they finish learning they will have a door to open with their key. I made a personal commitment that I don't want to leave a legacy of failure when I die. I don't want to be known as a cruel mother who failed to create a better future for her children and future generations to come because she was afraid of a mortal man who was abusing her rights. 

We are losing a generation to drug and substance abuse whilst most people are fixated in politics. I am the woman who is going to ensure that we clean up Zimbabwe. 

•Drug Cartels must fall

•Fuel Cartels must fall

•Land Barons must fall

•Cash Barons must fall

•Economic Saboteurs must fall

•Incompetent, unethical and corrupt public officials must fall

•Polarisation must fall

Fear is a demon that holds you back from being great. Fear is a demon that keeps you in bondage of poverty, joblessness and helplessness. We were all born great. Step up, be counted and selflessly do something great for your country. We have more that unites us than what divides us.

Today I choose to be the:

•Peacemaker

•Unifier

•Voice of reason 

Stop asking what Zimbabwe can do for you and start doing your best to make Zimbabwe great again. Complaining and lamentations will not solve the crisis in Zimbabwe. Speaking negative about Zimbabwe and cursing your land will not solve the problems in our country. Unity of purpose will fix the crisis in Zimbabwe. 

We were all made in the image of God and born to conquer. Today invoke the conquerer in you. Stop limiting yourself. Prove yourself worthy to be Zimbabwean by being part of #teamZimbabwe. 

As a TEAM we will do what is best for Zimbabwe and it's people. 

Phakama Sisi, Phakama Bhudhi!

Arise Woman, Arise Gentlemen, let us rebuild Zimbabwe! 

#TogetherWeCan 

Simukai Ambuya, Simukai Sekuru Tivake Zimbabwe.

#TikabatanaTinokunda

Decolonizing the African Mindset

Do you ever wonder why Africans, irrespective of where they are in the world, are the oppressed, the bottom wrung, why Africa is poor and will continue to remain so comparative to Americas, Europe, Asia or Middle East?

The answer is complex but it is also very simple.  

Knowledge. 

Basically, knowledge systems and how they generate everything and more importantly, how they create and maintain power.

Those systems that create ideas, that generate k on how to solve the millions of human problems generate and maintain power globally.

Our problem is that we are existing on borrowed everything. 

Borrowed philosophies.

Borrowed language. 

Borrowed religion. 

Borrowed governance and political systems. 

Borrowed morality. 

Borrowed economic structures. 

Borrowed technology. 

Is there any technology that has originated from us?

How about how we speak?

Our clothes. 

Our moral reasoning. 

I can guarantee that almost everything you consider valuable to you today has not originated from your people. 

We are primarily consumers of other people’s ideas, other people’s knowledge systems, other people’s political and governance structures, other people’s economic structures, other people’s religions, etc

We will always be enslaved by what we borrow.

Anybody who exists on borrowed everything cannot by design implement anything better than those who originated it and have perfected it for years decades or even hundreds of years.  

The solution: we have to be producers. Producers of knowledge so powerful that other people have no chance but adopt it to solve their problems. 

We can shout slavery for 1000 years and plead with other people to recognize our humanity but that will never change the power balance. 

The only solution is to build systems that create, systems that originate solutions for our problems and the world’s problems. 

Every single place on this earth has resources, but it is knowledge that determines how resources can be exploited for the betterment of the population the center of knowledge production determines who benefits from the resources. 

The best solution, the most efficient, will always be adopted by other people, and that adoption always means the adoption of all the underlying assumptions of that knowledge system including its culture.

Let's change in the coming decade. Let's make it the African decade. 2020 to 2030 let us recreate Africa, decolonize mindsets and make Africa a first world continent. 

#TogetherWeCan make Afrika great again 

Linda Tsungirirai Masarira

African at Heart

LEAD President speech to Young LEAD

The world is experiencing an unprecedented “youth bulge.” People under 35 currently represent about half of the world’s population - in some developing countries, including Zimbabwe, the figure is 60%. Over the next decade, billions of children will transition through adolescence into adulthood yet the world is doing little to embrace and include them into the socio – economic progress of the world. It is disheartening to note that many young people in the developing countries are locked out of the benefits of globalization, experiencing underemployment in casual labour in the informal sector or hazardous and abusive work.

In Zimbabwe youth employment crisis has reached intolerable dimensions evidenced by higher unemployment, lower quality jobs and rising social, economic and political marginalization. The International Labour Organization (ILO) has warned of a potential ‘lost generation’ made up of young people isolated from the world of work altogether. This unfortunately has become a reality in Zimbabwe. The bulk of the so called born frees have never enjoyed the virtue of formal labour so as to meaningfully contribute to the development of this country. By implementing sound, decent work policies, Zimbabwe can take advantage of the youth bulge and translate it into a dividend that promises better economic and social outcomes for young people. The sad thing though is that our current political and business leaders lack the will power to promote such sound intergeneration convergence policies mainly because of corruption watered by deep rooted greed and selfishness.
Sovereignty, which implies the power to rule without constraints and is associated with the nation state, is at the heart of governance. The prime objective of very government is to ensure and safeguard national sovereignty. Every government has, as part of its mandate, to develop risk management strategies which involve adopting comprehensive and systematic approaches to deal with the factors causing political risk. Among the major drivers of political risk is a growing yet economically redundant youth. According to the national youth policy of this country, “the government's vision acknowledges empowerment of young women and men so that they can realise their full potential as individuals, as members of communities, political and social action groups, and youth organisations and as key to the development of Zimbabwe.” The Policy seeks to empower the youth by creating an enabling environment and marshalling the resources necessary for undertaking programmes to fully develop youth's mental, moral, social, economic, political, cultural, spiritual and physical potential in order to improve their quality of life. This appears to be a high sounding document, yet as is typical of our country little is being done to put it into effect.

LEAD believes that a number policy and programme should be fashioned and prioritised to enable youth empowerment across all sectors of the Zimbabwean life.  Youth employment, and access to skills and jobs, cannot happen in isolation from supportive development policies ranging from political participation to economic involvement. International institutions and protocols have called and are still calling on governments to “achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation, as well as a focus on high-value added and labour- intensive sectors” and to “promote development- oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-,small-and medium-sized enterprises, including through access to financial services”.

This calls for empowering youths and programme partners to advocate for the right economic and financial strategies. It is also necessary to encourage coherent education and training frameworks that align with labour market demand. Furthermore, policies and regulations must acknowledge the specific needs of marginalised groups and keep the emphasis on human and labour rights protection including the provision of safety nets/social protection, especially in informal economies. Good practices resulting from a youth employment programmatic intervention should be institutionalised into government-supported or market-based systems to facilitate sustainable replication or ‘scaling-up.
At any age, possessing solid basic skills in numeracy and literacy is fundamental to the acquisition of further vocational skills training. Especially with out-of-school youth, it is crucial to provide foundational skills in ‘bridge programmes’, combined with life skill interventions to renew youth’s taste for learning. This way young people are empowered to become responsible workers, active citizens and agents of change in policy-making and social dialogue, ultimately supporting students in their transition towards independent and productive adulthood. The delivery of foundational skill trainings should be provided in all types of formal and informal education and training schemes including second-chance education, technical and vocational training, apprenticeship frameworks and enterprise development training. For adolescent girls and young women, life skills delivered in secured, collaborative and learning exchange spaces can build confidence, advocacy and leadership skills.

LEAD advocates for youth employability programmes which acknowledge the scarcity of wage work opportunities in many Zimbabwe. These programmes should equip youth with the mind-set and skills needed to become self-employed rather than ‘wait for a job’. Political, business and civic players in Zimbabwe should offer context-specific career guidance, mentoring and coaching services to youth throughout an employability programme and beyond. Vocational counselling and professional support also need to be aligned with youth’s aspirations/capabilities as well as actual skills demand, in order to generate durable decent work outcomes for young men and women. The provision of adequate labour market information and advice and regular coaching is an imperative for harmonious adolescent development towards balanced adulthood (particularly for young women who need to balance additional choices around their productive vs. reproductive future).

In conclusion, It is our responsibility to ensure that we resolve these issues that I  have reminded you of. I am determined to serve my party for my country. It can only be possible if we realize the importance of team building and team work as we go. Together We Can Lead.

Thank you.

Linda Tsungirirai Masarira-Kaingidza
LEAD PRESIDENT

What LEAD stands for as the Alternative political party in Zimbabwe

We are pan Africanists and defenders of human rights that are in the context of Afrika and our constitution. We exist and advance, defend and promote the fundamental rights of the Afrikan people. As a party we prioritise focusing on Social and Economic Development. We believe a lot of politics has been done and we need to accept the call for delivering on the specific necessities of this dispensation.

As Labor, Economists and Afrikan Democrats (LEAD) we have SEED as our Manifesto which is Sustainable Empowerment and Economic Development (SEED). Our focus is mainly the economy. An economy that transforms the lives of workers from mere receiving of wages and salaries into shareholders in all cooperations that employ them. Workers must not have just pensions on retirement but posterity which can be passed on to the 10th generation.

Our Philosophy: The Afrikan Way

_Because Africa we are being told to import America’s democracy... its not easy...its working in America because that is how America was founded..they have been perfecting if for over 200 years. Africa we have our own characteristics and founding values, if we build a system based on our own values, culture, characteristics we will do well jus like China, China has always emphasised on implementing “Socialism with Chinese Characteristics” they are doin well, Putin did that in Russia after Yelstin tried to import American democracy afta the fall of the Soviet Union and it was chaos all over until Vladimir Putin... Africa we only need to identify our characteristics and our founding values and culture then design our own democratic system based on those fundamental principles and we are good to GO...but unfortunately anyone who tries to push foward that idea is then considered a terrorist by those western imperialist._ Muamma Gaddafi

We lack IDENTITY as a people. A conglomeration of all things and do not know why things are not working for us as Africans. Without defining who we are means we going nowhere very fast. Thats why its not easy for our people to feel a sense of belonging in Africa. We are a fragmented society lacking a rallying point. For example being Zimbabwean means lots of different things to different people in Zimbabwe. Yet in USA their freedom carter recognises: all men were created equal, is guaranteed the right to freedom and liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That is a rallying point for everything American. What do we have as a nation or as Africans?

LEAD is a pan Africanist party pro economic development that seeks to make reparations for past wrongs and unite the country and build a nation with a common shared vision and identity. We resist racism white supremacy and capitalism which is an intricate part to it. We do not believe in being dominated by the West or begging policies and receipt of conditional AID and FDI that threaten our sovereignty. If ever foreign investment is to come it has to be welcomed from our position of strength and not of weakness or begging.

LEAD has the courage to be different. It might seem to be a mammoth task to bring forth a new political culture in Zimbabwe. We are committed to ensuring that Zimbabwe moves out of the culture of politics of patronage, personalities and populism and moves in to issue based politics that will transform Zimbabwe in our quest to ensure sustainable human development and sustainable economic growth.

Linda Masarira
LEAD President

Labour Economists and Afrikan Democrats

https://youtu.be/vsu0TjvArsc

NEED FOR CHANGE IN GOVERNANCE SYSTEM

The demands of globalization have increased the need for fresh thinking on how to organize society for a better job of serving our people not only as Afrikans but as Zimbabweans with a history of colonialism and struggling to unshackle the restraints of neocolonialism. In this situation we have been withheld to go forward and our otherwise well intentioned leaders out of frustration have resorted not only to corruption but also to repression as the pain of failure pull them down.  The generality of informed citizens, in this global village as they interact with nationals from other countries, have lost faith in our government, in big business, and other administrative institutions. They have realized our media being “dishonest,” our justice system “engineered and rigged,” our security system “personalized” the dignity of work “derided” and our climate and other policies a “hoax.” Our governments and public sector institutions have been captured by big business and agents of neocolonialism.

Most Afrikan leaders and governments take off on a nationalistic trajectory but with time they lose course and lapse into tyranny. The lives of citizens of the generality of Afrika and the so called third world has become characterised by turmoil, war, terrorism, xenophobia, genocides, abject poverty and a myriad of vices. The time has never been so ripe for a need to think about what principles should shape and guide our society to do a better job of delivering on human needs. This a time for us to swallow our pride, introspect and try to find out where we are going wrong, especially as Afrikans. Is it in our nature to fail to Administer ourselves or we adopted administrative systems alien to us and inapplicable to our situation and in a fast changing world. Should we revert back to the methods used by our ancestors during the days of primitive kingdoms or acephalous societies or we should coin up our own home grown admistrative system applicaple to our social, political, economic, environmental and religious situation? 

LEAD enters the Zimbabwean political arena with a strong conviction that our society needs to move closer to the system known as “social democracy.”  This admistrative approach should however not to be confused with “socialism” or “communism.”  Social democracy as advocated by LEAD should borrow from the Nordic models but have some aspects of Technocracy. There is need to come up with an admistrative system that fuses capitalism with socialist tendencies yet recognizing the fact that the world has become so sophisticated warranting the need for governments to fuse democracy with technocracy. The politicians may be good at the political game but may be found wanting when it comes to the engineering demands of a changing world. Appointments to government positions should respond to the complexities of the technical world.

Social Democracy is an ideology that favours social, political and economic moves by the state for the explicit purpose of promoting social justice within a capitalist economy.  It is a government system that favours capitalism over socialism but recognizes the need to fix certain inadequacies of capitalism so that the economic system works better for more people.

LEAD realises that there are many inadequacies in current capitalism as developed by the so called first world countries. Among them are the persistence of poverty, the growing level of income inequality, the likely reduction of jobs as automation and artificial intelligence advance, companies failing to cover their “social costs,” environmental exploitation, the business cycle and economic instability, and others. The growing wealth concentration created by capitalism is leaching into and assassinating our democracy. Instead of serving the masses democracy is advancing and entrenching the needs of the rich leaving the poor sinking deeper into poverty and deprivation.  We need to think freshly about what respective jobs we want our government and our private enterprise system to perform for us.

Governments do not have power in themselves but are assigned the same by us the citizens. It’s imperative for us to birth and subscribe a governance system that is best suited for our situation them allocate power to political institutions which resonate with our needs and aspirations. We should pronounce the vision and national goal and then allocate power to a political ensemble which has the best means to attain our vision. Political parties should not dictate but be subject and subservient to the national vision. A society where there are no inferior or superior orders is our goal. This pronouncement should be done explicitly in the national constitution which document should be crafted by the citizens and subsumes all their wishes and aspirations. Now it is upto the political formation to come up with a management or ideological route that makes us without fail arrive at the premised destination. The LEAD political formation is convinced that it can provide such a government.

Social democracy coupled with technocracy requires a commitment to representative and responsive government.  Citizens exercise voting rights on the principle of “one person, one vote” and this they do in trust.  Citizens can vote for measures to reduce income inequality and to help the poor with food stamps, Social Security, and unemployment benefits.  Citizens can vote for any measures that promise to improve the general welfare. It now remains with the voted and mandated to live upto their campaign promises and the demands of the national constitution. Good governance should be as enunciated by and enshrined in the national constitution. It should be an ethical undertaking by those in state authority to deliver in line with definitions and guidelines of the constitution. If a government does not stray from working for the good of the majority without marginalizing the minorities it does well.

Social democracy with technocracy advocates an evolutionary and peaceful transition from free market capitalism.  It rejects a revolutionary approach. History has shown us that the revolutionary approach is not only violent but destructive and retrogressive. In most cases it has given rise to authoritarian and repressive governments which are no different from the autocracies of the 18th century. This gradualist approach ensures cooperation, collaboration, conciliatory and concessionary relationship between labour and capital.  Such a symbiotic relationship if driven by technocratic rule yields what social democrats term progress. Social democrats accept the predominance of private property and private enterprise to produce most of the goods and services needed by the citizens.  Only a small number of essential utilities and public services might be necessary under public ownership.

LEAD seeks adopt policies associated with Keynesian economics. Such an approach holds that the state can intervene in economic downturns to turn on the public spending spigot to prop up the economy.  It calls for an independent Federal Reserve Board that tries to kick start a sluggish economy and compress a booming economy in danger of leading to a bust.  This Social democratic approach favors a smooth working economy unplugged by the classic business cycle.  Keynes thought that enlightened capitalism can get rid of the business cycle and mass unemployment. The idea of an independent central banking system has eluded us and could be the reason for our financial woes. Fiscal responsibility and accountability becomes a problem when there is too much influence and interference by politicians. The Reserve Bank governor should operate independently which gives him/her enough latitude to explore competitive and current fiscal and monetary policies and policy reforms.

LEAD will provide universally accessible public services like education, health care, and care for the elderly, child care, and workers’ compensation. It favors policies aimed at reducing poverty, inequality, and oppression of underprivileged groups. Citizens will get free college tuition, health care for life, long periods of paid maternity leave, and a guaranteed retirement income.  LEAD welcomes labor movement and trade unions as tools for supporting the collective bargaining rights for workers and extending wage, benefit and working conditions improvements. It will favor a voice in large companies to share views on the welfare of employees and other company stakeholders.
 
The LEAD government will have a preference for paying higher taxes and receiving better medical care and lower college cost than paying lower taxes and receiving poorer medical care and higher college cost.  It will also have a preference for most of the higher taxes to fall on the rich.
 
Another governance system which the LEAD approach will infuse with Social Democracy is Technocracy. Technocracy is a proposed system of governance in which decision-makers are selected on the basis of their expertise in a given area of responsibility, particularly with regard to scientific or technical knowledge. This system explicitly contrasts with the notion that elected representatives should be the primary decision-makers in government, though it does not necessarily imply eliminating elected representatives. Leadership skills for decision-makers are selected on the basis of specialized knowledge and performance, rather than political affiliations or parliamentary skills.

The term technocracy was originally used to advocate the application of the scientific method to solving social problems. Concern could be given to sustainability within the resource base, instead of monetary profitability, so as to ensure continued operation of all social-industrial functions. In its most extreme sense technocracy is an entire government running as a technical or engineering problem and is mostly hypothetical. In more practical use, technocracy is any portion of a bureaucracy that is run by technologists.

Mrs Linda Tsungirirai Masarira
LEAD President

War against corruption and poverty

Zimbabwe is actually a resilient nation considering the economic warfare that has created instability since America planted puppets amongst us.

We will only progress as a nation when political leaders stop being used by the east and west, when they stop pushing their own selfish agendas for self aggrandizement and when they put Zimbabweans first before trading our natural resources at a pittance.

There is no one who is more Zimbabwean than the other. If we, "the have nots" are not yet ready to call all corrupt and unethical government officials, political, religious and church leaders to order and account there will be no resuscitation of the economy.

Our war as the suffering masses in Zimbabwe is against poverty and corruption. United in our diversity we can dismantle corruption in our government, institutions, civic society, churches, schools, councils, politiical parties, burial societies, etc.

Men in power don't want things to change because they are benefiting from the chaos. Zvivhunze ugere ipapo kuti other than parroting slogans what have you benefited in the last ten years? Ramba kuitiswa and start calling every corrupt person you know to account. Only the truth will set Zimbabwe free.

As for me and the LEAD family, we are going to pull the bull by its horns until we restore order and ensure socioeconomic rights to every Zimbabwean. There is no one who is more Zimbabwean than the other.

#PasiNeCorruption
#NoToCorruption
#LEADingByExample
#TogetherWeCan

Linda Tsungirirai Masarira-Kaingidza
LEAD President

The cobra-effect

Hope you know about a term named Cobra Effect?

If not, it’s time that you learn about it.

The Cobra Effect is a term in economics. It refers to a situation when an attempted solution to a problem makes the problem worse.

This name was coined based on an incident in old colonial India.

By some reasons, there were too many venomous cobra snakes in Delhi. People were dying due to snake-bites and it became scary for almost everyone to step out of their houses.

The government of the day had to get into action to stop this menace and it offered a silver coin for every dead cobra. The results were great, a large number of snakes were killed for the reward.

Eventually however, it led to some serious unwanted consequences. After a short-term dip in cobra population, it started going up.

This was because few people began to breed cobras for the income. When the news reached the government, the reward program was scrapped, causing the cobra breeders to set the now-worthless snakes free. As a result, the cobra population further increased. The solution for the problem made the situation even worse.

The unintended consequence for a well-intention-ed idea led to making the problem worst.

Trying a new solution?

or

Planning to tackle an existing problem with a new idea?

It’s time to pause and think about how people would respond to the new idea that may sound great on paper!

Especially the solutions that try to affect how people behave. There’s always a certain group of people who have a tendency to game the system -intentionally or otherwise.

They have a tendency to take short-term advantage of any situation though that may lead to harm to them & society-at-large only in the long run.

Every solution has consequences and those consequences may lead to certain situations were rather than solving a current problem, you may end up with more complex problems.

Few more examples:
A similar type of incident like increasing cobra-population occurred in Vietnam. The rulers realized that there were too many rats in Hanoi and spread of plague was imminent They created a reward program that paid a prize for every rat killed. To obtain the bounty, people would provide the severed rat tail. After initial success the officials, however, started noticing rats with no tails. The rat catchers would capture rats, cut off their tails, and then release them back into the sewers so that they could breed and produce more rats thereby increasing the rat catchers' profits.

As they say the road to hell is paved with good intentions, the similar mistakes are happening around us everyday when the decision makers fail to take a 360 degree view of all the possible outcomes of an action before implementation.

Nearly 2 years ago, city of Philadelphia in USA passed a "soda tax" a US $1 tax on a typical 2-liter bottle of soft-drink- as a "sin tax" in the national war on obesity, but the natives didn’t cut calories as a result of the tax on sweetened drinks, nor there was a shift towards any healthier option. Instead, most of them just drove outside the city to buy the same colas, from stores where they didn’t have to pay the tax. Yet the poorest paid more as they could not find it affordable to drive out of the city to buy their drinks. In the end, city suffered loss of revenue due to lower sales whereas the lower section society paid more .

The unintended consequence for a well-intentioned idea led to making the problem worst.

Even big & brilliant companies do the same mistake!

It is not that mistakes happen only with the government run programs, there are example's in great private companies too where the best & brilliant people lose sight of certain negative outcomes due to the initial magic of seemingly great looking ideas .

Apple turning sour!

In 2017 Apple admitted that it was slowing down the speed of old iPhones as the batteries of those old phones were degrading with the passage of time.To make up on loss of brand image and to saistfy its erstwhile customers, it offered to cut its US$79 battery replacement feed down to US$29 as a way of apologizing.

This lower fee led to more people in 2018 ended up swapping their batteries, instead of upgrading to the latest iPhone models thus affecting new iPhone sales. As iPhone batteries became cheaper and easier to replace, fewer people are shelling out for new iPhones that can now cost up to US $1,449.

On January 2nd this year, Apple revealed that it was expecting a $9 billion loss in revenue due to weak iPhone demand that’s partly caused by more people replacing their batteries, according to a letter issued by CEO Tim Cook addressed to investors.

Slowing down of iPhones sales can be attributed to many external reasons too (better Chines phones, better Apps on Android phones etc ), but strategy of battery-replacement was an internal idea. It would have been handled better if people at top would have thought more about it , if they would have filtered this program from Cobra effect

What's in it for you ?
Next time if you or your team has some brilliant idea , get your brilliant guys together in a room and think about the Cobra-effect before implementing that idea.

You can always fine-tune the idea to minimize the negative implications by spending few extra hours/days before rushing to announce it.

Don’t implement while you’re under the awe of the brilliance of a never -tested, nice-looking solution or idea, think about the Cobra-effect.

Did the GNU think of the cobra effects when they introduced the USD? Clearly not because the effects have been dire. Surely Mthuli Ncube and his finance team should consider the cobra effects of the Zim dollarisation and curb any unintended consequences.

I want the Zim$ to work and will be holding government to account every step of the way.

Government should ensure decent pension payouts

The wage of sin is death and one reaps what he or she sows- these have been the adages that have made so many people in Zimbabwe and in Africa at large to invest much of their energy results i.e the hard earned monies through their working days, with some going for as far as over time in anticipation of having a bumper financial harvest that will sustain them after they have become weary or retired. However in Zimbabwe these anticipations have been turned into anticipations-that-never-were, as those expecting to reap what they sow, they have become more of an eye-sore to the government and what they are reaping after years of sowing is just but next to none, especially in this economy were the RTGS are devaluing every day.

After a long time investments by these old age with the view that one day they would just be able to access their money, all has gone in vain especially with the fact that those who control the pension funds have grown to be self-centered, selfish and egocentric so much so that accessing money by pensioners have become a torrid time ,with some spending nights sleeping outside the bank with the hope of accessing the money which is coming in small amounts that usually can only sustain bus fare considering that the majority is coming from rural areas, and with a family left behind expecting to survive from the pension As most of the young family members are unemployed. With this in mind, as a sane and rational government, action is needed to solve these challenges facing the pensioners which have been seen by both the blind and the dead.

Recognition of senior citizens who are on pension would and is going to be one of the major solutions that would curb the outcry that is becoming so loud like a war cry from the unconfident team. This means there is need for the government to cater for this group when it comes to their transport welfare. With the introduction of the ZUPCO as a government owned transport system, there is need for the government to provide free transport for these now “vulnerable” group that is existing in partial recognition by the government. The provision of transport will clearly reduce the burden of transport costs that are known to be chewing their hard earned and less provided pension by simply removing the psychological trauma of wanting to balance the money that can be easily calculated even by an ECD child.

Considering that the nation is going through an economic quagmire that might not give it the strength and capability to provide the pensioners with meaningful funds, it might be of paramount importance to introduce grocery allowance or tokens that will provide or make them have access to the basic food commodities that can sustain them for the month in addition to the so called money they are receiving. At most, the provision of groceries will at least reduce the burden that is supposed to be carried by the small amount they are receiving. Thus they will end up feeling recognized, since they do not need much but only need what will sustain them or simply what is basic.

More, so the increase or increment of their monthly dues or maintaining that same value but in US$, since some pension houses which have been invested by this pensioners are enjoying the proceeds of these old age. With all the investment that have been made by these pension funds in Zimbabwe using the proceeds from their labor, how come now that the pension funds like MIPF, NRZ, COMMUNICATIONS AND ALLIED INDUSTRY PENSION FUND as well as NSSA are failing to offer the pensioners the much needed US$ than the RTGS$ that has not been stable.

The Pensioners Voice seeks to ensure that NSSA restores the pensioners dignity in the society by paying decent pension payouts not the paltry $RTGS30 to $RTGS80 which they are receiving. NSSA is paying its executive more than $150000 a month in salaries and allowances yet it is busy abusing the pensioner who contributed to that luxury they enjoy with their money which they invested. As a pressure group advocating for decent pension payouts, we will not rest until pensioners are treated with dignity by NSSA and all Pension funds. The silence of IPEC on this serious matter is very disturbing.

Hence it becomes more pathetic that the government is failing to intervene as a way of respecting the patriotic and sane former workers, who have given all and now being stricken left, right, back and center with the hope that one day it will turn in their favor yet some of them have already crossed the borders. Hence, it’s my plea that the government should at least recognize this group. If the former head of state was given his pension in USD why not afford the same opportunity to our pensioners in Zimbabwe?

Linda T. Masarira
Pensioners Voice Convener

Perpetrators of domestic violence must face still penalties

Cases of domestic violence continue to increase in Zimbabwe and it is very worrisome as women continue to lose their lives in these cases. Just last week pictures went viral on  social media of a man who shot dead his wife and brother in law over a marriage dispute. Its rather unfortunate that our society seems to have normalized the abnormal by keeping silent on matters of domestic violence which continue to affect livelihoods on a daily basis.

I was shocked to learn today of the allegations levelled against Vice President Kembo Mohadi of domestic violence. If the allegations against him are proven to be true, VP Mohadi should do the honorable thing and resign from his position as Vice President of Zimbabwe. Leaders should lead by example and desist from any form of violence whether its domestic, political or social. We need leaders who lead by example and set an example that domestic violence is wrong and totally unacceptable.

Women continue to bear the brunt of domestic violence. Zimbabwe endorsed major international conventions and instruments by making them part of the laws of the land. The country instituted fundamental policies and legal provisions which in theory, offer women protection of their rights in society yet practically women continue to suffer and lose their lives to their spouses.

The Anti-domestic Violence Council should be more visible that is if it still exists. Cases of violence within homes continue to rise despite the enactment of the domestic violence law which has not been enforced to curb the vice.

The Domestic Violence Act conceptualised domestic violence as physical abuse, emotional, verbal and psychological abuse, economic abuse, malicious damage to property, the list is endless.

As women who fight against any form of gender based violence, we stand with Senator Tambudzani Mohadi and implore her to ensure that she receives justice. Justice delayed is justice denied. VP Mohadi is not above the law and we want to see the law taking precedence in this matter.

Cases of apparent leniency in the sentencing of male offenders convicted of violence often attract media attention suggesting that this type of violence is not being taken seriously by the Zimbabwe criminal justice agencies. Senator Mohadi should open a case of domestic violence and we will stand with her until she justice is done.

An injury to one woman is an injury to all women. Other women's organizations and pressure groups silence on this case is worrisome and an indicator of how polarized we are as a society to the extent that we can not call out to order offenders of women's rights. United we stand as women and divided we fall into oblivion. Be your sisters keeper.

In conclusion, the police should ensure that they restart robust awareness campaigns countrywide against domestic violence. ZWIPA urges people to desist from domestic violence and not to solve disputes through violent means.

Linda Tsungirirai Masarira-Kaingidza
Zimbabwe Women In Politics Alliance Director

Perpetrators of Domestic Violence should face stiff penalties

Cases of domestic violence continue to increase in Zimbabwe and it is very worrisome as women continue to lose their lives in these cases. Just last week pictures went viral on  social media of a man who shot dead his wife and brother in law over a marriage dispute. Its rather unfortunate that our society seems to have normalized the abnormal by keeping silent on matters of domestic violence which continue to affect livelihoods on a daily basis.

I was shocked to learn today of the allegations levelled against Vice President Kembo Mohadi of domestic violence. If the allegations against him are proven to be true, VP Mohadi should do the honorable thing and resign from his position as Vice President of Zimbabwe. Leaders should lead by example and desist from any form of violence whether its domestic, political or social. We need leaders who lead by example and set an example that domestic violence is wrong and totally unacceptable.

Women continue to bear the brunt of domestic violence. Zimbabwe endorsed major international conventions and instruments by making them part of the laws of the land. The country instituted fundamental policies and legal provisions which in theory, offer women protection of their rights in society yet practically women continue to suffer and lose their lives to their spouses.

The Anti-domestic Violence Council should be more visible that is if it still exists. Cases of violence within homes continue to rise despite the enactment of the domestic violence law which has not been enforced to curb the vice.

The Domestic Violence Act conceptualised domestic violence as physical abuse, emotional, verbal and psychological abuse, economic abuse, malicious damage to property, the list is endless.

As women who fight against any form of gender based violence, we stand with Senator Tambudzani Mohadi and implore her to ensure that she receives justice. Justice delayed is justice denied. VP Mohadi is not above the law and we want to see the law taking precedence in this matter.

Cases of apparent leniency in the sentencing of male offenders convicted of violence often attract media attention suggesting that this type of violence is not being taken seriously by the Zimbabwe criminal justice agencies. Senator Mohadi should open a case of domestic violence and we will stand with her until she justice is done.

An injury to one woman is an injury to all women. Other women's organizations and pressure groups silence on this case is worrisome and an indicator of how polarized we are as a society to the extent that we can not call out to order offenders of women's rights. United we stand as women and divided we fall into oblivion. Be your sisters keeper.

In conclusion, the police should ensure that they restart robust awareness campaigns countrywide against domestic violence. ZWIPA urges people to desist from domestic violence and not to solve disputes through violent means.

Linda Tsungirirai Masarira-Kaingidza
Zimbabwe Women In Politics Alliance Director

39 years of violence: Whither post-war trauma?

From the bottom of my heart...

I am deeply saddened and heartbroken by the current state of affairs in my country. Some of my erstwhile Comrades are congratulating Zimbabweans who engaged in violence yesterday saying it was long overdue. Violence begets violence. Freedom of speech should never infringe on other people's rights.

Zimbabwe attained its independence after a guerilla warfare second chimurenga war. At independence in 1980, government was occupied by war veterans who were still dealing with war trauma, some to date never got counselling. 19 years down the line Zimbabwe is still suffering from the effects of post war trauma, the only way ZanuPF government ever knew of dealing with conflict was through violence and silencing dissenting voices.

Since independence dissenting voices have been silenced using state militia, police and security agents. Zimbabweans went through horrendous encounters of the Gukurahundi massacres, land invasion violence, pre & post election violence since 2000, short sleeve, long sleeve in 2008, police brutality on activists since 1998-2018 and the now the masses have arisen to protest violently unarmed which is a recipe for disaster.

Whilst some progressive activists like myself, churches and other level headed civic society organizations have been preaching peace, unity and tolerance over the past two years, some malcontents within activists and political parties have been abusing their popularity by inciting violence.

Violence will further divide us and destroy us as a people. There is no resolution that will ever be achieved through violent conducts. Its rather unfortunate that when the elephants fight the grass suffers. Right now most of the casualties of yesterday's violence are innocent people who did not even take part in the violent protests. Those who called for the protests are sitting comfortably in safe places.

I am against any form of violence. Violence will always manifest, Zimbabwe is a broken nation because of multiple cycles of violence perpetrated on its people for decades We can't mend what is broken using violence. Violence will further tear us apart &further divide us. Now is the time my fellow brothers and sisters, father's and mothers to all work towards being Peace Makers.

We are all going through a tough phase as Zimbabweans and need to exercise restraint and to be tolerant of divergent views. It took 38 years to run down Zimbabwe and it is only foolhardy to expect our economy to bounce back overnight. No one deserves to die for other people's political egos.

I urge the church to continue praying for Zimbabwe and mediating between the political parties that are fighting for power. People shouldn't be made to suffer for one to continue questioning legitimacy. The government of the day should desist from descending violently on unarmed civilians, protestors should respect the law of this land and protest peacefully. Those in the diaspora should stop inciting violence in the comfort of their homes.

Now is the time for conflict resolution through dialogue, truth telling, repentance and reconciliation. Zimbabwe will not progress so long we are not united as a people in our diversity. Depolarization of our political economy is critical at this juncture. It is easy to destroy in our anger and frustrations but its so difficult to reconstruct and rebuild.

I implore the government to have mercy on the people of Zimbabwe who engaged in violent protests yesterday. Zimbabweans have suffered enough and most of them are living in abject poverty and destitution. A responsible government cares and protects for its citizens. Focus should be on development, production and reviving the economy of Zimbabwe for Zimbabweans.

God save Zimbabwe, Let's stop the violence and nurture love. We will get there someday.

Linda Tsungirirai Masarira
Pro-Development and Democracy Activist

New Year Reflections

Welcome to 2019, The Year of NOTHING, if you do NOTHING. People, especially the youths, must STOP IT! Stop blaming the government for your lack of innovation and everything negatively affecting you. Our lives are not made better by endless lamentations and complaining, yet with no orientation towards finding solutions. For how long shall we remain retired in bitterness and disgruntlement!

Our parents played their part in availing academic opportunities, not only to be job seekers but job creators.  Education prepared us for endless possibilities which  include but are not restricted to running our own businesses. There is so much we can do,  consultancy work, buying and selling, farming, writing books, music, arts, even a discipline in sports to earn income and make profits.

Kuda Musasiwa came up with "Fresh in the box" at a time when almost everyone thought it was impossible to start a business in Zimbabwe. Charity Jinya successfully launched the Nedbank brand in Zimbabwe during the same period, yet we have become obsessed with talking about erosion of buying power coupled with limited access to capital, lack of opportunities etc. Busisa Moyo is another example of a person whose business is thriving under harsh economic environment.

So, here is my personal note to you and I for 2019...
Stop asking what Zimbabwe can do for you and open your mind to the possibilities of what you can do for Zimbabwe.

Government problems are not your problems, stop personalizing them and focus on what makes your life better. Whilst you are busy lamenting about joblessness, someone is making money in the very same environment you are complaining about.

My New Year's resolutions

After my surgery, I am going to focus on farming, oh yes, farming. All my plans are on track. Though this seems taboo to many urban youths, I am going to play my part in my little corner of providing food security in Zimbabwe and producing for export. I refuse to be a negative commentator and I am going to focus on my strengths this year. Positivity is Livity!
In September 2018, I took time to introspect on how I have lived my life the past eighteen years, and realized that I missed so many opportunities. I smothered a lot of potential. Most of the complaining urbanites are people who did not plan for the future and lack the discipline to make use of the resources that they received in good times. I was part of the people that thought I must spend first then save the surplus. I have learnt the hard way that one must save first before expenditure because spending has no end.

After the chaotic land reform program, there was land redistribution and a call was made to apply for land. We were told not to get involved as it was a ZanuPF program which had nothing to do with opposition and our struggle for democracy. We attacked the land redistribution program and prided in being MDC tisina kana bag or investment yet our leaders went behind our backs and acquired land.

Whilst we were busy fighting each other because of different political orientations our leaders were busy having coffee and making million dollar business deals behind closed doors. The very people we hate each other for, are successful entrepreneurs and they own businesses in some cases in partnerships with those they call enemies in the public sphere!

My resolution in 2019 is to create and make money. There is too much cannibalism in this so called struggle in Zimbabwe. In short, no revolution has ever been led by the "haves" only when the "have not’s" are prepared to lead the struggle then we can talk of a real struggle not the commercialized struggle in Zimbabwe, which has impoverished the masses and created a very wide gap between the wealthy and the poor.
It is not a secret that the modern Parliamentarian in Zimbabwe sees his election victory as an opportunity for self enrichment. This is all clear as seen from the latest demands of our MPs of fancy and luxurious cars, unreality packages considering the harsh economic climate we are in, while some are advocating for austerity.

On the employment issue

The problem we have in Zimbabwe is the majority think a basic salary will emancipate you from poverty which is exactly the opposite. A salary will keep you in poverty and in a fake comfort zone. The salary is a bribe to frustrate your dream. The world we live in today, a salary is a seed which you should invest to run a business. Ever asked a question why you labour in vain for $300 which is not even sufficient to cover your day to day needs for a month?

If the unemployed graduates are afforded jobs and equal opportunities only a few  will make any meaningful progress in life because the rest will spend their capital with those spending their profits.
One of my brothers once shared this, "Japan has salt water and no minerals to talk about. They lost more people than we lost in all our Chimurenga’s. Every country under the sun has a Toyota vehicle that's sovereignty."

So we should learn to emulate best practices and use what we have as a nation to create wealth for Zimbabweans and stop being over reliant on donor funds. The people’s attitude plays a leading role in meaningful development of any progressive nation.

Instead of innovating and finding homegrown solutions to the quagmire we are facing as a nation, the poor, jobless and cashless waste their data bundles spreading Political Party Propaganda for the political elite who will be busy managing their businesses and making money whilst you are fixated on social media.

Where are our Engineers who can't even close a pothole?

Where are our pharmacists who can't make a simple pain killer?

Where are our Economists when we get into 2 decades of recession and our industries are closing to the extent that not just China but other African countries are seeing us as their warehouse and supermarket?

As we reflect on the journey we have travelled thus far, the truth needs to be told. We need to find ourselves as a people, forgive each other and reset the peoples agenda for the people by the people for posterity.

The rationale for our actions has to be centered on posterity and  empowerment for all Zimbabweans.

It's sad that Zimbabwe has more than fifty minerals yet our people survive on less than 1 US dollar a day and there is no political will to alleviate the struggles of the impoverished in our society. There is apparently no serious efforts to remedy this crisis.  We are blessed with vast arable land of which most of it is lying idle, because of greediness and the shameless accumulation of multiple farms by corrupt and uncouth politicians at the expense of the suffering masses in Zimbabwe.

Why are Zimbabweans starving when we have so much land and capacity to cultivate and feed our nation and beyond our borders?

We can't move forward like Japan or Rwanda because all our stories and discussions are centered on politics and political personalities.

The middle class was eroded and the situation seems bleak and hopeless. We need a paradigm shift of mindset. Think outside the box. Stop blaming other people for your problems and be solution oriented. Think along entrepreneurial lines!

In conclusion its not all about new year wishes, its about action. This year try to make it a habit to plan and execute. Do not stop at the religious; be realistic and take action. 2019 will not be a happy one if you don't share ideas!

I take time to register my deepest gratitude for all those who take their TIME and data to teach, encourage and share freely their ideas for the betterment of our beloved country Zimbabwe.

Listen to constructive criticism and do not hate the giver. Be grateful for the honest opinion. Without it you can't learn and surely can't improve. Remember that if you do nothing, expect nothing.

Linda Tsungirirai Masarira
Pro-Development Activist