BOND NOTES: 2008 Will Return

Published: 2016 August 02 10:51:04 (2143 Views)

MY FIRST practical encounter in entrepreneurship was when I was 14 in the small town of Gweru where I sold “twist bread” by the granite rocks close to Riverside bus stop in 2004 to supplement our family income when the economy was beginning to go down.

In 2008 I worked as a commuter omnibus conductor plying the City-Ascot route, it was also during that same period where I ventured into selling suits from Botswana. Later, at a time of greatest need, my college education was made possible by the social investment of a business enterprise.

From these life experiences I learnt that by providing goods and services, business if honest, is a source of sustainable wealth and an instrument for the greatest good.

 One great man once said “I know no better way to show true patriotism and love for one’s country, than investing to create wealth and employment.” Honest Business is at the heart of the growth of any nation. A countries ability to attract business and foster an entrepreneurial spirit within its citizens is the truest measure of growth potential.

My heart bled when I saw our entire stock exchange only trading USD 4105 early last week (Compared to that of Mauritius an island 100 times smaller in size than Zimbabwe which trades an average of USD $1.5 million).

However, the purpose of writing this piece is not to complain about how the business environment has been. We all know that the environment has been tough for obvious reasons, a lack of policy clarity and consistency, corruption and a disregard of the rule of law.

 Although most businesses have closed down over the years, against all the odds some honest Zimbabwean enterprises have been resilient, most of them local. Through innovation and grit they have survived. Some have even broken barriers and have gone global.

 However their very existence is under threat because of one thing – BOND NOTE.

One does not need to be an economist to see behind the farce and understand that the Bond Note is only a sanitised name for the Zim Dollar. We all saw 2008. We know the havoc of hyper inflation. We cant go back there. The introduction of bond notes will destabilise our already fragile economy.

As we have already seen, because of the magnitude of business risk and uncertainty investors have lost confidence and some have already started pulling out.

It is our local entrepreneurs that will suffer from bond notes. From the big corporates to the woman fending for her family at the fruit and vegetable stall (musika) everyone will be affected.

 These Businesses need to be protected for not only as a matter of moral obligation but also for their contributions to society.  These businesses offer important services to us the ordinary citizens.  These businesses provide formal and informal employment to hundreds of thousands of youth. 

These Businesses provide work related learning platforms for the next generation of Zimbabwean entrepreneurs (attachment). These business uplift societies through their corporate social responsibility.  These businesses contribute to the economy through tax.

 Most importantly these businesses are creating the wealth which has been the lifeline of our sickly economy  This is why businesses and citizens must be united against bond notes. The entire business community should collectively come to a common position against bond notes.

 Consciousness must be raised among the Chipo and Jabu on the streets and Sekuru naGogo kumusha on the threat of bond notes. We #MaYouth who stand to be the biggest losers through the shrinking base of places for attachment and employment should take a stand through any and all non-violent means.

The interests of businesses must be encapsulated within #ThisFlag.  If Bond Notes are introduced ultimately it will be us the ordinary citizens who will suffer, not the blue suit-red tie corrupt politicians who have a track record of furthering the agenda of our suffering through corruption, injustice and inflicted poverty.

This is not about politics, but simply a bread and butter issue. We must Protect our entrepreneurs. We must Protect ourselves. Say #NotobondNotes. Keep Faith Hope and Love Strong. To God all the Glory belongs.  Your Brother in the Struggle.

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Tags: Bondnotes, Zimbabwestockexchange, 2008,

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