Beatrice Kumbana
Political Reporter
Opinion Piece<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Zimbabwe sits on some of the world\u2019s richest deposits of diamonds, platinum, and gold, alongside vast tracts of fertile farmland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yet its economy continues to bleed. Corruption, poor governance, and underinvestment have combined to turn abundance into scarcity, leaving millions struggling to survive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Politics Behind the Collapse<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For decades, Zimbabwe\u2019s natural wealth has been mismanaged. Government figures are rarely transparent, but independent watchdogs estimate that the country has lost over US$100 billion to corruption in the last twenty years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMoney supply is out of control. When you print money without production to back it, you create hyperinflation-inflation and ordinary citizens pay the price,\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
says journalist and anti-corruption activist Hopewell Chin\u2019ono.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Economists echo his concerns. Dr. Nkosilathi Sibanda, a lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe, explains<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe problem is not a lack of resources it\u2019s policy failure. Spending exceeds revenue, state contracts are inflated, and local industries are ignored. That combination destroys trust and pushes investors away.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The results are clear. Manufacturing plants have shut down, agriculture is underfunded, and Zimbabwe now imports basic goods despite having the capacity to produce them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ordinary People Bear the Cost<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Economic chaos has real consequences. The Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT) estimates unemployment at over 80%, while the World Food Programme reports 2.5 million people at risk of starvation due to drought and rising prices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Harare, Chipo Ncube, a nurse, describes how the crisis hits health services<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHospitals are running without medicines. Even basic HIV treatments are short. We have skilled staff, but without resources, patients suffer and die.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hyperinflation which once reached 500 billion percent in 2008 has returned in a new form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Though not as extreme, the Zimbabwe dollar continues to lose value rapidly, eroding savings and wages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A Government Under Fire<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The government\u2019s critics point to high-profile scandals. Chin\u2019ono cites one example<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe regime paid US$1.5 million for an internet server that costs just US$4,500. This isn\u2019t just bad management it\u2019s deliberate looting.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Officials rarely respond to such allegations, but when they do, they blame sanctions and hostile foreign powers for the economic malaise. Economists disagree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSanctions alone didn\u2019t destroy local production,\u201d says Dr. Sibanda. \u201cCorruption and lack of reform did.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What Can Be Done?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rebuilding Zimbabwe\u2019s economy requires bold reforms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Strengthen accountability prosecute corruption, audit state spending.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Invest in agriculture and industry reduce dependence on imports. We have the land,the climate and with over 80% unemployed youth, we definitely have the labour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Re-engage with the global economy work with institutions like the IMF and African Development Bank to restore credit lines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But most importantly support local entrepreneurs small industries can create jobs faster than mega-projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Memory Dube, a young farmer in Mashonaland, believes recovery is possible<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t need handouts. If government just gives farmers tools, seeds, and real market access, we can feed this country again.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A Narrow Window of Hope<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Zimbabwe\u2019s resource wealth is undeniable. The question is whether its leaders can shift from extraction to stewardship, from corruption to accountability. Without urgent action, the paradox will deepen: a rich land where citizens remain desperately poor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Zim GBC News\u00a92025<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n God Bless Zimbabwe\ud83d\ude4f<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Beatrice KumbanaPolitical Reporter Opinion Piece Zimbabwe sits on some of the world\u2019s richest deposits of diamonds, platinum, and gold, alongside vast tracts of fertile farmland. Yet its economy continues to… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8611,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[109],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8610","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-politics"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/zimgbcnews.co.zw\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8610","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/zimgbcnews.co.zw\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/zimgbcnews.co.zw\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/zimgbcnews.co.zw\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/zimgbcnews.co.zw\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=8610"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/zimgbcnews.co.zw\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8610\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8612,"href":"http:\/\/zimgbcnews.co.zw\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8610\/revisions\/8612"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/zimgbcnews.co.zw\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/8611"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/zimgbcnews.co.zw\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=8610"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/zimgbcnews.co.zw\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=8610"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/zimgbcnews.co.zw\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=8610"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}