National Development strategy document reveals quite a lot. I will raise technical questions so the minister can answer. The Minister is a math whiz kid, yet a whole document is laden with arithmetic problems. Forget the 1000’s of words. Focus here
1. Treasury cannot change numbers randomly . The 2019 GDP according to Treasury was $18.5bn while the NDS has 2020 at $13.1bn using the official exchange rate. That’s a 30% decline in GDP. And not 4%.
2. The NDS assumes a population of 11.3m in 2020. This is less than the last census, & way less than the current 15/16m.

Most curious is the 58.8% jump in GNI per capita to 1842.2 from 1159.8 yet real GDP is supposed to rise by just 7%. Does it mean the population will half?
3. An average compounded growth of 5% p.a on real GDP of 13bn in 5 years or 10years for that matter with current population means per capita will be less than $1k. The 2025 numbers are not feasible under treasury own numbers.
4. The NDS avoids going into details with what Public Finance calls Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF). This is the amount of capital required to achieve any proposed growth. Without capital injection growth won’t happen.
5. The NDS is not entirely sure of the external debt to GDP ratio.
Ps the $8.1bn does not include $5bn debt held with RBZ & $3.5bn farmer compensation and other parastatals.

Very clear debt trap.
6. Zimbabwe can be classified as being in a vicious cycle of poverty. It has all the signs
(1) Low incomes
(2) Low productivity
(3)Low Savings
(4) Low Demand
(5) Low capital formation

Any strategy document must address these
7.A farmer who stopped producing can’t argue next year will be a better year since he will be coming from a low base.

It is probable he is on a low base for lack of capital. Until he solves the capital problem the low base will get lower

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More from @baba_nyenyedzi

19 Aug
1. Mthuli & George were technocrats meant to explain Economic & Public Finance principles to the politicians. No matter how unpalatable. I am still wondering if George believes what he was saying or this is a consequence of the political culture in Zim. A cost to truth telling
2. The lay person has heard the term inflation is a tax. In public finance this is very real. Granted most Economists chose not to take this elective, it is the most important in understanding government tax and fiscal policies.

Inflation is a form of taxation. I will explain
3. If an individual gets $1 in income, it’s theirs to spend. Tax at 25c means the individual has 75c to spend. But enjoy public goods. That’s the promise.

Government must live within 25c. But suppose government spends more than the 25c? They do so by borrowing from savers.
Read 10 tweets
22 Jul
1. The RBZ forex Auction . Whither from here?

The introduction of the auction started 4 wks ago at a rate of 57.3582. And it is now 72.147 to the dollar. This contrasts with the parallel market rate of 105 ( volumes rate). What do we learn about the process? Where are we going?
2. We must be clear that the Auction supply of currency is mostly the RBZ- which borrowed USD to feed the auction. The demand is mostly importers on the RBZ priority list. By this account the Auction is only one of the many markets prevailing. So far, it’s an importers market...
3. That those who have successfully bid at the Auction have in practice received USD is a good thing. A market is simply a buyer & seller exchanging value. Therefore Auction is a market.
Read 10 tweets
11 Jul
1. It’s absolutely gratifying when ordinary people are interested in Economics & more specifically money & banking. Most Economists shy away from explaining concepts because they too don’t really understand them. It’s easy to argue, much harder to explain concepts
2. It has made me realize that maybe before one argues a point they must explain the concept. So indeed we appreciate their conceptualisation and argument. Why else would a whole society be fixated with current a/c & forget capital a/c? Anyway, back to money ....
3. Before central banks & more specific the FED act of 1913. & introduction of income tax on 3 Oct 1913 ( I know this date because I was born on the 3rd of Oct) Banks could independently issue/print their own money & credit creation.
Read 9 tweets
27 Jun
Suppose it was correct that Ecocash was creating electronic money, ie The aggregate money in the Ecocash wallet was more than money held in the bank accounts, fueling the black market. Does the evidence support this conjecture?
The black market rates I’m told are Approx, RTGS 100, Ecocash 80, Bond 60. The strongest form of ZWL is Bond notes, then Ecocash and RTGS in the bank is the weakest. What are these prices signally in terms of supply of each in the market?
If we remember well in my essay, a price is just a signal it contains no virtue or moral signal. It’s not that black market dealers like bonds more than RTGS. But that the supply of Bond notes is limited compared to bank transfers. Ecocash remains as a surrogate of demand deposit
Read 4 tweets
27 Jun
1. The Economic ignorance of GOZ.

Tis well to remember that I have been articulating over the last months with evidence that GOZ, Zanu PF are ignorant of basic economics and lack the common sense to carry out economic policy.
2. Many have ignored the message while others have attributed GOZ actions to malice and or evil genius. Malicious by way of destroying politicial opponents & ruthless attack on businesses that are seen as political rivals or whose economic success can be seen as political
3. The evil genius is the smart bureaucrats, PAC & political strategists- what Ketan Patel terms “ master strategist” who play four dimension chess and can see the ends years away (2030). So all these moves are calculated and part of a grand power play.,
Read 10 tweets
14 Jun
1. The Economic consequences of GOZ

I have intimated that Zanu PF & GOZ do not have nor understand the basic tenets of Economics. This has cost Zimbabwe dearly. Ignorance & corruption is a toxic combination.

In 1990 Zimbabwe’s economy was bigger than Kenya. $8.8bn vs $8.6bn
2. Zimbabwe did not start printing in 2000. It started in 1990 elections. The crush of the Zimbabwean dollar in Nov 1997 was a result of an overheated printing press that started in 1990.

In 1991/3 the inflation rate was above 40%, caused by increase in money supply.
3. Despite Kenya having the same diasporians as Zimbabwe (~3m), remittances are more than double what Zimbabwe sends ($1.2bn vs $3bn).

Why are Zim Diasporians not sending more?

India has a policy & action for diaspora. Kenya in 2015 launched a diaspora council.

Zimbabwe 😳
Read 9 tweets

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