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Cathy Buckle is struggling to understand how the Zimbabwean government can impose a new 15% VAT duty on imported food at a time the country is facing a severe drought, increasing the need for imports. It couldn’t come at a worse time as the country is gripped by hunger, homelessness and despair.
It’s another case where a government has no thought for those who put them in power, or worse yet, not even aware of the struggles faced by its people. The propaganda says the increase is either a way to generate more income tax revenue or to “protect local industry from cheap imports”. Both of which do just. We wait for the good news story out of Zimbabwe. – Stuart Lowman
By Cathy Buckle*
They are selling cows in drought affected rural areas for as little as 50 US dollars a head. Normally villagers can expect to realize 300 – 400 US dollars for a cow but not this year. Things are so tough, money so short and conditions so hard that in some areas people are selling their cows because they can’t afford to keep them alive.
“Stock feed,” one man said to me in exclamation; “we can’t even afford to feed ourselves, let alone the cattle.”
Sixteen years ago this month land invasions began in Zimbabwe. At the time we were told they were “spontaneous demonstrations,” and as unbelievable as it is, they are still going on today. For every day, week, month and year that farm grabs continue, Zimbabwe remains in a perilous place.
We are no longer self sufficient in food and for the last fifteen years have been importing at least 80% of our food from South Africa, Zambia and further afield. In my grocery bag this week the tea and eggs were local but the cereals, milk, cheese, coffee, butter and cleaning products were all imported. The bread is locally made but the majority of the ingredients used to produce it are imported.
In the last fortnight there have again been new farm seizures and evictions. Some make local and international news, others don’t, but the result is the same: less food, less employment, less money in pockets, less national income and for everyone involved: hunger, homelessness and despair.
It is sickeningly ironic that at the same time as this is happening a new 15% VAT duty on imported food has just come into effect. Imported products subject to the new VAT include the most basic ingredients in our shopping baskets such as: maize meal, flour, rice, cooking oil, potatoes, margarine, eggs, fruits and vegetables.
Depending on which version of the propaganda you read the new tax on imported food is to either generate more income tax revenue or to “protect local industry from cheap imports.” Whatever the real reason for the new VAT on imported food, it couldn’t come at a worse time for the 90% of ordinary Zimbabweans who are unemployed and already struggling to feed themselves and their families.
But don’t worry! The government of Zimbabwe have just launched a national and international appeal for $1.5bn to support sectors affected by drought. Vice President Mnangagwa said the most affected sectors are food and nutrition, agriculture, water, education, health, and wildlife.
According to a report in the Financial Gazette, “Assistance can be in cash or food items “palatable to the populations” and these include maize, mealie-meal, small grains, flour, sugar beans and other legumes, dried fish and various types of dried vegetables, powdered milk, peanut butter, cooking oil, sugar, salt, maheu and baby formula.”
Apparently grain importation has the largest budget in the appeal with $717 292 000 being needed. Hmmm, now what’s 15% VAT on 717 million US dollars worth of imported grain? And hmmm again, aren’t most of the items on the requested food aid list also subject to the new 15% VAT?
• Cathy Buckle is the author of four children books. She has also written the non-fictional African Tears, the Zimbabwe Land Invasions, Beyond Tears: Zimbabwe’s tragedy, Innocent Victims: Rescuing the Stranded Animals of Zimbabwe’s Farm Invasions and Sleeping Like a Hare. The article was first published at www.cathybuckle.com.
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