Reflections on 2021 Fiscal Frameworks and social protection

 

Reflections on Social Protection from the 2021 Fiscal framework and the Long awaited National Social Protection Policy Framework (NSPPF)

My outlook on Zimbabwe is primarily optimistic and as a result, my expectations for myself and other optimists tend to be rather unrealistic. Over the course of time, I’ve learned that the important .things in life usually take longer than we expect and cost more than we anticipate. Most accomplishments in transformations come more easily if you approach them strategically.
Rarely does a haphazard approach to anything succeed. And even the few times a non strategic approach to achievement comes to fruition, it’s not repeatable.
I put value on everything, value life, value job, value children, value family, value wife, value friends, value husband etc. I believe the value of a thing is in ones mind. Value the dollar in your pocket and it will do wonders for you. But if you say you do not have money you devalue whatever you have in your pocket. Devaluing a thing is making it powerless and useless.

SirColin believes the Budget statement of 2021 under the theme “Building Resilience and Sustainable Economic Recovery” provided forecasts of the main macroeconomic variables and describing the broad assumptions, justifications and outlook for the key macroeconomic variables such as the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth, inflation, fiscal policy, monetary policy, and external trade as well as the different sectoral growth drivers though all things are never equal in these challenging times.

However, I’ve found that multiplying everything by two infuses realism into my optimism. I’m aware that I’m an especially impatient person, but I think all people naturally desire for things to come to them quickly and easily, In my reflections refer to the 2021 Budget Highlights published on the 26th of November 2020 where there are expectations for Prices to remain stable as Fiscal and Monetary measures complement in containing Year on Year Inflation. According to Professor Mthuli Ncube the Minister of Finance and Economic Development inflation levels are expected to decline to 206.3% as at March 2021. I observed with keen interest that despite the pronounced forecasts, reality check reveals persistent and continuous rising of prices by unscrupulous and defiant Manufacturers, Wholesalers and Retailers in this Covid 19 pandemic and Level 4 lockdown.

The 26th of November 2020 budget under the theme “Building Resilience and Sustainable Economic Recovery” informed by the “Austerity to Prosperity” mantra underpinned by both expenditure cutting and an increase in taxation which has eroded people’s income.
This is albeit the increasing demand for Social Protection due to the general socioeconomic challenges facing the economy characterized by the Covid 19 pandemic, shortage of medical equipment and supplies, erratic water supplies in major cities and towns and many other factors.
Social Protection remains the cornerstone for resolving the root causes of poverty, inequality, unemployment and under employment currently embedded in dual economies where a few elite control the economy with the majority poor at the periphery of decision making.

Journalist Sydney J. Harris observed, “An idealist believes the short run doesn’t count. A cynic believes the long run doesn’t matter. A realist believes that what is done or left undone in the short run determines the long run.” In other words, if you want to succeed in the long run, you must learn to be consistent day in and day out,week in and week out, year in and year out.
The 2020 National Budget Statement which was presented on the 26th of November is the first budget in the implementation of the new economic Blue Print; National Development Strategy 1 expected to guide the transformation of the country and achievement of the 2030 vision of Zimbabwe being an upper middle class income country.
Historically, weaknesses in Policy implementation of Policy objectives need laser focus on the implementation of Policy objectives of National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) within the context of fiscal transparency for citizenry to monitor and evaluate progress during the implementation phase.
Transparency and Accountability in fostering socioeconomic transformation in the economy can be enhanced through inculcating a culture of consultations, monitoring and evaluation; increased stakeholder ownership of the policies, projects and programs, effective and timely communication of government programs.

SirColin fosters the craft of dialogue among constituents in clarifying their theory of change, in planning strategies and in learning as a powerful way of generating confidence and trust, stimulating new and creative thinking, and promoting effective collaboration and partnerships as well as learning and improving. “If you go to work on your goals, your goals will go to work on you. If you go to work on your plan, your plan will go to work on you. Whatever good things we build end up building us.” Jim Rohn
That is the power of the Law of Design.

I’ve never known anyone who said, “I love problems,” but I’ve known many who have admitted that their greatest gains came in the middle of their pain.
Social, Economic and Cultural Rights spelt out in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) of 1966 requires huge investment to ensure the realization of such rights.
Article 2.1 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) states that each state party to the present Covenant undertakes to take steps, individually and through International assistance and cooperation, especially economic and technical, to the maximum of it’s available resources, with a view to achieving progressively the full realization of the rights recognized in the present Covenant by all appropriate means including particularly the adoption of the legislative measures. In the event of failure to meet at least it’s minimum core obligations due to lack of financial resources, the state has an obligation to demonstrate that every effort has been made to use all resources that are it’s disposition in an effort to satisfy, as a matter of priority, those minimum obligations.
The Government of Zimbabwe has an obligation to avail resources for the realization of social and economic rights and the attainment of sustainable development goals (SDGs) by 2030.

SirColin firmly believes that people who develop systems that include action steps are almost always more successful than people who don’t.
Even less talented people with fewer resources accomplish more if they have developed the habit of taking action.

I rest my pen!

Authored by: Colin S. Nyangani (SirColin)
Community Development Consultant

@ SirColin Personal Mastery

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