Bulawayo residents are calling for equal opportunities to close the existing socio-economic gap between the elite and the underprivileged.
They voiced their concerns at a People’s Assembly meeting hosted by the Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD) in Pumula on Thursday, January 17, 2024.
Precious Luphahla, ZIMCODD’s Citizen Engagement and Movement Building Officer, explained that the People’s Assembly, coordinated by Fight Inequality Zimbabwe (FIA-Z), was held simultaneously in five regions across the country on January 17 and 18.
It aimed to highlight the daily challenges faced by ordinary people, particularly in light of the backdrop of the World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in Davos.
“The Davos meetings,” Luphahla stated, “are a yearly gathering of some of the world’s most powerful and influential figures. The system they represent favours the elite, leaving everyone else behind. This creates a situation where the rich and powerful become superior to everyone else. Socio-economic development has become an illusion with ordinary people reaping no benefits from the so-called development process.”
Participants at the meeting shared their experiences of inequality. One participant pointed out the unfairness of the tax system, where people in the informal sector bear a disproportionate burden.
“The economic situation is particularly harsh for us in the informal sector,” she shared. “We are forced to pay taxes to the government, yet we receive no pension benefits in return. If I become unable to work tomorrow, my income stops entirely. We are taxed on practically every transaction we make, contributing a portion of our earnings to the government.”
“However, only those in the formal sector can earn a pension after retirement,” she continued. “We need a better balance. If the informal sector cannot be recognised and incorporated into a pension system, then perhaps we shouldn’t be taxed at all.”
Another participant called for improved salaries for formally employed individuals to enable them to meet their basic needs. She highlighted the challenges faced by women, especially those in the informal sector, whose families often rely on their husbands’ meagre incomes.
“The situation is especially difficult for us women,” she expressed. “Many of our husbands are unemployed due to limited opportunities. Even those with jobs earn barely enough to survive. We try our best to supplement their income.”
“Our husbands’ earnings might just cover school fees, leaving us to manage rent, groceries, and other bills. We call for equal access to financial resources and improved salaries for those employed so we can meet our daily needs.”
A participant from Ward 16 lamented the unequal opportunities faced by children in public and private schools.
“There are significant disparities in school resources,” he stated. “Children attending private schools have better learning conditions compared to those in public institutions, with smaller class sizes and better access to resources. We demand equal opportunities for everyone.”
Ward 17 Councillor Sikhululekile Moyo emphasised the challenges faced by the underprivileged in accessing funds from public financial institutions due to excessive bureaucracy.
“There is unequal distribution of resources from government institutions,” she explained. “For instance, consider the Women’s Bank. We applied for a loan as a group of women, but our application was rejected because they require collateral. How are we expected to have assets as collateral when we barely have enough to make ends meet?”
“Those who have access to such resources are already established, with assets that further widen the gap between the poor and the rich,” she continued. “We need these resources to grow our businesses and improve our livelihoods, but we cannot access them.”
Cllr Moyo also highlighted the unequal access to basic human rights like healthcare, with public health institutions often lacking resources compared to private ones frequented by the elite.
“Access to health services is another major concern,” she pointed out. “Our local health clinics lack sufficient medication. Women, as primary caregivers, bear the brunt of securing medication for their children when they fall ill. We hardly get anything beyond paracetamol from our public health facilities. Meanwhile, those with more money can easily access healthcare at private institutions.”
