LETTER: Ramaphosa's visit to Zimbabwe a joke in bad taste
The Zimbabwean minister of foreign affairs and international trade’s plea to SA to assist his country’s ailing economy is a visceral appeal that cannot be fulfilled in any way by our government, or any other government for that matter, considering its historical debt.
The African begging bowl has been eschewed by virtually all Western countries because of corruption and maladministration. Africa’s allies — Cuba, North Korea and Venezuela — don’t have any funds for themselves, let alone for Africa. Nor does Iran, which is buckling under sanctions.
The Chinese and Russians are waiting for better terms, economically, before they part with any revenue. Perhaps a form of annexation? Read colonisation.
The fact is that SA cannot help itself, never mind Zimbabwe, and therefore President Cyril Ramaphosa’s visit there is a joke in bad taste.
At the rate SA is plummeting, not even the IMF will help us.
“A quick turnaround of Zimbabwe’s economy”, as wished for by minister Sibusiso Moyo, is not going to happen.
What Ramaphosa should be applying his mind to, is a reversal and cessation by the government ministers and employees, of theft and corruption, and furthermore, the appointment of properly qualified personnel to head up the various entities and departments that have been decimated by reprobates and ill-qualified staff.
Only then will SA stand a chance of survival.
Nathan Cheiman
Northcliff