Govt's Quick Response To Delta Suggests It Values Beer And Fizzy Drinks More Than The Health Of Its Citizens- Magaisa

Constitutional lawyer and academic Alex Magaisa has said Government’s quick response to stop Delta Corporation from selling its products in US dollars shows it does not value the health of its citizens.

Acting President Constantino Chiwenga convened a meeting between Delta and the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) where the central bank assured the beverage making firm of steady allocation of foreign currency for critical inputs. On Tuesday, Delta announced that its products will be charged in US dollars with effect from Friday the 4th of January 2019. Reacting on Twitter, Magaisa said Government’s quick response to Delta shows they value fizzy drinks and beer more. Said Magaisa:

If authentic, then as argued yesterday, Delta played the hard-bargaining game. And the quick resolution, RBZ agreeing to allocate forex to Delta, suggests the government values beer and fizzy drinks more than the health of its citizens.

Government has turned down junior doctors’ demands to be paid in foreign currency among other issues such as buying of essential medicines and sundries. Below are some of the reactions on twitter:

https://twitter.com/mawarirej/status/1080895352214093825

https://twitter.com/kholwaninyathi/status/1080895791223443461

Massive jobs carnage looms at Delta. Staff with leave days told to go on leave, those without are being absorbed into other departments. Those who can’t be absorbed are being given retrenchment packages. pic.twitter.com/qGYQPZpt8R

— Nqaba Matshazi (@nqabamatshazi) January 3, 2019

@Wamagaisa @advocatemahere This is absurd.The masses are paying forex for lifesaving drugs , medical bills, school uniforms, school fees but GoZ jumps on the same being applied to drinks and beer. In Dec NatFoods threatened closing its mills.This piecemeal approach does not work pic.twitter.com/3Ed817E9lr

— Panganai Ngorima (@Pangaz1) January 3, 2019

And Pearson was made to read the statement during the 8pm news. His facial expression was just priceless…like he was saying but y’all know there shall be acute shortages

— Bulls n Bears (@BullsBears2010) January 3, 2019

https://twitter.com/DennisMambure/status/1080899776437194752

The Zimbabwean govt has forex to subsidise beer, yet there's no money for the health sector? Preserving the 1:1 fallacy is a very expensive exercise. pic.twitter.com/g6p0xwG4MV

— Brezh Malaba (@BrezhMalaba) January 3, 2019

So in the end Gvt is putting it self in a double fix:
1) Predictably they have no forex to meet Delta's
import requirement 2) They have fluffed an
opportunity to earn tax in forex In the end jobs
will be lost, completely!

— George Dangarembwa (@Iam_GeorgeSpice) January 3, 2019

It has now been established that the regime's greatest fears are: absence of fuel, bread shortages and unaffordable beer. They figured the sick can't cause a revolution, so doctors strike will be solved last pic.twitter.com/8imbivZdCR

— Mduduzi Mathuthu (@Mathuthu) January 3, 2019

Related:

• UPDATED: Delta Reverses Decision To Charge Products In US Dollars After Meeting Chiwenga, RBZ

• FULL TEXT: Doctors Speak On Failed Negotiations With Govt