Yesterday in his 2020 budget speech the Zimbabwean Minister of Finance announced plans to launch a space satellite, and repeated the statement to ensure we heard him, as shown in [this] clip. Normally one would praise such innovation but in the current situation, this is a disgrace.
This Minister has presided over an economy this year which has seen hospitals denuded of doctors and basic medicines and hundreds of thousands of children out of school. His policies have decimated people’s savings and the basic infrastructure of Zimbabwe is crumbling.
In other words, space satellites cannot possibly be a national priority when the most basic needs of the Zimbabwean people are not being met. To that extent, this proposal is harebrained and must be rejected. But it is worse than that.
Firstly the hypocrisy of the Mnangagwa regime, and its propaganda arms such as the ZBC and Herald, is breathtaking. These are the people who criticized Nelson Chamisa for dreaming of bullet trains and spaghetti roads, surely far more needed than satellites.
Secondly, there is no doubt a sinister or corrupt side to this fascist and corrupt regime’s proposal. Sinister in that the satellite may be intended to spy on citizens’ communications. Corrupt because billions more may be hived off to cronies who will be given satellite contracts.
All in all whilst this may be laughed off as a silly plan it must be taken seriously and rejected out of hand. For all the applause the ZANU-PF MPs gave it yesterday, mature, honest citizens must oppose this profligate and sinister plan.
Coltart: Satellite Proposal A Profligate & Sinister Plan That Should Be Resisted {Full Thread}
Finance and Economic Development Minister Mthuli Ncube
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Indeed; the learned colleague has spoken that which can only be considered as the truth! In a situation where millions face real starvation besides lacking access to decent service delivery, the satellite plan is morally criminal!
I think with issues of climate change, unpredictable weather patterns a satellite is needed as to give near accurate weather forecasts to reduce effects of hunger and create opportunities for networking.
It is time we came back to grass roots and make an honest effort to stamp out corruption and cronies – Satellite plan is indeed sinister give the present human rights record.How many more must suffer and die before we see a real moral and ethical shift?
Expensive though it may be, there have been many sideline beneifts of the space programmes to the moon, to mars and beyond. Why don’t we do it properly and set up ZASA – Zimbabwe Aeronautical and Space Administration.