Zimbabwe money-burning: Is it a moral business?

"Lets not burn our economy," says the Herald reporter in reference to the phenomenon that has taken over people's lives in Zimbabwe. The money-burning concept in simple terms means you buy foreign currency at cash rate and sell it through RTGS at a higher price. Many enterprising Zimbabweans are making a living from money-burning, in fact it's better than going to work.

However this form of business is not only making millions for some, but it is also causing a lot of suffering to some innocent Zimbabweans. So, how much of an issue is ethics and morality in business?

Is there anything wrong in finding an opportunity and making the most out of that opportunity? This kind of business is probably not new in the country but maybe only a few people were doing it. Now because of the current crisis in the economy, people are finding other means to survive.

The Herald reporter also added;

"The dangerous assumption by the shops and service providers is that everyone who is swiping or writing cheques must have traded foreign currency and yet there are many instances in which this is not the case.

How else can we explain an instance where last week, a week’s dosage of panadene tablets were going for $8 000 for cash and $750 000 if swiping?

The innocent people have to suffer because of the sheer greediness of others. Furthermore, the attitude by these shops also implies that they have legitimised the RTGS foreign currency transaction system or is it that they are just being "realistic"?

But, who is to blame for all this current crisis in the economy? The poor people have no cash, they can not even get it from the banks. If they are to use their bank cards in the shops, they will pay more. Is it because of the greedy, enterprising Zimbabwe money-burners?

But "vakuru vakati nhamo yemumwe hairegererwi sadza" and "kakara kununa hudya kamwe". The law of the jungle is now the order of the day in Zimbabwe, it seems. People will now do nearly anything to survive, but is there anything wrong in these forms of business?

Or is it time to change our mindset Zimbabwe? Are we responsible for our own suffering through our actions or failure to act? I think we should address the problems, people taking advantage of the system are not the problem but a result of the problem.

Feel free to share your views by posting your comments.