By Takura Zhangazha*
Over the Christmas break, while travelling, I had to
crosscheck the Marxian term ‘commodity fetishism’. That is mainly in our Zimbabwean contextual ‘intrinsic’
valuation of specific goods/commodities –in their post-production and availability
or a lack thereof to consumers. And in part how this contributes to defining our
political, economic and social behavior.
This was because mainstream and social media were agog with
stories of how there were shortages of all things associated with a ‘happy
Christmas’. Or the lack of it. These ‘things’ included fuel, Coca-Cola,
local beer and the happiness associated with them. And as is generally said in this part of the
African continent, ‘the struggle is real’ in attempts to secure these
commodities and the possessive personal satisfaction they can bring. Even if we, as majority and mere consumers
are not in control of their means of production.
If you have a personal vehicle, access to fuel was and still is a
personal hassle. Especially the fuel
that you get at the local currency (bond note, mobile money or bank transfer)
rates. The queues at petrol stations
were and still are a pain to experience especially if one is on a journey to a
rural home or touristy holiday destination.
Where the fuel was available, albeit briefly, the likelihood of you
getting to the pump after a long stint in a queue was limited. Even if there were a few cars ahead. This was mainly because there were the ‘special
ones’ that could always get more than they need for their local or long journey
use. From touts to parallel market fuel
dealers, the fuel was and is a profitable bargain. They purchase it at what is clearly a
locally discounted rate in large quantities, store it and wait for those
desperate enough to be willing to pay for it in United States Dollars
(US$). Or at triple the pump price in
local currency.
For the other Christmas ‘happiness’ commodities such as Coca
Cola and local beer, the prices fluctuated depending on the supply or
supplier. And it turns out if you had
local currency as with fuel you may have had to pay double or triple the price
to get your family’s drinks of choice.
In all of this there are those that made a phenomenal
profit. Even in fuel queues the joke was
that if you check out those who had the jerry-cans and drums, they would be be
able to buy up market residential stands by the end of January 2019. (It is now being reported that some of the fuel
dealers are being arrested).
But back to commodity fetishism. The value of the Christmas happiness goods
(fuel, drinks, clothes) was reflective of a national tradition about how the
year should always end on a high note. Almost also as a carry over to how
(black) labour and capital would define its relationship in terms of national
happiness both in colonial and post-colonial/independent Zimbabwe. With a possible summary statement being ‘If
we don’t (nationally) get the happiness we always get at the end of the year,
then things are not going well. Especially if government and private capital do
not deliver or if the former does not enable the latter!’
I know that the public perception may not be as complex as the
preceding statement. The point however
is that it helps explain the general public disappointment and pessimism. Together with a curiosity of what underlies
our culture of consumption as the equivalent of happiness.
In abstract conversations with comrades, discussions on this
particular matter have tended toward explaining our national social (political
and economic) culture as increasingly self-centered or individualistic. And also very much nostalgic of what would be
perceived to have the ‘good times’ which regrettably do not exclude colonial Christmas
time experiences.
The key emerging issue is that the Zimbabwean government’s
approach to the national economy is failing to meet these expectations which
are historically and popularly perceived or appreciated. Not that it ever can, given the ‘policy’ fact
that it has chosen a ‘free market’ approach to these matters, a market which
for now is not (and will not be) delivering as popularly expected. For some reason best known to itself the
state assumes that with all this ‘pain’ there shall be ‘gain’. Something that can only be qualified as an
ahistorical truism.
But private capital also comes into the fray. Despite US$ subsidization by government
(queue to the Reserve Bank for US$ anyone?) big and informal business is
failing to pay adequate homage to the ‘free’ market by profiteering and
creating narratives that aver from the favours it is getting from the
state. All mainly based on the unofficial
currency exchange rate and waiting upon the implementation of further fiscal
reforms beginning January 2019. As far
as private capital is concerned, profit is profit and opportunity is exactly that,
opportunity. Never mind issues of business
ethics as they do not relate to profiteering rackets.
Again if the Leninist question of ‘what is to be done’
emerges as it should, the key issues are about countering an increasingly entrenched
Zimbabwean individualism that looks at self-actualization as occurring in
isolation as opposed to being part of the national collective. Even if the year 2018 was one of national
anger/high emotions, we will always need to take a step back and remember that worshiping
commodities/ consumerism will not solve our national problems. Neither will a neo-liberal government that
pretends to be concerned about peoples’ welfare and yet focuses on the free
market with abysmal failure, even by their own standards.
What is required is a more contextual, structural approach to
the national economy. One that ensures that
the role of the state is not subsumed by the vagaries of a rampant profiteering
and an informal ‘free market’.
And also that, in the final analysis, Zimbabwe requires its
own solid national currency. Even if popular
perception and political mistrust gives greater value to the US$ as is the
global norm. Except that our problem is
that we use it as if it’s our own.
*Takura Zhangazha writes here in his own personal capacity (takura-zhangazha.blogspot.com)
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