FINANCE and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube told the ruling Zanu-PF Politburo meeting this week that indeed, the economy is imploding and he’s running out of legroom to fix the mess as he is “not a magician”.
Both the Finance Minister and Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor John Mangudya on Wednesday came under the cross hairs of the Zanu-PF top decision making organ, with senior Politburo member Obert Mpofu warning that the economy will present problems for ruling party’s targets 5 million votes in the 2023 elections.
The Zimbabwe Independent reports that the Politburo summoned the Teo to explain the current crisis and how the country could emerge from runaway inflation, rapid price hikes and a highly unstable exchange rate, among other crises affecting the economy.
According to politburo sources, Ncube and Mangudya told the ruling party that unless urgent measures were put in place to boost production, the country may soon go down.
“The main issue was that of the economy and how prices of basic goods and services have skyrocketed so terribly since he became Finance Minister,” reports the business weekly, quoting reliable sources in Zanu-PF.
“He (Mthuli Ncube) was mainly taken to task by politburo members who are out of government over the state of the economy. The politburo members said they were deeply worried that this could alienate the party from potential voters because people are suffering.
“Most criticism came from Mpofu and Chinamasa, but all members basically expressed concern over the way the economy was being run.
“Generally, the two were being accused of working against the party’s targeted victory in the next plebiscite.
“As you may know, to us the government is subservient to the party, which is then responsible for articulating these policies to the people.
“So what we have done now is to summon some of these ministers whose policies seem to work against Zanu PF interests.”
According to the publication Mthuli Ncube, in particular, said the economy was going to take a long time to recover, depending on the necessary interventions.
“However, he indicated that in the long run, his Transitional Stabilization Programme (TSP) would bear fruit, but you could see no one was buying that narrative,” said the source.
Another publication reports that Mangudya’s crime, among many, is his stubborn reintroduction of the Zimbabwean dollar that has decimated savings.
The two however reportedly told the meeting they had no magic to turn around the economy, adding there were no meaningful solutions in sight.
“Politburo members came out guns blazing against Ncube, as they plainly vented their frustrations about the miserable state of the economy,” said the source. “The main issue was that of the economy and how prices of basic goods and services have rocketed so terribly since he became finance minister.
“He was mainly taken to task by politburo members who are out of government.
“Politburo members said they were deeply worried this could alienate the party from potential voters because people are suffering.”
Much of the criticism reportedly came from Zanu PF secretary for administration Obert Mpofu and former finance minister Patrick Chinamasa.
“The two were being accused of working against the party,” said the source.
“They were clearly reminded that government is subservient to the party and served at its (Zanu PF) pleasure as it was responsible for articulating government policies to the people.
“They were told they must do something about the economy with great urgency since its their area of responsibility but they (Ncube and Mangudya) clearly stated that things have really gone out of hand and it would take a miracle for things to normalise anytime soon unless government, as a matter of urgency, develops a strategy to fund the productive sectors of the economy so as to cut costs,” the source said
“Mthuli Ncube in particular said the economy was going to take a long time to recover depending on the necessary interventions.
“He however indicated that in the long run, his Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP) would bear fruit but you could see no one was buying that narrative.”
Mangudya, sources said, was asked to explain what he was doing to contain inflation which is mainly being driven by an uneven exchange rate owing to the parallel foreign currency trading.
In response, Mangudya reportedly said the central bank was being outfoxed by illegal forex dealers who appear to be always ahead.
“As governor, he was asked to do something about the high level of instability in the exchange rate which has seen the local currency getting so severely corroded that salaries no longer mean anything.
“Mangudya said the major problem was that we are importing everything as a country and producing very little.
“He said for instance, we grow wheat enough only to last three months and import wheat for the rest of the year, hence the high prices of bread.
“He told the meeting that unless government prioritised funding for the productive sectors of the economy, there was no hope.”
“Mangudya also said he was having a hard time trying to arrest runway inflation and was running out of options after so many loopholes emerged as he sought to close one.
“He said players in the forex dealings have become so cunning that by the time they (government) came up with a measure to control it, they would already have plotted a new way,” said the source.
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Medicare Part D Plans: How Prescription Drug Coverage Works
Medicare Part D plans, prescription drug plans, Medicare drug coverage, Part D cost, Medicare prescription coverage, best Medicare Part D plan
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Medicare Part D Plans: Prescription Drug Coverage Explained
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Prescription drug costs can be one of the biggest concerns for people on Medicare.
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Medicare Part D helps pay for prescription medications. It is offered by private companies approved by Medicare.
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Medicare says Part D helps pay for brand-name and generic drugs, and it is optional coverage available to everyone with Medicare.
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Who Needs Medicare Part D?
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You may need Part D if you have Original Medicare and want prescription drug coverage.
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You may also receive drug coverage through a Medicare Advantage plan that includes Part D.
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Even if you do not take prescriptions now, Medicare says you should consider drug coverage to avoid a possible late enrollment penalty if you join later without creditable coverage.
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What Do Part D Plans Cover?
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Part D plans cover prescription medications, but each plan has its own formulary.
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A formulary is the list of covered drugs.
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Plans may organize drugs into tiers such as:
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Preferred generic
rnGeneric
rnPreferred brand
rnNon-preferred brand
rnSpecialty drugs
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The tier affects your cost.
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What to Check Before Choosing a Part D Plan
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Your Exact Medications
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List every medication, including:
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Drug name
rnDosage
rnQuantity
rnFrequency
rnPreferred pharmacy
rnGeneric or brand preference
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Small differences can change your annual cost.
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Pharmacy Network
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Some plans have preferred pharmacies where your cost may be lower.
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Check:
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Retail pharmacy pricing
rnPreferred pharmacy pricing
rnMail-order options
rnOut-of-network pharmacy rules
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Restrictions
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A plan may require:
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Prior authorization
rnStep therapy
rnQuantity limits
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These rules can affect access and cost.
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2026 Part D Out-of-Pocket Cap
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For 2026, Medicare says yearly out-of-pocket costs for Part D-covered prescription drugs are capped at $2,100. Once that cap is reached, you do not pay copayments or coinsurance for covered Part D drugs for the rest of the calendar year.
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This is important for people with expensive medications.
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Part D Late Enrollment Penalty
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If you go without Part D or other creditable prescription drug coverage for too long after becoming eligible, you may owe a late enrollment penalty.
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Medicare says the 2026 late enrollment penalty is calculated using 1% of the national base beneficiary premium, which is $38.99 in 2026, multiplied by the number of full uncovered months.
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Extra Help for Drug Costs
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Extra Help is a Medicare program for people with limited income and resources. It helps pay Part D premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, and other costs. Medicare says people receiving Extra Help also do not pay a Part D late enrollment penalty while they have Extra Help.
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Common Part D Mistakes
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Avoid:
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Choosing by premium only
rnNot checking your exact medications
rnIgnoring preferred pharmacy pricing
rnMissing enrollment deadlines
rnAssuming all plans cover all drugs
rnNot reviewing the plan each year
rnIgnoring prior authorization rules
rnFailing to apply for Extra Help if eligible
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How Often Should You Review Your Part D Plan?
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Review your Part D plan every year.
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Plans can change:
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Premiums
rnDeductibles
rnFormularies
rnDrug tiers
rnPharmacy networks
rnRestrictions
rnCopays
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Even if your plan worked last year, it may not be the best choice next year.
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Final Thoughts
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Medicare Part D can help reduce prescription drug costs, but the right plan depends on your medications and pharmacy.
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Before enrolling, compare formularies, drug tiers, pharmacy pricing, deductibles, and total annual cost.
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The best Part D plan is not always the cheapest monthly premium. It is the one that lowers your real prescription costs.
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Best Payroll Software for Multi-State Businesses
Managing payroll across multiple states is far more complicated than most business owners expect.
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Tax rules differ. Labor laws vary. Compliance deadlines constantly change.
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That’s why growing companies increasingly search for the best payroll software for multi-state businesses.
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Manual payroll processes create major risks.
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What Multi-State Payroll Software Handles
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Strong systems may automate:
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rn - Tax withholding calculations
rn - State filing requirements
rn - Direct deposits
rn - Employee onboarding
rn - Compliance reporting
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Automation reduces expensive errors.
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Why Payroll Mistakes Become Costly
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Payroll errors may trigger:
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rn - Tax penalties
rn - Employee disputes
rn - Compliance violations
rn - Audit issues
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Growing businesses often underestimate these risks.
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Final Takeaway
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The best payroll software helps multi-state businesses improve efficiency while reducing compliance headaches.
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Payroll accuracy directly impacts employee trust and operational stability.
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FAQ
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Why is multi-state payroll difficult?
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Different states have different tax laws, labor rules, and filing requirements.
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Can payroll software automate tax filings?
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Many modern platforms automate significant portions of payroll compliance.
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