Jonathan Moyo, Zimbabwe’s minister of higher and tertiary education, has taken to social media to ridicule the South African rand, saying it was “falling like any other African currency”.
Moyo’s posts on Twitter on Thursday came after the rand tumbled early this week. It was the greatest drop since 2011. The comments sparked a heated debate on Twitter.
After SA lost position as Africa's largest economy to Nigeria, Rand is now falling like any other African currency! pic.twitter.com/LWL8zxb3C4
— Prof Jonathan Moyo (@ProfJNMoyo) August 27, 2015
SA's exceptionalism is a myth. The African experience has one path with one destiny littered with the same potholes! https://t.co/QbvLysJoa1
— Prof Jonathan Moyo (@ProfJNMoyo) August 27, 2015
We are not gloating but merely making an observation over a critical matter that the pundits are ignoring! https://t.co/9RdfCdL1xV
— Prof Jonathan Moyo (@ProfJNMoyo) August 27, 2015
Many South Africans, and even Zimbabweans in South Africa, expressed their disappointment and anger at Moyo.
#SomeoneTellProfMoyo the SA economy is supporting our Zim brothers and sisters he should not rejoice in what he thinks is our demise
— 🇿🇦 🇵🇸 🇨🇩 (@khubonij) August 27, 2015
Rejoicing at your neigbour's misfortune. The problem with Africa…😔 #SomeoneTellProfMoyo
— Shuri 🇰🇾🇿🇦🇱🇸 (@SothoSerurubele) August 27, 2015
We could say so many bad things about Zim, but we won't Cz we're mature and its un-African anyway. #AfricanSolidarity #SomeoneTellProfMoyo
— Tumelo Qhali 🇿🇦 (@Tumiq) August 27, 2015
#SomeoneTellProfMoyo That "People who live in glass houses should not throw stones…"
— Clayson Monyela (@ClaysonMonyela) August 27, 2015
#SomeoneTellProfMoyo Zimbabwe had to basically “re-start” their economy, scrapped Zim$ for US$ – due to hyper-inflation SA has never seen!
— Nomaxabiso Majokweni (@Nomaxabiso) August 28, 2015
#SomeoneTellProfMoyo The rand will bounce back because….#WeAreSouthAfrica pic.twitter.com/MZWCZQt0dY
— Clayson Monyela (@ClaysonMonyela) August 27, 2015
