Zim’s potential decimated, dreams shattered

via Zim’s potential decimated, dreams shattered – NewsDay Zimbabwe July 23, 2015

I THOROUGHLY enjoyed Selmor Mtukudzi’s song titled Nguva Yangu with the following words the other day — Uchindinyebera uchindimisa mahara, how relevant it is.

Vince Musewe

I remember 35 years ago hearing the 1980 election results when I was in Form four.

I was a spritely 17-year-old black Zimbabwean who was quite sick of colonialism and the lies it was propped up on.
I had much hope and anticipation of contributing to building a new inclusive society of non-racism and equal opportunity for all in the new Zimbabwe.

Unfortunately, it has turned out to be a nightmare. The dreams we had have all gone up in smoke as our generation’s potential has been decimated and is now spread all over the world seeking to pursue ambition in free societies of the world.

That is if you are not dead of course because HIV/Aids took many away before they could live up to their full potential.

It has been a man-made monumental catastrophe of mismanagement, incompetence and destruction of one of Africa’s leading economies.
The sad part is that those who destroyed it are still here with all the arrogance and pomp pretending that all is well. Today, this day they are still making empty promises which they cannot meet. God help us.

At the realisation that President Robert Mugabe’s Zanu PF had won with a landslide victory in 1980, I remember looking at the faces of my schoolmates who were predominantly white folk; they were utterly shocked and distraught that the “terrorists” would be taking over the country. Most of them expected that Abel Muzorewa’s United African National Congress would win.

It was the worst of times for them and also for me because of the verbal abuse which was meted out at “these kaffirs”. I was young and naïve but pregnant with high expectations of a better future so nothing could really bother me then.

At last, I imagined, we would be able to show that being black is not a debility. We would raise this country to new heights and show the white man that he was wrong. These, of course, were my private thoughts since I was in the midst of my schoolmates who were predominantly white farmers’ children and direct beneficiaries of racist white supremacist policies of Rhodesia.

I am almost sure that most of the racists have left the country anyway. I truly believe that those white Zimbabweans who remain in Zimbabwe today love their country and its people and have chosen to stay despite the challenges they have faced. The racists now count a few.

Interestingly, enough have actually met white Zimbabweans who are certainly more loyal to Zimbabwe and will do anything for this country than some of our black charlatans in politics. It’s ironic indeed.

What a disappointment from Zanu PF and its cronies. These are the people I am singing Selmor’s song to –Muchitinyebera muchitimisa mahara! (This, of course, includes all those who have contributed to the disaster in our country.

All those who have stolen and subverted the law in their quest for personal gain whether politicians or not, at the expense of the country are included.) They have lied to us and have made us wait for nothing.

I believe that many Zimbabweans would join me in singing this song especially our youth and our vendors who are still waiting for that economic rebound and the 2,2million jobs promised by the President in 2013. It’s not going to happen.

We are disappointed yet we must remain hopeful and unshaken in the belief that sooner rather than later, the tide will surely turn and allow us to create a better future for all Zimbabweans regardless of race, gender or political affiliation. We are a country at the cusp of greatness and it is our responsibility to claim our space in that future of Zimbabwe. We cannot wait any longer lest we wait for mahala.

I am convinced that no matter how impossible change might seem now, no matter how bleak the future may look, Zimbabwe will rise again because there is no logical reason why it should not. It may tarry, but freedom will come.

All we need is time.

We have all the blueprints, all the brains and natural resources to create the Zimbabwe we want. Time will surely give us the opportunity to create the country I imagined at 17.
There is no reason whatsoever why our country should be in this state except for our complacency in believing that all men are inherently good.

In my opinion, Zimbabwe would be far better off today were it not for the predatory cabal that has usurped the benefits of the sacrifice of blood, sweat and tears of many.

Theirs must be a restless life of one calamity after another as we are witnessing now. They shall surely reap a harvest of sorrows.
Looking ahead, there is one thing we must never let happen again in Zimbabwe in the future and that is –abuse of power. The abuse of power and national resources by the Zanu PF cabal has unfortunately created an abusive society whose values leave much to be desired.

It is so prevalent that even those in the private sector now mirror this despicable behaviour. I have heard of serious abuse of employees in many companies in Zimbabwe, where employees are treated as mere means to an end; are neither paid in full nor on time while their bosses live large but complain there is no money.
I am sure that many employees and contractors to companies in Zimbabwe today would join me in singing Selmor’s song to their bosses too.

We will have to create a new society in Zimbabwe that respects the dignity and rights of all. However, that must begin with us as individuals rejecting to be abused by anyone. Zimbabweans must wake up and realise that we cannot be abused without our consent.

We will have to build another Zimbabwe far away from the current reality. We are tired of their lies –taneta!

Vince Musewe is an economist and author based in Harare. You may contact him on
vtmusewe@gmail.com