via Bravo to VP Mnangagwa! – The Zimbabwean 6.8.2015
It is commendable and rather surprising that someone in authority has admitted that Zimbabwe is at least 20 years behind.
I think 35 years, if not more, is a better estimate, but that’s beside the point. The fact of the matter is that Zimbabwe has regressed under the watch of the likes of our VP and his boss Robert Mugabe.
It is clear therefore that, regardless of the cause of this failure, we need to change the approach to our economic development policies as a country.
It is a pity the VP saw it fit to blame sanctions, but what could he really say – otherwise he would be in trouble for admitting that it’s really all about a leadership crisis, legitimacy, corruption and the lack of an inclusive solid vision for our nation since independence.
That having been said, I doubt the Zanu (PF) leadership is ignorant on what our fundamental problems are. They have to pretend and sing the sanctions-imperialist line according to the hymn book they have been given by their master – for he will brook no dissent. It’s a sad spectacle of grown men who must continually blame the West or the past as if they had nothing to do with it. I pity their fate.
Obama’s statement
Obama made a clear statement; leaders who complain and make excuses that if they leave things will fall apart have in fact failed to lead. It is a clear admission of failure therefore, to say that without a particular leader our country would fall apart. Nothing can be further from the truth.
Secondly analyst Ken Yamatomo also has some lessons for us; a new Zimbabwe cannot be created by those who are rooted in the activist paradigm of the 70’s. It needs fresh brains, high energy levels and busy hands to create the Zimbabwe we want.
This is what I have been saying all the time that the problems faced by Zimbabwe can never be solved at the same level of thinking and by the very people who created them. ZANU (PF) is therefore not the solution to our problems, they created them.
We are still carrying too much baggage from the past, and the fallacy that only those involved in the struggle are entitled to lead will continue to arrest our potential while excluding many who have the skills and competence to take us forward. Zimbabweans of all shapes and sizes certainly have the ability and competencies to transform our country into a modern democratic state with a vibrant economy – if only we could embrace a new paradigm of inclusive politics.
Everything to lose
This of course is not about to happen because predatory regimes always hold onto power. They do so, not because they truly believe that they are the best, but because they need to protect their vested economic interests – nothing else. Any change is seen as a threat that is likely to disempower them. They will fight to the death for political power because they have everything to lose.
In fact, as I said last week, they are the worst cowards who will even resort to violence and the use of state resources and the infamous security agents if necessary to protect their turf.
Unfortunately the looting machine created over years of patronage and corruption will not be dismantled by free and fair elections. Unless the predatory class has something to gain from change, they will always resist that change. Our challenge is to find the best route forward – and our options are quite limited.
COMMENTS
Our options are not limited, we choose to limit them. Like the “leaders” we blame, we are also too quick to find excuses for our own predicament – we either point a finger at someone, wait for someone to take the lead, joke and laugh about our situation or simply find ways to accommodate it. With this collective amnesia towards national development we are doomed. We need to wake up and smell the coffee – the solution to zim’s problems is beyond the normal where a “great” leader can rally the people, it is actually the other way round – the people must rally the leaders! Think of it this way – what do you do as a family when your father goes berserk? Do you keep on asking him to be reasonable? It’s time to be a bit decisive, it’s our lives and those of our descendants we are messing up with. If we are all going to be there in another 30 years how will we feel when our grand children ask us why the farming land is now desert? why large dams are full of sand? why towns are only slums? why there is no industry? will we say, “we had bad leaders” and sleep peacefully ever after?
It’s time to resuscitate our collective conscience if ever we had one. Each one of us must be asking themselves this question – what can I do to change the situation? unfortunately, all of us from the top to the bottom, are too busy trying to serve our own skin. so we find all sorts of excuses for inaction and most of our discussions seek to explain our reality not to change it. We must move a gear up.
Well said, we are all to blame for the situation the country is in now. The Nehandas resisted the settlers, the Nkomos, Chitepos, Sitholes, Mugabes, etc fought a brutal system and there was change. The current generation will judged be by history as the cowards who did nothing while the country back slid.
Ichokwadi! I blame myself every day that since this has happened I tried to take action once during the final push but because of fear never attempted again. After receiving a few threats I backed down… Fear, Fear,
Now my suggestion is people should work together for the better of our country. There is need for a leadership clean-up and put new blood.
We have three major problems in our country i.e. corruption, unfriendly economic policies and sanctions. All these three compliment each other to bring us down. It is sad that the ruling class point ONLY to sanctions, whilst opposition activists point ONLY to corruption and bad policies. We are, therefore, not coherent as a country when it comes to identifying our national challenges and tackling them.
Sanctions are a result of poor policies and bad leadership. 35 years after independence we ahould be by now a very rich nation. All the wealth is being extracted by the Chinese. They know their time is limited. As a result they will milk zimbabwe of any and every resourve and tie zimbabwe down through dubious contracts and agreements.
Macha, please don’t mention “sanctions” because that immediately destroys your credibility. There are no “sanctions” holding Zim back economically but Organised Crime blame all their failures on these mythical “sanctions”
The problem is Mugabe and Zanooo. Not only crooked and corrupt but beathtakingly stupid! That is why so many support the MDC – not that it has clear policies or even good leadership these days, but because it is NOT ZANOOO.
Zimbabweans number 1 enemy ISIS
Illusionary
Self
Inflicted
Sanctions
Hee hee u biscuit .this is so funny comrade!!!
Why nyika ino izere mbwende.