Diaspora must act to save our country

via Diaspora must act to save our country | The Zimbabwean 9 July 2014 by Vince Musewe

Unless we act now, Zanu (PF) will continue to embarrass us while destroying the future of our country as we watch and complain.

Although we continue to criticise and try to point out to Zanu (PF) the way forward, it is clear that whatever we say falls on deaf ears.

Economic and social conditions continue to deteriorate, with many Zimbabweans who could be gainfully employed wasting away their years without achieving anything meaningful. Young people just sit around with nothing much to do, complaining and hoping that things will change.

There is no urgency as far as Zanu (PF) is concerned. I am convinced that Zimbabwe will never develop into a modern and vibrant economy as long as they are in power.

There is a comprehensive economic blue print that was prepared during the GNU called the Medium Term Plan. I read this document last week and was very impressed – it is thorough and realistic about what can be done.

Zimbabwe is not short of ideas. It is short of good men and women who actually want to see this country develop. The politicians are not the people who will take our country forward and as long as we leave it to them, we will remain frustrated as we watch our country degenerate.

Last week President Mugabe said whites cannot own land. That is preposterous, unconstitutional and racist and we cannot afford as a country to have a President like that. Added to this have been comments by Local Government Minister Ignatius Chombo that it’s okay for the Harare City Council to spend millions on cars while Transport Minister Obert Mpofu wants to ban kombis, but has no viable alternative to keep the thousands employed and provide safe public transport. State enterprises have now been loaded with incompetents by various ministers. It is a comedy of errors.

Our challenge is that we have men with a village mentality who think governing by decree or banning of this and that is the way to manage the country. There is no doubt in my mind that they have absolutely no idea or appetite to be accountable to the masses, or even to change their management culture – because that is all they know.

On the other side the opposition parties continue to fight for positions and relevance; that is the nature of our politics which will not change unless we get involved.

Zimbabwe needs new political leaders who have good managerial and technical experience. Also important is international exposure to a different way of life, something which is sorely lacking amongst our current politicians. I have found it hugely frustrating to try and get people to think differently, to be more confident and to increase their self-esteem.

The quality of the new Zimbabwe we can create will be determined by what we have experienced elsewhere. This places the challenge of creating a new Zimbabwe on your shoulders, my brothers and sisters in the Diaspora. You can no longer afford to just watch and comment because there is a clear lack of depth in our leadership. We have everything we need to create a modern vibrant and successful economy, including the necessary blue prints on how to do it. All we are lacking are dedicated smart minds who are willing to take up the challenge to change our politics.

I compare these times to pre-independent Zimbabwe where thousands of people just stopped whatever they were doing in order to go to the bush; that is the spirit we need now.

We must now rise up and fight this evil system that Zanu (PF) has created, which will not change unless challenged by many. We cannot leave the fate of our beautiful country in the hands of Zanu (PF) or the MDC for that matter; they will not create the future we want.

I do not like political parties because they miss the point and people soon spend resources and energy on gaining positions and title. So for me establishing a political party is not an attractive proposition at all. Rather I want to suggest that we establish a leadership forum of independent minded and progressive Zimbabweans in the diaspora whose sole focus is to change how elections are run and then nominate good and competent Zimbabweans to run for all leadership positions, starting from the Presidency.

We must nominate the best people for the job – not because they belong to a political party or have done this or that. We must come together based on fundamental values of putting our country first, integrity and service.

We have an opportunity to be the change that we want to see. It might take some time but we have to start somewhere or Zanu (PF) will continue to embarrass us while destroying the future of our country. We cannot claim to be educated and informed and yet allow their nonsense to carry on.

Many of you have commented on my column that I have done enough analysis of the situation and now it’s time for solutions and action. I agree and therefore challenge all of you out there to now step up and be counted.

It is time to stop talking or complaining and act; if not you, who? And if not now, when? – Vince Musewe is an economist and author based in Harare. You may contact him on vtmusewe@gmail.com

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