via How much longer shall we wait for change? – The Zimbabwe Independent January 23, 2015
President Robert Mugabe arrived home yesterday from the Far East at the end of a lengthy holiday which has reportedly included medical treatment in Singapore.
This would not be remarkable were the president a reasonably robust and energetic ruler, but that is manifestly not the case.
At 90, Mugabe is struggling to maintain a level of health which would be a challenge for a younger man let alone one carrying out a busy schedule in his 90s. Next month will see him celebrate his 91st birthday. Is he up to all this with the demands on what would normally be expected of a much younger man?
The problem here is not that Mugabe is ailing, although that is not denied. It is that he continues to dominate the political scene with his foot so thoroughly wedged in the political door that there is no room for other participants.
In addition to a busy political schedule, Mugabe has presided over an impressive dairy farming operation which takes scant notice of Zanu PF’s restrictions on multiple farm ownership.
Put together there is a problem. The country needs firm and enlightened leadership. As it stands, the leadership comprises greedy and unenlightened leaders who squat across the nation on the farms they have taken possession of with damaging consequences for the agricultural economy.
Zimbabwe is today a country mired in poverty and ignorance because leaders make arbitrary decisions that are not of benefit to the country and encourage their followers to be equally delinquent so misgovernance is compounded.
A good example was the recent distribution of luxury vehicles to cabinet ministers, MPs and other luminaries. Conspicuous among the beneficiaries were intelligence officers who cannot be said not to know the extent of the problems the country faces.
A simple comparison with Botswana, Namibia and Mozambique would illustrate the quandary of neighbouring states that are better governed despite less experience and which can attract FDI without too much fuss. Nor are they subordinate to China’s worldwide ambitions.
For many Zimbabweans, the litmus test will probably be the ascent to power of First Lady Grace Mugabe. Brandishing her dubious PhD, her appointment raises questions of power management in a declining economy. If the intention was to enable the president to continue in office for a longer period then it will fail at the popularity hurdle. It is difficult to imagine anything more challenging than Grace’s candidacy for a ministerial post.
But it is the combination of circumstances that will in the end deal a possible knockout blow to the ambitious elite which does not hide its enthusiasm to submit us to its yoke. The record speaks for itself. Zimbabwe is suffering because it is badly governed.
How much longer will we just let it happen?
COMMENTS
We’ve been asking that question for decades. It will last so long as the people let it last.Until Zimbabwe can find a person who is incorruptible, brave, intelligent and with an agenda to serve the people’s best interests before all else, we will continue to be ruled by a spoilt, brutal, greedy elite and so we will continue to ask the question.
That’s a big part of the problem though,Zimbos are always waiting for someone brave who’ll stick his neck out so they can hide behind him .Tsvangirai and Madhuku have led from the front and got beaten to a pulp but no one else was willing to risk their skin for freedom
Indeed, there is no one to blame but those who feel short changed by the circumstances they actually created and natured up until now. The fact is,”greed is a paradise island of the disconnected elite whose want and desire to amass more than they morally deserve takes priority over all else”. It is up to those who feel oppressed to change their fate.
This article should ask the a simple question like-How long will it take to educate the electorates how to vote without using tribalism,racism, nepotism and patronage mentality?It is only through informed and logical voting that we can force real meaningful changes.It is hard to manipulate election results where there is overwhelming evidence of support NOT a simple margin of about 1-2% between the candidates.
The current system is very ideal for the lazy and corrupt to appear to be economically successful when in reality they are completely useless as evidenced by current purging of some members who are now begging for forgiveness.Why? This is because they have never done an hour’s hard work in their lives but they have looted to become what they are now.
Fortunately,these corrupt people have shortsightedness as a common disease for them because they never think that life does not guarantee them total success in their evil activities forever.They live in permanent fear of being exposed ,therefore they become slaves to their patronage system.
I don’t agree Zimbos are voting for Zanu rather its stealing elections. What’s needed is an opposition that’s united in dealing w rigging tho each party can maintain n retain its identity. All opposition parties must demand easy voter registration process, list and places of all polling station, verifiable information of where and be involved in e printing n distribution of ballot papers, have easy access to e-voters roll well in advance of e polling day etc. To counter political violence, every Zim who is 18yrs and above shd be deemed a registered voter in e presidential election and can vote anywhere so long s/he has an ID. This I believe will solve e prblnm we have of suspected opposition supporters being haunted from their constituencies and also deals w that of threatening voters shd e opposition wins in their constituencies
A good and complete Zimbabwean “Spring“ could help shorten the time.
Mugabe must go , Mugabe must go, Mugabe must go !!!!!!!!!!
he must go for sure
The government that he leads set compulsory retirement age for civil servants at 65 years for a reason. We are all mortal and there is no escaping that.His country is burning and his party is in total chaos begs us to think that all is not well with him and points to his growing inability to run the country at that age.Recently, many people died due to floods. These issues alone in other normal countries would demand the full attention of the head of state.With a government that is trying to look East, how could he liken Grace Mugabe to an atomic bomb, carelessly saying that as an acting head of State at the expense of losing the sympathy and support of a progressive country like Japan?