I belong to Zimbabwe and am inextricably
bound to this land. Regardless of the perceived or actual imperfections
Zimbabwe has, this will always and forever be my home. Like many other
Zimbabweans, I’m heavily invested in this country, and together with other
them, hold a stake in Zimbabwe and its destiny.
That being said, the Zimbabwe I
see is far from perfect. The problems the country is facing have well been
documented and there is little need if any at all to dwell on these. What has
become apparent however is that we are increasingly becoming a society that would
rather focus on the problems without necessarily discussing or offering
solutions to the myriad of challenges we face. What’s needed is definitive
leadership that would outline in broad strokes the path the country should take
in navigating its way out of the quagmire it presently finds itself in.
Many have lost faith in our
politicians and more generally the political system in its entirety. Just a
quick glance in any of the local dailies paints a rather sad story; political leaders
living in plenty, enriching themselves with impunity at the expense of the
masses they claim to serve. This just shows how these political elites have
lost connection with the generality of the people, and how bereft of genuine
leaders our country is. Faced with these realities, one cannot really blame the
people for their general apathy when it comes to our politics.
This however is unfortunate as
Zimbabwe is a republic which by definition is a state in which supreme power is
held by the people and their elected representatives. As such the obligation of
charting the course the country should take is incumbent upon the political
leaders who represent the people of their constituencies. When our politics fail therefore, the nation
fails. Hard as it may be to take in, this is the fact. A dearth in leadership
at the top will inevitably give way to a dysfunctional socio-economic system.
When a sitting Member of
Parliament makes unwarranted claims that the Zimbabwean dollar will be
re-introduced and in so doing disturbs the financial markets with such potentially
volatile pronouncements, one questions if the leader truly has the interests of
the people at heart. When people jostle for power in messy internal politics
instead of focusing on core issues affecting the well being of most
Zimbabweans, it beggars belief as to how those very same people can claim to
represent the people.
Name calling and hurling of
insults at each other hardly serves any meaningful process other than to divert
the people`s attention from the real issues that are affecting them. Yet it
seems this is what our politicians mostly excel at; shouting the loudest away
from the corridors of power. Yet in the House of Assembly where their voices
matter the most, they are found dozing off instead of participating in
constructive debate to shape the country`s prospects. Interesting too is how
easily politicians can major in the minors by focusing on issues such as
renaming institutions and monuments. While these may be noble undertakings,
they are really not bread and butter issues that warrant the time and resources
spent on them. The people need jobs, food on the table, access to better
healthcare; matters that have a direct bearing on the quality of their lives.
Deplorable as all this may be it
is discouraging that even beyond our borders; such malfeasance seems to be
prevalent. Recently in Zambia two deputy ministers were relieved of their
duties on the back of corruption charges against them. In South Africa the so
called ‘Nkandlagate’ where President Zuma is alleged to have used state funds
to renovate his rural homestead has been making the headlines. Perhaps a more
apt example is that of the late Democratic Republic of Congo President Mobutu
Sese Seko who established a highly authoritarian regime and singularly amassed a
vast personal fortune when his country was mired in massive currency devaluations,
inflation and general economic deterioration. That there has been no recipient of
the Mo Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership in the last three
years seems to underscore how generally we as Africans are lacking in good
governance and leadership.
Bringing the argument back home,
there is a dire need for those who hold the reins of power to reconnect with
the general populace and direct their efforts to protect and to serve. The political
elitism syndrome needs to be dealt away with as a matter of urgency. We are all created equal! Yes there are many
who did not ‘fight’ the liberation war, but that does not make them lesser
human beings than those who ‘fought’ the war. What all Zimbabweans want is a
functioning government based upon inclusive politics that truly have the people
at heart. Frankly, there is no place here for self serving politicians who are
only visible in their constituencies when elections are drawing near. The opposition`s
shadow cabinet has to be visible more than just on paper and be relevant by
offering alternative policies and strategies and thereby ensuring a vibrant democracy.
As long as our local leaders fail
to uphold the true duties of their public offices, the republic`s perfection
will be stalled. Zimbabwe cannot be held to ransom by a select few people who
further their own gains while the rest of the people rile under economic
hardship. The current politicians regardless of party affiliation need to touch
base with the true duty of service and realise that they are involved in
processes and institutions that are bigger than themselves. They need to
appreciate that the decisions they make have far reaching implications and as
such they hold the fate of many in their hands.
Zimbabwe is a beautiful land with
untold potential. However, so long as our politicians continue on their current
path this potential will never be realised. Of course, this does not hold true
for all our politicians, as without the need to mention names; there are some
who have served the people with distinction. It is commendable that this breed
of leaders exists and they are to be emulated.
Nations have risen and fallen as
a direct result of the quality of leadership and it is imperative for good
governance and leadership to reign in this land if this country is to develop. Furthermore,
the present brand of ‘winner takes all’ politics which in my opinion is at the
root of unnecessary political headwinds we have had to witness needs to be
revised going forwards.
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