A shopping list for a New Zimbabwe

A shopping list for a New Zimbabwe

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By Brighton Ncube

WE ARE seven months into year 2006 and the problems in Zimbabwe seem to be getting worse each day.

We are seeing the rise in inflation, unemployment rate, cost of basic goods and closure of manufacturing firms.

The people of Zimbabwe are getting weary of the situation and day after day are looking with faith and hope that one day a new dispensation will come -- a new era where basic necessities like food, shelter, fuel will be readily available. Where inflation will be single digit with an economy capable of creating jobs – a longing for those old good days.

Students leave in what we can describe as existential despair because they don’t know what will be their fate after graduating from college. One old lady was heard joking saying that her piece of land in the rural areas needs people with a bachelors degree to plough it because she had two of her unemployed University of Zimbabwe graduates helping her in the fields, tilling the land.

I remember last year I was working on a project with a Professor here in the USA and we needed part-timers to input certain data for our research project. I suggested to my Professor that I had students from the University of Zimbabwe who could help in that regard. I got in touch with a Professor from UZ to co-ordinate the students and start working on the project. We needed 50 students for the project and each student was going to get US$500.00 for working on this research for three weeks. The project did not take off because the computers at the UZ were said to be down.

Later we were told that students needed to book a one-hour slot to use the internet each day and after an hour give space to someone else. Under pressure to finish the project, I moved it to the Wits University in South Africa and it was completed in no time. It pained me to know that my countrymen could not benefit from this funding because the University lags in technology in this modern century. How are they producing quality students if researchers cannot access the internet at UZ? What are we doing to our bright minds?

The same UZ Professor later told me that in Zimbabwe e-mails and the internet were a luxury for few people. Such a situation cannot be left to continue forever. We need to rethink as Zimbabweans, unite and fight the rot that has befallen our country. Now it’s no longer time for talking and blaming each other but action.

I feel now is the time we need to engage and find a solution to these problems as Zimbabweans not to look for consultants. My definition of a consultant is someone who is engaged to think for you on a problem that you can practically solve for yourself. The problems in Zimbabwe are affecting both the MDC and Zanu PF members alike. This in itself calls for a collective action and the type of maturity that supercedes partisan politics.

During the previous elections in the United States, senator John Kerry said that Americans have a democratic choice to choose whoever they want to be their leader but after the elections we respect people’s choices and “wake up the following morning as Americans.” That’s the mentality in my view that needs to be instilled in Zimbabwe. We can differ in our political persuasions but we still wake up the following morning as Zimbabweans in need of a prosperous country. Let me suggest few ways which I think the leadership in Zimbabwe can consider in dealing with problems besetting the country. They are as follows:

* Dialogue – We cannot fight forever as a people. Our leaders need to humble themselves and share ideas on how to deal with the problems the country is facing. Magnanimity is a function of power hence l think Zanu PF should engage other stakeholders in this process and do this in good faith. In this respect one might suggest a forum to be formed that will have in its composition people from Zanu PF, MDC, Churches and civic society.

This forum will work diligently and get ideas on how to best work as a nation and as Zimbabweans forgetting for a moment our political affiliations. When people meet and talk its surprising the great strength they draw from each other and the steps they will take in achieving good results. Right now nothing is happening on the ground and we expect some manna from heaven or a miracle to happen to correct our problems. People need to humble their pride and talk to each other for the betterment of the country.

Gideon Gono cannot and will not be the messiah or savior for the country’s economy by himself. We just need a collective effort to move forward and that should be done as of yesterday. President Benjamin Mkapa cannot work a miracle for us. If we engage in talks as Zimbabweans we can then form a Commission that can then approach the international community for assistance or dialogue. Zimbabwe cannot be all that desperate for a negotiator given the great minds that are in the country. I think we need to start somewhere and then ask for other people’s involvement after having started something at least.

* International community – Zimbabwe does not exist as an Island. We need to engage other governments and get help from developed countries. This process does not demean us as a nation nor does it make us less of a people nor bring us back to colonialism. We live in a global village and we need to benefit from the fruits of this village. In this regard l would suggest that fighting the west or calling them names would not improve our political and economic crisis. China alone will not heal our land. We need to be friends with all people of the world and benefit from their prosperity and they in turn benefit from what we can offer as a nation. Zimbabwe is full of untapped resources which can be exploited and improve our economy.

* Corruption – Good ethics and morality is fundamental to development in a nation. There is need for the government to fight corruption from all angles and in all its forms. It has become a norm that people profiteer through unscrupulous means in Zimbabwe and still get away with it. There is no longer any conscience for doing illegal and evil things. We long for those leaders of high moral standard and integrity. Integrity in essence being doing the right thing even though one can get away with doing the wrong thing. We need to re-establish a Zimbabwean sensibility and have a people who have their nation at heart. I once heard a prominent businessman saying that he was getting too rich in Zimbabwe due to the current problems in the country. He said, “Regai zvinetsane Mugabe naTsvangirai isu tirikuguta tichiita mari vakomana.” (Let Mugabe and Tsvangirai be on each other’s throat whilst we feed and make money guys). Some are wishing that the current problems prevail for the next ten or more years so that they can make lots and lots of money through corrupt means. Surprisingly we have also been reading about corrupt law enforcement officials, which shows the depth of the rot.

* Respect – This is a hard one but we need to respect each other as human beings and more still as Zimbabweans. We have different talents that can be used for the betterment of the country only if we can respect each other as human beings. What have been the results of our bashing each other on the media, political rallies etc.? Nothing but just a display of political immaturity. We can scandalize and harangue others as much as we like but that won’t create jobs and decrease inflation. I think now is the time when we need people to put pen and paper together to give constructive ideas on nation building. Respect embraces among other things political tolerance and respect for ideas from other people even if one does not agree with those ideas.

* Opposition – All mature democracies have strong opposition. Opposition when viewed positively is good for development. It enables us to create checks and balances on each other. In Zimbabwe the term opposition has been interpreted to mean hatred, enmity and murder of those with a divergent view or political persuasion. People need to learn that opposition is healthy and good for them. The opposition needs to be strong, united and realistic. In future if Zanu PF is out of power, we will expect it to mount a strong opposition – just like that so that the incumbent government does not relax in office and lead us to trouble.

* Constitution – This point has been re-hashed many times. Zimbabwe just needs its own home grown new constitution that will reflect its democratic values. The first move for all major changes to occur would be for all stakeholders to agree on a new constitution for the country.

This is a step in constructive writing were we don’t major on minors by spending time attacking each other but rather putting our energies into good use. I hope we can engage in a mature cross-fertilization of ideas and start seriously addressing the country’s problems. There is need for a program of action that will get a buy-in from all stakeholders for nation building and healing. Failing to plan that program of action is planning to fail as a country.

I call upon the Council of churches, Morgan Tsvangirai, AGO Mutambara and President Mugabe to set up a delegation and start having meetings as soon as possible. Some of us in the Diaspora will be willing to give input and suggestions. I don’t think we will even fail to start the process.
Brighton Ncube writes from the United States. He can eb contacted at: bncube@msn.com
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