The Zimbabwe we seek

The Zimbabwe we seek

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By Msekiwa Makwanya

THE highest destiny of the individual should be to serve rather than to rule (Albert Einstein).

Zimbabwe is now like a patient in the operation theatre where the matter of survival and recovery should now be left to the professionals and experts while politicians play a supportive role by creating an enabling environment. Political parties ought to be structured in a way that will make them ready to serve rather than make leaders too powerful.

Zimbabweans have seen influential ruling politicians laying their hands on many economically viable entities which yet they knew very little about prudent business management. This is how ZISCO Steel was brought to its knees under the inept leadership of the then Minister of Industry and commerce, Kumbarai Kangai. A story has it that, a mechanical engineer who was appointed to head the company had no idea of how to run the iron & steel company. It was pure trial and error as well as cronyism that went on to destroy many parastatals.

We have seen politicians being implicated in multiple farm ownership after the so called Third Chimurenga which has seen the land loosing its economic and utility value. The assumption has been that everyone can be a farmer or a business man or woman. The indigenisation agenda was used by some ruthless business vultures like the now born again Phillip Chiyangwa and company. The lot got involved in vulgar accumulation of wealth before they went into full time politics where their fingers got burnt. In Zimbabwe politics we have so many Souls on the road to Damascus but we have not enough conversions.

It is now time politicians are reminded about the principle of subsidiary, "....that government should undertake only those initiatives which exceed the capacity of individuals or private groups acting independently. The principle is based upon the autonomy and dignity of the human individual, and holds that all other forms of society, from the family to the state and the international order, should be in the service of the human person…” ( Catholic Social Teaching).

"There should be enough room for all who want to develop Zimbabwe, only if they are given the space and time to do what they know best in their respective fields"

MSEKIWA0 MAKWANYA

As a Catholic, it is fitting for me to remind President Mugabe who is also a Catholic that, “subsidiarity assumes that these human persons are by their nature social beings, and emphasizes the importance of small and intermediate-sized communities or institutions, like the family, the church, and voluntary associations, as mediating structures which empower individual action and link the individual to society as a whole."Positive subsidiarity", which is the ethical imperative for communal, institutional or governmental action to create the social conditions necessary to the full development of the individual, such as the right to work, decent housing, health care, etc., is another important aspect of the subsidiarity principle.”

One wonders why a country like Zimbabwe is facing an economic meltdown when it has enterprising and talented business people like Strive Masiiwa, Nigel Chanakira, Prof Arthur GO Mutambara, Erick Block, Isaac Takawira, Dr Nkosana Moyo, Chemist Siziba, Dr Simba Makoni and Dr Gono and many other experts in and outside Zimbabwe. There should be enough room for all who want to develop Zimbabwe only if they are given the space and time to do what they know best in their respective fields. This is partly how developed countries have gotten where they are at the moment, apart from colonising us of course.

Part of the money we are now borrowing from other countries like South Africa is actually being generated by people like Strive Masiyiwa and Nigel Chanakira and other hard working skilled and non-skilled Zimbabweans who migrated out of Zimbabwe. We need to learn more from other countries like South Africa and do the right things to attract our people back into the Zimbabwe.

Those who are afriad of losing sovereignty need to be advised that sovereignty is not undermined by learning and listening to our neighbours, it is actually enhanced. Neighbours do not want to live next to a burning house, it is dangerous for them. The more dangerous our leaders leave our country, the more we are likely to lose our sovereignty because our neighbours will not stand by and watch fire threatening to spread over.

Zimbabwe desperately needs people who are willing to serve more than they need power. It is now time for people with the knowledge and experience in the area they choose to lead and serve because the country now needs reconstruction and modification of development institutions. Even as the MDC set their on sights on power, the last cabinet reshuffle left many people wondering what lessons has the party learnt from Zanu PF. Let it be known that, power is like manure, if it is not spread out it is not good for the field. Too much government has never been good for any nation.
Msekiwa Makwanya is a social commentator based in England. Contact can be made through makwanya@yahoo.com
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