Zimbabwe tomorrow, the questions

Zimbabwe tomorrow, the questions

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By Tony Namate

ALMOST everyone, me included, is united on one thing: that we must see the back of Robert Mugabe at the earliest opportunity. That's a unity of purpose.

Even his diehard supporters know that the old man is going one day, whether naturally or due to old age, illness, or dignified exit (whatever that means). When the future finally arrives, will we still have this unity of purpose, or will it be every man for himself as we start the Scramble For Zimbabwe?

We tell each other we’re suffering; that is a unity of purpose. What we lack though, is a unity of action. And this unity of purpose seems one-sided. Those who yesterday came out in full force to donate to the tsunami victims of Asia have been silent when it comes to the victims of our own “tsunami”.

Of course, they’re bound to say the circumstances are different, that the situation is delicate, etc. But damn, they must be seen to be trying. Will we ever look out for each other like Americans do, where an entire nation won’t hesitate to send the marines to rescue a fellow American from enemy territory? Will we ever wake up each morning and feel proud to be Zimbabwean? Will our extended family unit ever come back? Or has our will to live simply evaporated?

But once the old man is gone, as he surely will, will we still have that unity of purpose? Or will we be too busy trying to rebuild our lives, enrich ourselves, hunting down our own Nazis and/or setting up tribunals? Do we even know what to do once the future has arrived, as it surely will? Will we enter a period of mourning, from which we will emerge stronger, or weaker? Do we even care? Will we prioritise the needs of orphans, the homeless, jobless, and hopeless? Will we see a new breed of superrich citizens who shut themselves off from the rest of us mere mortals, two nations in one country?

Will yesterday’s racism that was replaced by today’s Zanuism, be replaced by tomorrow’s classism? Will it be 1980 all over again where the new leader declares reconciliation but then proceeds to outdo his predecessor in brutality? Will we ever have a government, which genuinely uplifts its own people? Will the next government answer to the people? Will everyone have a free copy of the Constitution? Will Jonathan Moyo be part of the next government? Will we continue to be the most sanctioned country in Southern African history?

Do we have mechanisms in place to ensure that we never go through what we are going through? Is there a reconstruction programme? If so, are we united in our support of it? Do we have countries or international organizations on standby to support this programme?

What is the first sector that will be given priority? Tourism? Health? Education? Housing? Jobs? Land? Youths? Agriculture? Manufacturing? Chinese imports? The Constitution? The media? Police? Army? Judiciary? Is there a plan to harness the economic power of returning residents, or the entrepreneurial spirit of today’s youths?

Will the Future arrive so suddenly we won't know what to do with it? Will you be there when it does? Does it scare you? Will we see today’s die hard Zanu PF supporters becoming tomorrow’s diehard defenders of democracy, just as some diehard supporters of Zanu PF were once diehard Muzorewa supporters? Will the Zimbabwean tragedy ever come to an end? Can we learn from history? Can time ever heal the wounds of the past twenty-five years? Do we need to have a Truth and Healing Commission in place before, or after Mugabe is gone? Is there any hope?

Or will we be too busy trying to fill the vacuum by looking for an alterative bogeyman? So many questions to ask, so little time for answers. It’s a delicate, uncertain Future; so near, yet so far away.
Tony Namate is an award-winning Zimbabwean cartoonist whose works have appeared in The Daily News, The Independent and The Standard
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