The Union of Great Zimbabwe

The Union of Great Zimbabweans. What a great idea when you take a glance at it, but when you stop to ponder the concept does it really stand up to the riggers of closer examination?

Great Zimbabweis forever ingrained in our memory as essentially the birth place of Zimbabwe. Our forefathers are intrinsically intertwined with this place be it as the mighty Matebele nation or the colonialists who visited Africa with the aim of colonisation on their agenda. It is the symbol of so much of our history and reminds us that Zimbabwe was once a monarchy too.

Today our borders encapsulate a diverse selection of tribes, people, nationalities and people. All walks of life thrive within a system that while disabled in many ways, is still a vibrant and colourful nation. The two largest tribes are the Shona and Matebele people. As a majority, the Shona currently rule the nation of the former Matebele kingdom, and British colonialist nation.

Zimbabwe in a sense is but a babe in arms as an Independent nation. Since April 1980 Robert Mugabe has clung to power at the helm of politics in Zimbabwe. It is for this very fact that we have seen the suppression of alternative political opposition on any front. From ZAPU to ZIMRA to ZUM, they have all faded into the woodwork, disappeared or been swallowed up. Even the MDC is in a power sharing agreement that is more of a farce than a happy hour in a brewery than a real progressive political coalition.

So it has been left primarily to Zimbabweans living in the diaspora to become adventurous and seek to step into the void of the political drought that faces the Zimbabwean people, the latest of which appears to be the Union of Great Zimbabweans.

Now initially when I first glanced at the name of the party, I mistakenly assumed that it was purhapse the launch of some form of historical information that charted the rise of people of influence within the young Zimbabwean Nation. People like the late Joshua Nkomo or Herbet Chitepo. Many names could be listed here as great or influential Zimbabweans and it was in this guise that I sort to see who had been listed.

To my amazement I was to discover that this was infact the launch of a new political party seeking to challenge the existing power base in Zimbabwe’s national elections.

A very noble idea indeed, if it could be pulled off, and there are strong elements of their ethos that I agree with, yet some things that I’ve read that I do not understand, and would seek to debate if I were to seriously consider supporting this virgin Union in a national election.

While young and seeking to establish credibility, there is a lot of ground that the party needs to cover to show that it is serious about its aims and objectives, and capable of rising to the challenge of running a country should it ever come to pass that they succeed in their quest to run for parliament.

My first question would be who is who and who are the figure heads running the show? Who would we be looking to vote for? What are their credentials and what leads them to think that we would vote for them? It is a key factor in any party that its leadership is strong, credible and popular. As yet there is no indication from the Unionas to who plans to run for office in which capacity and who the team supporting this individual are. Such a statement would go a long way in putting the party firmly on the map as a viable alternative to ZANU PF or MDC.

It is also vital for the Union to have established links within its structure with the core elements of the Zimbabwean infrastructure. Representation within its ranks of the police, army, workers unions, farmers unions, charitable organisations as well as key supporters within the world of the celebrity will bulk up its appearance and reputation. It is critical to show as mature and logical approach to governance and law, and having key people in place who are already recognised within these areas, and established reputations shows theUnion’s power to bring Great Zimbabweans to the table.

As with any party of course is the every present question of the parties manifesto. While there is a good indication of what the Union seeks to stand for, there is little information about its covenant on how it will govern should it be elected to power. A strong, well worded and frank manifesto is paramount if The Union of Great Zimbabweans aims to get anywhere. Ultimately I would say that most Zimbabweans are sick and tired of big promises, broken promises, and promises in general. We are not looking to have our loyalty bought, we do not seek to be mislead with wild suggestions of riches and glory should we choose to vote, we just want logical, honest, simple words that show the Unions intention to address the fundamental issues that affect each of us on a day to day basis. Things like job creation and security, health services, education, the economy, international relations, wealth creation, immigration and tourism, internal security and law, the constitution and justice system, and all those little factors that may sway us as the general public in the Union’s direction.

Everyone is well aware of the devastation of the nation of Zimbabwe, and I do love the slogan that the Union of Great Zimbabwean’s uses when it says that the struggle for freedom was not against white injustice but against injustice period. While I totally accept that colonialism was wrong and the system by which the United Kingdom gained ownership of almost half the world was in many ways cruel, harmful and completely biased, I do strongly believe that the world has moved on, become more aware of each other, the effects of our actions on others and how we can learn to live together. I believe that this is one of the biggest issues that Zimbabwe needs to face as a nation. We all need to admit that the past is not our present, and today’s generations need to learn to live together to prosper. Carrying the hatred of transgressions from yesterday is not only destructive, it is against the biblical principle of forgiveness and it is in the long term counter productive.

One of the hardest hurdles for this colourful Union to cross is going to be creating its vision of a united Zimbabwe. Not only are their racial tensions that have been bred into the very fabric of Zimbabwe’s population, but there are even deeper rooted tribal issues that seek to be addressed and rectified. This is one area of concern that I will watch with keen interest as the party develops its agenda. I honestly believe that the true nature of the party will lie in its ability to address these two tightly coiled snakes. The triumph will be when The Union of Great Zimbabweans becomes the snake charmer and learns to keep the serpents firmly under their control.

Human injustice has been a massive problem in the young Zimbabwean nation, and its ability to confront this issue will also be an important test in establishing the credibility of the Union. So many people have fallen foul of the current regime and will be looking to any opposition to bring some form of justice to bear on the people who have robbed them of loved ones, land, livelihood and their future. Justice for these people is a can of worms that needs to be handles with sensitivity and strength for fear of reprisals or a weak stance on which road the party will take should it come to power will be a big influencing factor in how it is perceived by large sectors of the population.

I was a little mystified by theUnion’s idea of Federalisation of the Zimbabwean nation. This is a huge step and would need a complete reworking of the Zimbabwean constitution, the whole way that we do things, and a carefully planned program of how to roll out the changes. In my mind this concept is very westernised, and not necessarily the best plan of action for Zimbabwe. Yes it is a great concept in the greater scheme of things, as people accept a covenant of agreement in not only how to live within the law but with consideration for the best interests of each other and the nation. The devil in this case is in the detail, and the reality of how this concept would be put into action. It is a totally different concept of governance in an African environment and may be perceived as Western influences within the Party which long term may only thwart the efforts of what essentially is otherwise a very admirable Union of people.

At the very heart of their argument for a Federation is the idea that individual constituencies should be allowed to prosper from the resources and wealth within that community. The difficulty with this concept is the diverse differences of each area, and the wealth within these areas. Take for example the dyke system. This is a rich area of mineral wealth, rich farming lands, an area that enjoys good climate and substantial rainfall. In contrast vast tracts of the Matebeleland province are arid, lacking in efficient water provision and poor in mineral wealth. As it stands the nation of Zimbabwe runs on a unitary principal, and while purhapse this was introduced in colonial times as a method of divide and rule, my argument focuses in what I said earlier when I talked about learning to bring people together in unity and bridge the gap caused by both the colonial and subsequent ZANU PF rule. The idea of divide and conquer needs to be replaced with a nurturing spirit of togetherness and unity.

Zimbabweans are beautiful people. We are a fine example for the African nation of how society can survive under extreme conditions, be happy, robust, resourceful and resilient. Our nation in my somewhat biased opinion is one of the finest on the African continent. The beauty of our country reverberates in ones memory bringing to mind brilliant images of nature at its very finest. The wealth of our nation is easily able to sustain its people and create sustainable prosperity for all. There is more than enough when well managed and carefully maintained to keep the majority of the population in gainful employment, a roof over the heads of all, and more food than we need.

There are a multitude of reasons for our people to feel proud. Patriotism and pride in ones nation is at the very core of identity and Zimbabwean people should take pride in their ability to survive with a smile on their face, even in the face of criminal injustices and the worst adversity in living history. Our people are peaceful and sociable in this I fully agree with The Union of Great Zimbabweans. Our social infrastructure is unique, wonderful and amazing to learn about. It will be the ability to use these strengths to its advantage that will set this new party aside from our choices in the past. Through the use of creative and new ideas, this party has the chance to open the door to a beautiful future for our people. This responsibility lies heavy in the hands of those who are moulding and laying the building blocks of what could potentially be the most exciting development in Zimbabwean politics in the last 30 years.

Freedom is Coming Tomorrow

For many years people couldn’t believe that social structures like Slavery, The Berlin Wall, The Iron Curtain, Apartheid and many other political theologies could fall apart and complete regime change could be lead from within. Yet history has shown us that establishments of power do not last forever, and every regime has a season during which it enjoys power, and a season during which the people living under its power rebel and rise up against the dictatorships that reign omnipotent over its people.

Rebellions, often called illegal are formed by common people, community leaders, people who are able to excite people through their words, calls for freedom, people that show a clear understanding of the path we follow to freedom. These are mighty people of the people, heroes of the uprising, and leaders of our future political establishment. They are people that call for change, are persecuted for their beliefs, actively protest from the roof tops, from behind the bars, from where ever they are able to inspire people.

The problem for regimes today is the power of social media and the ability for people to communicate through channels with relative ease in comparison with uprisings of yester-year. Society is now far more tech savvy and armed with the capability to read choice blogs, participate in online forums, and gain access to online organisations that give modern leadership a powerful ability to coordinate and spread their message of unified uprising in protest of dictatorships unlike ever before.

As a child I was moved by a film shot in South Africa called Sarafina. A story about a young girl who’s passion and belief inspired a youth movement in South Africa during the rule of the racist regime that dominated the mass of African people, and prevented them from having a voice, representation or any form of access to democracy. In mass protest, the school youth of the townships began mass demonstrations against the regime, chanting the words, “Freedom is coming tomorrow!” The rebellion met with swift and decisive action by the political establishment, but it was too late. The call had gone out, the world had awoken to the brutality of a distasteful regime, and favour began to swing in favour of the masses. Ultimately regime change was born as the power of the people came together in one voice.

The same can be said for the fall of the Berlin Wall, when Germans of all races, creeds and persuasions realised that a world could be changed by simple determination of a people to stand up against a regime and say NO. There were isolated instances of wall guards trying to protect their patch of the wall, but overwhelmingly it was common place for even the guards to join the people and smash down the division that caused families to be split by politics, friendships to be torn apart by the evilness of the establishment, and people to live in fear instead of happiness and prosperity.

This trend is common place throughout history. It surprises me that leaders and politicians haven’t learnt that when it comes to oppressing a people, you can only last for a certain length of time before the people become sick and tired of living under your oppressive institutions. We’ve watched it happen extensively through Eastern Europe, South America and are now seeing it happen with frequent and alarming consequences in the Arab states that for years have always tended to live under the dominance of one man.

From the uprising in Iran a few years ago protesting against the illegitimate re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, to the complete removal of Hosni Mubarak in Egypt recently, to the current uprising in Lybia, we have really come to understand the power of people and where the real power lies. Yes a regime may protect itself momentarily against an uprising by retaliating against the leadership of the uprising, or in isolated pockets where the people begin gathering, but it is common place for soldiers to quickly loose taste for shooting unarmed, peaceful demonstrators. It is only when demonstrations fall into violence, lead to disruption of law and order and become excuses for looting and theft that regimes can legitimately use force to control the masses, sighting the loss of property as an excuse for the use of force. But largely peaceful demonstrations en-mass are a signal in the loudest words possible to the regime in power that your days are numbered.

I keep writing about this movement of people power, as for the first time in my life since I realised that I am Zimbabwean as much as any other person born in Zimbabwe, be he black, white or of any other race, that I see a future hope for my nation. Though I choose to live abroad and do not physically participate in the politics of the land, I do consider myself a son of the soil. I never fought a Chimurenga nor did I participate in the struggle to bring Independence to our country, I was but a boy at the time, and Zimbabwe is not a nation of child soldiers like some African Countries. Zimbabweans are peaceful, educated, resourceful people, and for the first time we are faced with the potential of regime change, not through a war, but through people power.

I am excited because something I have been talking about for a number of years now is coming to pass. This is a remarkable time in history for our world. Nations are grabbing onto the opportunity of bringing real change to their nation through the removal of the established houses of power, and taking charge of their own destinies. I truly hope that Zimbabweans gather together for once in their lives, put past discretions aside, forget petty issues, drop the stupid jealousy, and meet each other as equals on the street, participants of the destruction of an institution of hypocrisy, and bring down the regime of Robert Gabrial Mugabe and his illegitimate cronies.

As a member of One Million Zimbabwean Voices, I honestly believe with all my heart that the nation of Zimbabwe deserves a chance to be great again. We are one of the most powerful, richest and prominent nations in Africa, and have been brought to our knees by greed and corruption on a grand scale. It is criminal that the world has stood by and watched a nation become a failure in such a way, but this is the way of the world, and at last people are beginning to see that our reality is that if we don’t do it ourselves, these illegitimate institutions will continue to prosper and get fat while its people suffer and starve.

I believe that the only way we will bring about this change though is by joining together, irregardless of colour or creed, and demonstrate our way to regime change, just as in Egypt, just as in Lybia. IF these people can do it then so can we. I do not wish to see Zimbabwe as a colonialist state as Robert Mugabe would have you believe. I do not have a hidden agenda in calling for people to rise up against what I consider an evil dictatorship. I only have the best interests of my nation at heart. We all deserve the right to feel free in our land. We all deserve the right to be prosperous in our nation. Each of us should be entitled to make wealth and employ people, start businesses, own homes, farms, and land and bring prosperity to our land, wealth to our people, and stability and leadership to our region. This must be achieved together, in union, with one purpose, one voice, and one call. “Freedom is coming to Zimbabwe.”

A Very Egyptian Lesson

The Egyptian people have proved a point that I have been trying to make for a while now. It has been proved time after time down through history that true power lies in the hands of the people, and when the people mobilise in mass, in peaceful and co-ordinated protest against something there is only so long that any organisation, establishment, regime or government can stand up to the protest of the people.

Royalty have been stripped of their throne, military leaders deposed, countries leaders over thrown, and world opinion changed through the continued pressure of people power. Slavery was abolished through a sustained and continued campaign of protest that eventually broke the will of the established social framework, and lead over time to a public outcry against the treatment of the people.

In China the people rose up against the government, and when the world saw the results of the retaliation of the Chinese army, massive protests forced a change in the stance of a strictly communistic government. Not everyone will agree with me when I say Tiananmen Square brought about a massive change for the Chinese people, but you just have to look at the Chinese lifestyle today to recognise that capitalism is alive and well in the Chinese nation.

History is littered with stories from small scale protests to nations that have made massive institutional change through the results of people taking to the streets and bringing down the walls around the heads of many people that thought true power was alive and present only in their hands.

For the most part, fear is what leads to people live under dictation of a strong leader. It’s somewhat crazy to think that people would live in such conditions, say for example as the Jews during the Holocaust in World War 2. Granted circumstances were slightly different in this case as the Jews faced a massive armed force that were brain washed and hell bent on creating a perfect race and ridding the world of anything that they didn’t deem fitted the perfection mould. And it is behind these walls of brutal force that dictators and power mongers hide.

In simplistic terms they are nothing more than bullies who have gained access to powerful positions and now fear loosing that privileged perch on top of that mound. The uncanny thing is that it is the exact same fear that grips these people at the top as experienced by the people at the bottom. Ask the victims of a brutal regime what they were most fearful of and they will tell you that they feared being made to suffer at the hands of the enforcers of the regime.

On the other side of the coin, ask any drugs baron, war monger, dictator or villain what it is that they fear most, and your answer will be suffering at the hands of the people that they bully. It is this fear of our own brutality that makes mankind afraid of each other. We are too keenly aware of the nasty side of powerful dictatorships, thugs on the street, bullies in the school yard, and so in many ways we are almost conditioned to fear those that step out from the shadows and take up lives of crime or sit themselves in a seat of power.

Let’s be brutally honest here. The truth is that power lies in our hands, IF, we are able to overcome our fears. From simple things like boycotting a national provider, to full scale national protests, when the will of the people comes out in force, those in power either paid head and make changes or risk their position of power. If the protest happens to be calling for someone to be removed, and the people are committed to change, no matter what you throw at them, especially in today’s media savvy society, you can almost guarantee that after a length of time heads will roll or changes will be made.

I mean let’s think about it. We all complain about the cost of petrol in the UK. Well I’m sorry but to a large extent that is our own fault. Look at what happened when the fuel blockade of 2000. The country was brought to a stand still yes, but the government were forced to bring the price of fuel duty down. Last year we were told that oil companies were being squeezed by the costs of exploration for new reserves and the added costs associated with extraction today. However they still announced record profits left right and centre. Want prices to change? Ok let’s think logically. Let’s take Shell Oil who made £6 billion in profit in 2009. That means that BP fuel forecourts took an average of £16 million a day in fuel. Yes, yes I get that they make money in other areas, and ways, but let’s just assume that they even made £10 million a day on the fuel forecourt, then its simple people power that’ll change the price at the pump.

If every single person in the UK agreed to boycott the BP fuel courts, I’d give them one week before they drastically dropped the price of their fuel. I can also ensure you that if we stood strong and boycotted another week or two or even three, to send them a message that if the price goes back up again then we’ll hurt them again, I’m convinced that a company the size of BP would have to bow to people power.

Another thing to think about. Apparently the people of Britain now own Lloyds TSB, and possibly a few others. After all it was our billions of pounds they gratefully accepted when the government were waving our money around in rescue packages. Well as a tax payer, that’d mean I’m a shareholder of that organisation now. When was I consulted about banker’s bonuses? Can I be so rude as to ask when were you consulted? No. You weren’t consulted? Well I think that is criminal. I’m struggling to survive and what do I get when I ask the government for help is a massive two fingers and the directions to Samaritans. Yet the people that bankrupted an Institution as mighty as The Lloyds TSB still continue to get massive bonuses? Where is the fairness?

However, let’s think about it. How do we send the banks a message? Simple. Millions of us bank at Lloyds TSB. Let’s stage a run on the bank. If every Lloyds TSB customer entered the bank and demanded to withdraw their money, the bank would quickly run out of money. It’d only need 100,000 of us to cause the bank to fall to its knee’s once more. Then we give a warning to the bank to act responsibly and fairly with our money and I’m certain that we’d find that we’d have a banking sector that’d be a little more aware that infact the power actually lies in the hands of their customers. It’d be in their interest to work for us, in our best interest, and to give the best deal to those that work hard for the bank, while also ensuring that the customers are looked after.

Want to send David Cameron a message as a student or angry Brit? The message is simple. Gather in numbers. Stand your ground. Don’t go home when the rain comes down. Don’t go home when the night draws in. Don’t get violent. Don’t get disheartened when the police arrive. Remain peaceful, positive and steadfast. This is your protest. It can last as long as you like, it can be as large as you like, and it can demand change or continue until you get it. This is the formula to winning a battle against a bully in power. Don’t get ridden over, neglected, talked down at, forgotten or given a raw deal. As British people you are lucky to enjoy the freedom of speech. Use it.

As a Zimbabwean, I truly believe that the answer for Zimbabwe lies in people power. Yes some of us would die for the cause, because the police and army will get called out to break up the demonstration, but if the people return on and stand their ground it’d be moments before the press got hold of the news, and Zimbabwe and its answer to the protests would be headline news around the world. The powers that be will only stand by and watch innocent people being slaughtered for so long before making decisive moves to either apply pressure to assert change, or intervene and institute change. The voice of the people is more powerful than any sword, bullet or bully. People like Robert Mugabe should fear the lesson the world has recently learnt from the Egyptian People.

I have massive respect for the way in which the young people of Egypt took to the street, risked life and limb to see change come to their land. A people that have throughout history been under the cosh of some pharaoh or leader, its remarkable to think that for the first time the peoples voice has been louder than that of their leaders, and all this without violence, decadence or loss of dignity by coming down to the level of the bully. Respect from the people of the world is due and personally from where I am sitting it is given without measure.

Africa my Precious Africa

Africa, my Precious Africa
Made of dust and sand, ripples on the waters body.
Cast of gold and diamonds, ruby’s and pearls.
Bought of blood and sweat, made of toil and war.
Africa, my Precious Africa
Your tears of heartache show the scars you mourn.

Africa, my Precious Africa
Men and woman, some fathers others mothers .
Born to poverty, Sons of the soil.
Rich in our culture, pure in your soul.
Africa, my Precious Africa
Shout your name from now till forever more.

My Precious Africa, Oh Africa
When dust storms come, the lightning strikes.
Wild and untamed, natural and unexplored.
The savannah gives way to the rocky kopje.
The land of My Precious Africa.
The roots of my home my shores.

Africa, our Precious Africa
Forget not your people, let none be forgotten.
Through words our nations have changed.
By bullet and by violence our creed formed.
Africa, our Precious Africa
Give all your people that hope of joy.

Oh Africa, yes Africa
Free and forgotten, Fraught with despair.
Your heart bleeds for the unburied child.
Your cry heard for the woman scorned.
Oh Africa, yes Africa
This is your life, your words, your story.

Our Africa, yes This Africa
Proud, Alive, Productive, Creative.
Spare not your pity upon me.
Cast not your sorrow in words.
Our Africa, Yes This Africa
Is arising, standing, forming, uniting.

For one day every African shall stand
Shoulder to Shoulder, Man to Man.
For not yet is our time, not yet at this time.
But the day shall come when all agree
Mighty Africa,
THIS IS AFRICA

Written by R Strobel – 10/11/2009

A Zimbabwean Celebrity – yet you’d never know it meeting him!

Have you ever sat in the presence of a great man and felt totally at ease? Ever spoken to a person that has travelled the world and felt as though you are talking with a friend? I wonder if you’ve come across a celebrity and though felt totally humbled to be next to this person, been treated as a complete equal while with him? No? Allow me to tell you of my experience of meeting such a person.

Personally I have met a number of famous people through my life. On the whole most of them have been full of their own importance, eager for you to hear of their exploits and haughty of their own success. On occasion I have met people that I consider to be more of a celebrity than perhaps others, and this could be the way such people are viewed by the international scale of A list sliding downwards, but potentially also because celebrities are different all over the world for cultures, creeds and traditions.

So the person of whom I speak, many would not give a moments second consideration for, but on the other hand where I come from the man in a pillar of society, a respected icon, and I discovered a man of warmth, passion and human intellect. I use these three words with special cause as I shall explain in a moment as I equate why I would set this celebrity aside from any of the others that I have met in my time. Some of you may agree with me, others might smack their lips and wonder what I have been drinking, but my reasons for these thoughts are genuine and heartfelt.

So let me introduce this man of which I speak so highly. While attending a function over the weekend I had the chance to sit and listen to the poetry of a man much covered in the media over the years. As I sat here wondering what I could say about a man that has accolades from any number of press agencies around the world, a man who’s won the heart of a nation and become a true representative to the Zimbabwean people, I felt there was nothing I could tell you that you have not already read in some write up here or there. But I was struck by something fundamentally different about this man. Despite who he was, regardless of his success and no matter with how much regard the world hold him in their eye, he is first and foremost a man, a father, a friend and a human.

Albert Nyathi speaks with an undeniable passion when he reads his poetry. To be totally honest I didn’t even know the man did poetry, I’d only heard mention of his name as a singer who has performed at many Zimbabwean functions, but I have since discovered that the man is a national asset for his work in the arts, both written, acted and performed. As I listened to the man give a number of renditions of his word, I was bemused at his over tones and theatrical presentation of his work, and was clearly watching a man who not only loved to perform through his words, but also thrived on the feeling that his words meant something to those sitting around him listening. Even when he was speeding through poems of the native Ndebele tongue, I was struck by a sense of involvement though I knew well I was unsure of what the words meant. As he explained each piece he had written, he took us down a path of adventure, even though we were sitting in a hall hired in the middle of Birmingham, I might as well have been walking a dusty path in rural Gwanda as I listened to him. I smiled, frowned, laughed, cringed, became involved and felt his words evoke emotions within me, especially when he recited his poem My Daughter. The man has a powerful presence in the room, and has mastered his trade well, but these are words you already know. These are things that have been written by every journalist who’s ever written a review on his performance.

So what is it then that made this man so special to me? It was meeting him in person after the performance. The Albert Nyathi that I sat and spoke with was a proud man who loves to tell a story, but is a humble man who has a warmth about him that makes you feel comfortable right there and then sitting chatting with him. I might as well have known the man all my life. He welcomed my questions and responded with truth, discussing his opinion freely and being the type of person that you’d expect to go out with on a Friday night, spend a quality night out with and go home having thoroughly enjoyed yourself in his company. He has a way of being completely attentive to everyone around him without really ignoring you and when he does communicate with you its genuine and real communication, not a prepared mish mash of words to make you feel you are in the presence of a great man.

So when I chose to describe Albert Nyathi as a man of warmth, passion and human intellect, I chose them because in my experience Albert Nyathi shows off everything that is good about Zimbabwe. He shows off a passionate side to his Africanism, that makes you admire where he has got to, the achievements he has made, and the pride he has brought to our nation, without losing any of his charm and humble nature as a Zimbabwean gentleman. He has a warmth that every true Zimbabwean displays and that I have written about before in previous posts on this blog, a nature that makes you feel welcome and cherished in a genuine way while you’re in his presence. And more importantly to me than anything else I could say about the man is that Albert Nyathi remains very much in touch with his place in society and through his intellect and humanism he inspires, touches and builds those around him up. When you leave having met this man, you have a warm glow of satisfaction, a positive feeling of respect for all that is good in this world, and it is his ability to touch your heart in this manner that leaves you satisfied at having spent time with a truly great man.

Zimbabwe is a great nation, and has produced a number of successful exports to the world of celebrity that we know so well, but I take a lot of comfort from the fact that in meeting Albert Nyathi, my pre-conceived notion that he would be like any other celebrity who has reached such high accolades throughout the world was shattered and I stand corrected that even through international success and recognition, Mr Nyathi is still a normal Zimbabwean in every way.

African Potential in Social Media

I have written a number of times about how Zimbabwean’s should unite and focus on a targeted theme of revival within our country through a unified call for change. I have been very much encouraged by the private mail I have received from many corners and people who would prefer not to be as outspoken on the issue of regime change in Zimbabwe, but I am furthermore encouraged to see how other African nations are using the power of social media networks to unite the people in Diaspora to bring about change within their own government.

I genuinely believe that a responsible approach to the demand for change in Zimbabwe is needed, and it will only come from those of us who are in Diaspora to engage, co-ordinate and drive forward an agenda of change. Engaging with each other and talking on the same wave length can only bring about a general consensus that will pave the way for a charismatic leadership to take shape and promote our cause.

I recently became aware of group of Nigerians advocating for their government to provide more reliable power infrastructure. Their movement aims to highlight the problems caused to Nigerian people by the lack of a constant power supply in Nigeria and raise awareness of the situation globally. An unreliable power supply cripples industries and hinders advancements in health care and industrial growth they claim on their website.

This group have had a magnificent impact globally, and while their campaign may not be political, their tactics have brought international recognition to their plight and has people talking about their movement and situation all over the world. Through international attention, their situation has gone global and the international media are gearing up for a peaceful protest in October in Lagos, Nigeria. At this time the Nigerian government will fall under the spotlight as the international media comes to town to see how the government tackle the issue of their people demonstrating for change.

Ok fair enough, the impact of their efforts is uncertain granted, but I find it very exciting that a nation have proved my point, that through a combined effort, a unified approach, using the opportunities before us, and the tools we have such as social media, petitions, worldwide demonstration and public pressure, the attention is brought to town, and while change has not yet happened, I am optimistic that change will eventually come to Nigeria as their government realise that they have an entire world calling for them to deliver.

“Africa’s future is up to Africans,” President Obama told us when he visited Ghana on July 11. It is true that so many of us have come to this conclusion and I cannot stress enough how important it is for us to realise this sooner rather than later. The time of waiting for America and the world to sort our problems out has past. International politics are changing in ways that will mean foreign governments are more engaged with matters at home than engaging in international rescue operations.

“You have the power to hold your leaders accountable, and to build institutions that serve the people,” Obama said. Ok, those are strong words, and maybe what he is talking about is that we as a nation need to start talking with one voice and demanding better from our leaders. Perhaps if we as Zimbabweans are willing to unite and call for Mugabe to go, we will gain international support. Maybe what the new order are looking for is for us to take the initiative and paving the way for change to happen.

In whatever way Mugabe leaves, I don’t think that we really care anymore if he is brought to justice for his crimes. I guess there are those who are hurting enough to want to see him pay for his crimes against humanity, and maybe those that believe he should repay what he stole, give back what is not his and be stripped of what he has, but if this is our ultimate goal, how can we expect the man to willingly submit? To be fair I would tend to believe that most of us would just be happy for him to step aside and live out his days in whatever manner he chooses, as long as he does not interfere in politics in anyway shape or form. I do believe that there are people within the Zanu PF regime that very much fear prosecution and put pressure on Mugabe to remain in power to hide behind his frills in a manner of speaking. Truth be told, I do not believe that holding anyone to blame for the mal-governance of our nation is only going to prolong the ransom that Zanu PF holds over our nation.

It is for this reason that I say we need a responsible and reasonable call for change to take place. An unreasonable call for change is only going to prolong the course of change until such time as those who are suitable well fearful for their future are no longer in the picture. However a realistic route to repatriation through a process of reconciliation where people are mature enough to see beyond the past and look towards the economic stability and national security of the country is a course of change that becomes feasible.

The Internet is a powerful tool in empowering people. International and world opinion changes by what they see in the media, but more and more blogs, social media and interaction between people from all walks of life mean that we are more and more able to understand and engage with each other. This blog has opened a door to a whole world of people who may or may not agree with what I say, but who are willing to discuss my opinion and engage in meaningful dialogue. From Iran to China I have spoken with people who read and follow what I have to say. It is the power of this medium that Africa needs to use to its full potential.

Good governance begins with me. A statement that I resoundingly echo as I read it. By making the first step in the direction of engaging with others, by taking an interest in the thoughts and feelings of those around us, we are able to engage in a change. Good governance is the new key words in the cyber world of politics, as so many people analyse the leadership and expectations of their government. Engaging with the grass-roots is the key to becoming powerful and is what most analysts have credited the Obama campaigns success to. His support of online tools to engage with middle America is what gained him huge popularity. The youth of today live through social media. I have watched as two children sitting right next to each other would rather text each other than engage in conversation. The reason is simple. It is easier to say in words the things you are too shy to say in person.

Capture the power of this medium and you can start a whirl wind. And this is where our potential power lies. I firmly believe that Zimbabweans can achieve their greatest goals, and that we will overcome. Rome was not built in a day, and people engage through a dialogue that takes weeks if not years before real substance is gained. Focusing our attention at this early stage in the right direction is our ultimate goal. We will gain recognition, engage with other people and build credibility for our cause. In this way we can only gain support and this ultimately will bring us to our goal. Like every Zimbabwean I know, we want a prosperous, viable, free and fair Zimbabwe to call home once more.

Zimbabwe and 2010!!! How ready are we???

As 2010 looms, it is time for the Zimbabwean people to unite and become focused on one goal. The united call for the removal of Robert Mugabe and the Zanu PF one party state system of Government in Zimbabwe. Our call for free and fair elections, democracy and freedom of speech has never before been more needed by our nation, and never before have the Zimbabwean people been in such a powerful position to make this call felt all around the world.

I hear you all laughing out loud and muttering under your breath, but allow me a moment of your time, and humour me and read on. I write as I do today having looked back through history at many popular struggles throughout the world. In many ways, it is not uncommon for people who are ruled over with a hard line mantra to eventually buck the trend and begin to demand change. This happened with the African American Movement in the US, the Chinese Freedom Movement in China, the freedom movement in India, the Tibetan Independence movement and so many more that I could write a book just naming them.

The one common trend that sticks out clearly in each of these cases is firstly the fact that the uprising while fraught with difficulties and hardships, were mostly peaceful and calm on the part of the protesters. The governments at the time are the ones that over reacted with the use of force in most cases and through this action brought about a change in opinion worldwide. Secondly each of these movements had strong leadership and stuck to the cause, even when the leadership that they once so diligently followed was gone. Thirdly is that no matter how long the struggle, change was inevitable and when public opinion falls on the side of the oppressed it is inevitable that change will happen.

Let’s take for example the case of Martin Luther King. An obvious parallel for our current situation some might say, but I tend to disagree. Yes it is a large chunk of the population of Zimbabweans around the world that want Mugabe out. Yes it is a call from a people oppressed and cruelly prevented from prospering and being given the freedom of choice and the rights that all humans should enjoy by way of our acceptance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Yes it is a call from a marginalised group of people who have had much taken from them with little thought to the process by which this has happened and with no thought to the long term detrimental effects on the economy. As was the case with Martin Luther King, any form of protest against the Mugabe regime so far has met with swift and decisive action on behalf of the power he commands over the military and police, let alone his terror squads. Yet there are differences in the struggle. The Zimbabwean situation is a struggle against a corrupt and desperate junta that cling to power to prevent being held accountable for their failure and abuse of power. Generally people are resistant to change because they have a fear of change. This cannot be the case in Zimbabwe, and the fear is of another kind. Furthermore, and more importantly however what is lacking in the Zimbabwean stuation is our Martin Luther King. Strong leadership with a voice of reason and passion has yet to call out to the people of Zimbabwe.

Martin Luther King was the leader of the African American civil rights movement, a clergyman, a respected speaker, a passionate man, and a dedicated leader. He excited in people a sense of moral justice and a yearning to be a part of the movement of change. Even in his death, he deplored the use of violence, and brought about a change in the law and outlook of American people through careful use of pressure at the right moments in the right places and never with the use of violence against the establishment.

In China the death of Hu Yaobang sparked the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989 which culminated in the deaths of hundreds of civilian protestors. One of the most famous images of the 20th Century emerged from this peaceful standoff led mainly by students and intellectuals who gathered to mourn the pro-democracy and anti-corruption activists death. 1 million people gathered in a movement that lasted seven weeks before the military were finally able to clear the square, calling for everything from free market reform to those who called for an end of communism. As the tanks rolled into Tiananmen Square one man had the courage to stand before the tanks and bring them to a complete stop, an image that has captured the attention of the international media and world populous alike. This single demonstration brought about the collapse of a number of communist governments around the world as public opinion changed towards communism and the human plight of people living under these authoritarian governments.

These protests have brought about change for the greater good through the use of pressure and peaceful demonstration. While change did not happen overnight, a slow, constant campaign of pressure, protests, public speeches, brought about a realisation in the public at large that people had a right to put their message across. Change became acceptable because the public embraced it rather than see the prolonged acts of violence carried out in their name. And while some have lead to a complete change in the way people are treated, others are still a work in progress.

If we look at two recent examples of where public pressure and the use of the media, international events and public opinion have begun a process that in time will see the next wave of changes occur through our world as we know it.

Firstly was the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and how the whole event was hijacked by the Tibetan Monks as a way to highlight their plight in a way that had not been possible for them before this event. The Olympic Games did something for China that no other event could ever have done. It brought the international media to their doorstep. The Tibetan Monks were not foolish when they began an protest just as the Olympic Torch began its tour around the world. It was well known that the reaction from the Chinese government would be decisive, swift and merciless. It was this reckoning that meant that the Tibetan Monks were able to pull one over on the Chinese Officials. The international condemnation of their reaction threatened to derail the whole Olympic Games, and many people were quite willing to stay away in boycott of the games because of this reaction. It was only a monumental effort of the IOC, and the major leaders of the world that brought everyone back in line and agree to participate in the event.

The recent protests in Iran show how times are changing. When people take to the streets in protest in one of the most secretive nations of the world, where people live under a cloak of fear for being persecuted by the secret police for their public protest against the Ayatollah Khomeini, then you know that times are really changing. While the uprising was contained and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was sworn in for another term as President of Iran, it is with quiet wonder at what cost it happened. How long will it be before he is ousted from power through an internal uprising. It would be in the West’s interest to try and support a challenge to power in Iran to oust the existing infrastructure and rid the area of a dangerous loose cannon, and in this protest they have uncovered a deep loathing within the nation of the seat of power in the country. This is something that surely will play into their favour as the game unfolds. It interests me to see what will happen in the years ahead as Iran continues to be a thorn in the side of the West.

But what is interesting more than anything is that an Islamic nation revolted so spectacularly against their leaders. The sudden outbreak of public opinion and the outcry of the people must have shaken the establishment to the very core of its foundation. Never before has such an impassioned call for change been seen in an Arabic nation, let alone a challenge against a supreme leader. Such actions must be a real cause for concern among leaders in Islamic states, as they realise that their people are human too and can tire of the incessant fool hardiness of a government protected by power and lavish lifestyles while their nation and people struggles on, trying survive and make a life for themselves under oppressive international sanctions.

Ok so where does all this lead. Well if you follow the common trend, you’ll see that peaceful protest does in time bring about change. There are some fundamental things that need to be established before this change can be brought about though, and it is not something that will happen overnight, so it needs passion, commitment and a thick skin. Morgan Tsvangirai has already proved that to stand for change in Zimbabwe will mean that you will engage in a hard and painful line. But what we don’t really realise is that Zimbabwean’s are in a rather unique position to make things work to their advantage. It is now that Zimbabwean’s should really be grouping together with a common voice, common language and be sly and cleaver about their approach to changing public opinion in their favour.

Firstly, Zimbabweans need to see beyond colour. Racial integration is something that I personally think will be a sticking point in Africa for many years to come and this is a sad fact. It is unfortunate that the international community don’t really like this attitude of blame everything on your past and never seek for ways of changing your future. Robert Mugabe has successfully run a propaganda campaign that blames the white man, colonialism and the West for every problem that Zimbabwe has. Many fall in line and accept this party mantra as the truth and fail to realise that without the white man, the west and to an extent colonialism they would not be where they are today. Now please before you begin to throw verbal abuse and shout me down, I accept that colonialism was a pathetic attempt by the white man to own the world, to oppress the native people of the land and to rape and pillage the land for their own gain. Yes I understand that it marginalised a people into poverty and bread a deep routed hatred of the Colonialist approach to things. That is a pain that will be carried long into our future as the hatred is passed down from one generation to another, and that is why I feel that we will struggle with this issue long into the future. Society needs to somehow find a way to teach our children that the faults of yesterday’s generation are not the burden and responsibility of this day’s generation.

What colonialism did do however was build an infrastructure that with good governance and business acumen can be built on and grown into a viable and prosperous nation. What Zimbabwe as a nation must come to terms with is that to be successful and productive in today’s world, business and trade will have to take place with the white man, and the it will be the white man that will seek to invest in the infrastructure and future of any new Zimbabwe. Until our government realise that alone we cannot survive, and stop infuriating the West and begin to work with them we are doomed as a nation. This stigma of I am black and you are white is something that we really must address as a we seek to rebuild our nation. Martin Luther King didn’t want a land void of white men, he just wanted the right to live with the same rights and opportunities as a white man. Nelson Mandela didn’t want to punish a nation for the faults of a government, he sought to heal and reconcile his nation through integration and breaking down of racial barriers. The sins of our past are our lessons for tomorrow. And accepting this we learn to grow as people and as a nation.

From within a united front a strong message can take shape that we as Zimbabweans demand change. As this message takes shape and we begin to apply pressure where it is needed I believe earnestly that a strong and diligent leadership will emerge and take shape to guide us in our call for change. 2010 approaches us with speed, and an international platform that we can use to present our case to the international community beckons us on our doorstep. The World Cup will arrive in South Africa next year, and with an estimated 2 million Zimbabwean’s living in South Africa can you imagine the power in our hands right now?

Picture this. A protest of 100,000 Zimbabweans takes to the streets on the day of the opening match in central Johannesburg and sits down in silent protest at the government of Robert Mugabe and the failure of the SADCC nations to do anything about his corrupt regime. Our message will capture and fill every network around the world. Johannesburg will be brought to a standstill, and the plight of the Zimbabwean people, the disgrace of the SADCC nations failure to help them and the deborchery of the Zimbabwean Government will be seen by the whole world. The fact that the people of Zimbabwe peacefully found the need to call out to the world to ask for their assistance as every political avenue in the African Arena has failed will bring the plight of the Zimbabwean people into the home of every football fan in the world. Every news channel will carry and lead with the story. Researchers will be pulled to dig the dirt and reveal as much as possible on the main story of the year. The high light of the World Cup 2010 will always be associated with the day that Zimbabwean’s from every walk of life sat down for the right to freedom and good governance.

This is not all. It is estimated that around a million Zimbabwean’s live in the UK. There is possibly another million in various other places around the globe. Living in Diaspora they call it. Whatever fancy term you wish to link to it, picture this. Christmas eve 2010, 10,000 Zimbabwean’s gather at strategic places in cities all around the globe. New York, London, Madrid, Rome, Sydney, Wellington, Johannesburg, Cape Town, Washington, Toronto to name a few. They hold carol singing ceremonies with speeches that are prepared to back up the call for pressure and removal of Robert Mugabe’s regime across the world, simultaneously, with invitations to the press. If you think about it 10,000 people will fill Time Square in New York. It’ll fill Trafalgar Square in London. Peaceful protests wishing love, peace and goodwill to all men, yet putting our message across in the most powerful terms possible.

We don’t need to take up arms. What we do need is passionate people, with vision and a calling. These are just two ideas that we can use that will spring board a call to change into the Interantional agenda of many nations. What we have to do is take on the oppressive institution of Robert Mugabe and the Zanu PF by challenging the world to take up our plight and back our corner. If we call for every man woman of voting age to write to their leader on our behalf. If we were to create petitions around the world for people to sign, all saying the same thing, all signed by people from every nation that Zimbabweans have fled to, all calling for the UN and other halls of power to drive change in Zimbabwe, then we, yes the humble peaceful people of Zimbabwe can bring about change in our nation. There are many challenges for us to overcome. There will be highs and lows as we seek to overcome, but ultimately I believe that we have what it takes to make a change. We just have not learnt to use that power effectively and to our advantage.

I understand that not everyone will agree with me. I also understand that in order to reach this kind of unification that we must all buy into a common idea, with common goals and a strong agenda. What I have come to realise is that without doing something ourselves we will only be in the same situation in 20 years from now. It may well be under another leader, or a different party, but we will suffer the same historical line that so many other African nations have taken before us. It will only be us who will make a change in Zimbabwe. Just as the UK and other nations face tough decisions over things like spending and economic policies for the next 50 years, it is up to us as a people to make the tough decision of whether we wish to see change and are willing to step up to the mark to make it happen or are willing to let the tide of time make the change for us. I do believe that we need to dialogue between each other and thrash out the pro’s and con’s of our ideas, seek these common goals, find an agenda we can all follow and take up the challenge of changing our nation ourselves.

Zimbabwe Teachers Network

It is a well known fact that Zimbabwe is a nation in dire need of resources, funding and international aid, but while a sceptical international community are understandably loath to give the Government of National Unity are additional funding while Robert Mugabe and the Zanu PF elect loiter in the wings, it falls at the feet of Zimbabweans around the world to make every effort to try and bring relief to the struggling Zimbabwean people.

This week it has been my pleasure to be introduced to a fellow Zimbabwean, who’s passion for her nation and irresolute desire to see Zimbabwe grow has lead her to launch an organisation aimed at providing the critical support to the teaching infrastructure in Zimbabwe that she hopes long term will help with improving the educational standards for students of the schools that Zimbabwe Teachers Network partners with in their endeavour to assist with Zimbabwean education. As the director of Safe Haven Trust it has been very rewarding to talk with Zimbabwean Teachers Network and explore the potential of a partnership to help the children of Zimbabwe.

Munashe Moyo-Godo is one of the most humble and forthright people you will ever meet. A teacher herself, her passion for education is deep routed, and from early in her upbringing she has always cherished learning as the cornerstone of her career. Now living in the UK and in a position to help with establishing a network of like minded Zimbabweans, support agencies, teachers and donors alike, Munashe has set about launching the Zimbabwe Teachers Network here in the UK. With its launch event a few weeks away, Munashe is at the root of a massive effort to bring the plight of teachers in Zimbabwe to the fore front of people attention and make every effort to provide support and funding for projects in Zimbabwe.

Education in Zimbabwe is in a shambles after the economy of the nation collapsed and the support structures for national education fell from beneath the feet of the Ministry of Education. Working with a budget of less than one tenth of what is really required, Education Minister David Coultard knows that without help the situation will only get worse. From being one of the most literate nations in Africa, barely 20% of the students in Zimbabwe today achieve an “O” level pass mark as thousands of children are trapped in the throes of hopelessness. The average school fees for a student attending a government facility range from US$15 to US$35 per term, a figure many families fail to raise leaving a vast number of children without access to education. Teachers earn as little as US$150 a month and must try to house, feed and transport themselves while remaining committed to providing an education to hundreds of students with little in the way of materials, support or incentive. It is any wonder that children anywhere in Zimbabwe are being educated at all.

Teachers have recently begun to return to the educational system in Zimbabwe under the hope that the GNU will bring about a change in the schooling system in the country, but frustrations and empty promises have meant many have taken to strike action and staying away furthering leading to a situation of desperation within the schools that are trying to stay open and offer children a chance. Teachers need support from sustainable sources, in both the provision of resources and fundamental ongoing training and provision of information in order to be effective, and provide a meaningful service to the educational system. The importance of education of tomorrows generation cannot be stressed enough, as these are the very people that carry the hopes and aspirations of a nation. Education lies at the very heart of civilisation and for this reason support must start from the roots in giving teachers a network of alliances and relief necessary to be the best that they can be.

Working on the principal that “A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle,” (A James Keller quote) the Zimbabwe Teachers Network aim to provide support to teachers first and foremost. It is their desire to provide inspiration and the tools required to equip teachers with the ongoing skills of imparting noteworthy education to the children of Zimbabwe. They aspire to restock and create libraries and resource centres within schools, work in partnership with schools to ensure that their teachers are given a platform to exchange ideas and transfer skills between educators, teachers and students. The organisation hopes to encourage partnership through twining schools abroad with schools in Zimbabwe and giving teachers the opportunity to work on exchange programs that will continue to grow their skills and value as a teacher. Zimbabwe Teachers Network will also undertake research on sociological, psychological and philosophical issues affecting teaching and learning in Zimbabwe with a view towards improving the education that is offered both by the curriculum and teachers alike.

This hands on approach towards education in Zimbabwe will meet the needs of a nation hungry for help as it strives to pull itself into the 21^st century. It is heart-warming to see Zimbabweans at the very core of this endeavour and it is this realisation of Zimbabweans that the international community are not going to do it for them that has lead to leadership arising from many corners. It is the grim reality that faces Zimbabweans in every facet of life daily. A nation on the edge, being held together by the determination and effort of those who are lucky enough to live abroad pouring back millions of dollars in personal finances that keep the country afloat. Much of Zimbabwe relies on the efforts of its people living in the Diaspora to survive while its leaders milk the country dry of its natural resource and international aid. While it is heart warming to see such commitment and drive, it is without our help that this nation and its people survive. Wonder then if you will how much more could be achieved by such organisations with a little help from the rest of us. We are all living through tough times, but the reality for us is that we can afford to miss £5 a month to support such an effort and still live a life of comfort and ease, while reality for Zimbabweans is that without our support they will go completely without.

My challenge to you today is to search your heart and find it within yourself to not allow people with so much soul, grit and determination not to fight on alone. I challenge each of you reading this post today to find it within yourself to put your money where your mouth is and pledge your support to the type of organisation that you know will change people’s lives right now. Safe Haven Trust and Zimbabwe Teachers Network are just two of the groups that you could support, groups that will be able to make a difference right now, and groups that really do need your help to survive. Make a difference today.

ZIMBABWE TEACHERS NETWORK
SAFE HAVEN TRUST

The costs and effects of Life Under Mugabe

It is all very well for the world to call for the removal of Robert Mugabe from power within Zimbabwe, but has anyone stopped to consider the effects of life under Robert Mugabe, and the void that would be left in his sudden removal? It is one thing for an invading force to remove a dictator such as we have seen through history when the Allied forces divided up Germany after the removal of Adolf Hitler, or when the American led coalition finally rid Iraq of Saddam Hussein. In these instances we saw the world pour massive amounts of aid into a war torn region to bolster up its people, give the interim government a chance to begin the rebuilding of their nation, but even with all this help, we have watched two nations slowly tear themselves apart before beginning the long walk to reconciliation, reconstruction and recognition on the international stage.

Fair enough, my two examples are slightly different in that they exist under totally different circumstances, both having come out of long and damaging wars, both being divided by powers from within, and both having the lime light of the international community shone directly on them as their situations took centre stage in world politics. I do not believe that Mugabe will ever command such an effect to create a media storm around his removal, but one does begin to wonder what will happen in the absence of the despot. How will the nation begin to rebuild itself without the immediate attention of a world eager to make sure that more of the same does not happen again? Is there any hope that Zimbabwe will reach a point of free fair elections without the presence of Robert Mugabe, or are we headed towards yet another African leader hell bent on lining his own nest as quickly and lavishly as he can?

How do you begin to deal with a nation of mind washed youths who have apparently been beaten into submission and taught to believe that Robert Mugabe is their saviour? How do you take a disillusioned young man who is suddenly faced with a world absent of the pillar of power that he has been taught to believe will be his salvation and bring success to his efforts and teach him that life without Robert Mugabe is a better place? While Zimbabwe is one of the most well educated countries of the African continent, that generation of well informed scholars has either fled their nation for greener pastures, or long given up on the hope of a better life under Robert Mugabe. But the question still stands that without Mugabe is there anyone who currently shows the world that there is hope under their leadership for a better Zimbabwe. Many of the people that you speak to who used to believe that the MDC stood for change now comment that the MDC seem as bad as Mugabe, quietly accepting their place at his table knowing that while they can they are reaping the rewards of being in government in Zimbabwe.

The sad reality for many is that Zimbabwe will more than likely never really reach its once glorious position as a power house of the African continent. Its army are said to be overwhelmed with soldiers suffering from HIV. Its police force is riddled with corruption and operates as an extension of Robert Mugabe’s private army, crushing opposition where ever it springs up across the country. Many of its rank and file will be worried about the possibility of life without Mugabe at the helm, for fear of prosecution for their crimes. The existing hierarchy within government have perpetrated extensive criminal acts through the seizure of land, human rights abuses, murder and corruption, theft and embezzlement of state funds and live in a manner of making hay while the sun shines. You have to wonder how they will react under life without Mugabe. Will there be internal strife in terms of a power struggle within this Hierarchy or have they already worked out between themselves who will take over when Mugabe dies? And will it be a natural death that will remove Mugabe?

How many of his very own people hold things over him as he approaches the end of his days, and is he ever nervous that his past transgressions will come out of the closet to haunt him? Will this haunting be behind closed doors, away from the glare of the media spot light? Is he really as untouchable as he seems and are his days numbered? Obviously there will come a time where breath will leave his body, but it is very intriguing to contemplate the future of Zimbabwe without Mugabe.

There will certainly be a very long road to recovery for anyone to walk down in the rebuilding of Zimbabwe post Mugabe. First of all the spirit of the people will be of prime importance for any leader taking the stage in his absence. The nation as a whole will rejoice at the removal of the dictator from power, be it by force or be it by natural causes, there will be much cause for celebration and jubilation among the Zimbabwean people. But after that initial rejoicing, the realisation of the task at hand will return to face everyone. Change for the man on the street will not be something seen for a long time for the average Zimbabwean, as it will be a huge undertaking for any new leader to initially prove to a sceptical world that they are not more of the same. Life for most Zimbabweans won’t change until real investment returns to the shattered state, and one wonders how in this time of Financial Down Turn any meaningful investment can be rallied to support the new leader. With vast tracts of land promised to the likes of the Chinese in mining rights, mineral rights and various other rights, one wonders what else a new government can offer to a world hungry of cheap raw materials.

Maybe the option of cheap labour will be of interest to the lesser contentious nations of the world like Russia and parts of Eastern Europe, but with the West frowning heavily on the use of cheap labour I can’t see that being much of a leap forward for the Zimbabwean economy, and they would also be competing against the giants of rock bottom labour in India and China where doing it for next to nothing has already got a well established market. With the massive effect of brain drain, there is a huge hole in the people power within Zimbabwe, and one does wonder if without real jobs and the creation of sustainable and viable projects how many of the professional Zimbabweans will want to return in the early stages of a new nation under a new government. I tend to think the majority of us would love to return, but the reality of job security and value for living, many of us will choose to remain where we are for now.

I do wonder about agriculture in Zimbabwe. For Zimbabwe agriculture is the future, but it would appear that vast resources need to be put into teaching the new land owners to maximise the output of the land they now own. Massive investment needs to be pumped into the infrastructure of the agricultural industry and with much of that support coming from the west, one wonders if Zimbabwean’s are going to be willing to open their doors to that kind of invasion of the land they have just won so bitterly, even if the majority of it is now owned in one way or another by the elite of the nation. Will the new leadership have the ability to see beyond colour and realise that only through international co-operation can the agricultural sector be kick started into effective growth patterns. Is there a sense of understanding hidden below the table that will rise up once Mugabe has gone and oust those fooled into the ideology of Mugabe to make way for a democratic growth of the nation, based on the realisation that, “we can’t go it alone!”

The fundamental truth is that in as much as they probably hate to admit it, Zimbabwe needs the white man and the west more than they need it. The African Zimbabwean has for so long dreamt of living a comfortable life style. They have persevered so much, been patient for so long, and deserve some quality of life. I think personally as a Zimbabwean most of us don’t care who wins the war of words. Most of us are not really interested in who’s the boss in the seat of power, as long as they are fair, equal and worthy of our trust. For the average Zimbabwean man, woman or child we would be more than willing to work side by side, be it white, coloured or black. Prosperity and contentment is all we seek, and while life without Mugabe will be a difficult one for the large part until things come together and the world can see we want to be a part of the international community on an equal basis, our government is democratically elected by the people and representative of the interests of its people, then the doors will open for our dreams to come true. Many challenges face us before that day, and huge uncertainties lie before all of us, but I have faith that Zimbabwean people might carry the scars of life under Mugabe with them, but given the chance, given a good leader, given opportunity and the tools to do it, we will rise above.

Donor Meeting

I’m on my way to Cardiff this morning to see what if anything is available in terms of funding for a new project for the Zimbabwean community in Wales initially and then nationwide ultimately. It’s funny, that while I have been talking to many people to gather information about this project that some would seek to discourage my efforts while others have been so supportive. It always amazes me how different Zimbabweans can be. Some will go out of their way to help on any level, others will use words to try and put you down.

I had a long chat the other night with a friend that I trust implicitly and whom has shared many ups and downs with me along the road. I expressed my concern about it to her, and she told me something that has stuck in my head ever since. It matters not what other people opinion is of me, it only matters that we strive to help our people. And it struck accord with me. It is so easy to find fault and draw conclusions. Daily I am prompted to re-examine my assumptions and chide myself when I discover I’ve been so wrong in judging people. If I do it myself, how can I expect no one to judge me. Rather than worry about their assumption it is more critical to carry on and when you achieve your goals then allow them to judge you on the merit of your achievements.

So even though I am nervous about today’s presentation, and how it will be met by the donor community, I have committed myself to at least get their opinion and treat it as a learning curve in my fight to work for Zimbabwean people.