Zimbabweans: Forget Mugabe, end apathy and help rebuild Zimbabwe!

On April 18, 2008, Zimbabwe turned twenty-eight. Though we suffered and sacrificed, the promise of independence, peace, and prosperity offered us enough comfort to shoulder on undeterred. But, today poverty and political anxiety prevail. Anyone who has picked up a newspaper in the last few years may well be aware of the numerous reasons cited for Zimbabwe's crisis. They include colonialism, corruption, government's financial payout to war veterans, contempt for the rule of law, an unnecessary war in the Congo, human rights violations, the reckless land redistribution program, distortion of economic policies, and economic sanctions placed by Western powers. Some analysts have even mapped our crisis down to one man- President Robert Gabriel Mugabe. Thus, from Binga to Bangalore, Facebook to France, a campaign, the purpose of which is to banish Robert Mugabe, is now full blown.
On March 29, 2008, an unknown number of Zimbabweans took the campaign to oust Mugabe to the voting booths. Others have taken to the streets across the world in protest. "We need to raise awareness to get the international community to do something," protestors claim. Non-protestors and non-voters have adopted a "wait-and-see" attitude, while others remain paralyzed by the political impasse between the ruling and opposition parties. The international community has promised financial and material support to Zimbabwe. But, on condition that we deliver Mugabe's head on a silver platter.

Those calling for Mugabe's head have assumed the role of chief firefighter. They do not want to hear anything other than the "Mugabe must go now and Zimbabwe will be free" soundtrack. Any talk of reconstruction, economic revival to meet the needs of survivors stokes anger and accusations of being insensitive or completely out of touch. “Zanu PF slur” I mean. So, our nation is divided and our people are as angry as they are hungry. They want a quick answer. Put simply, a leadership change. It is hoped that this change of guard will extinguish the flames of poverty and usher in a new Zimbabwe. But, therein lies the partial source of our ailment. While, our short-term needs call for action, building a healthy nation demands looking beyond Mugabe. The continual task of attaining and sustaining a healthy Zimbabwe resides, not solely with its political leaders rather with its people. We must assemble the infrastructure needed to build our nation to last us for another twenty-eight plus years to come.

I do not mean to absolve Mugabe or any of our leaders of their sins. And neither do I mean to blame the victims of economic, political, and physical violence. Believe me; I am not saying we should all go on as if everything is kosher. No! But, all our energies cannot be focused on removing Mugabe because that alone will not end our crisis. Yes, Mugabe has vandalized our national highway to peace and prosperity. However, focusing all our time protesting, but very little energy to plan and prepare for reconstruction is not only distractive, but also detrimental to our national interest. Suppose the ancestors call Mugabe to the eternal resting place, then what? What if his ancestors bestow another 28 years of life on him and he holds onto the throne? Are we going to become a nation of professional protesters? We must not lose sight of the big picture!

The national priority we must all work for is to build and maintain a Zimbabwe that meets the best interests of our people. Such a task goes far beyond Mugabe or any other leader for that matter. It may be common practice to remove tree stumps or any other distractions to enact some structures. But, surely all of our cement mixers, builders, carpenters, plumbers, electricians, energy and enthusiasm cannot be vested on bulldozing at the expense of other equally important tasks. We would not have a house if all we did was remove distractions. I am not suggesting that marches and protests are bad per se; however, they cannot be our ONLY strategy for nation building. In fact, if the goal of these marches and protests is to “raise awareness,” should we not change gears to focus on other tasks since Zimbabwe's crisis has been well televised and printed all over the world? I am afraid; our efforts on the streets may be reaching diminishing returns.

Building a healthy and responsive Zimbabwe will require more than the change in government to meet our needs. It will require a lot of resources, including large sums of money, skills, energy, and strategy. Because of the great needs we have, perhaps it is time we started organizing ourselves around reconstruction. Though it is widely acknowledged that Zimbabwe has diminished its capacity to recover on its own without external help, we must not outsource the task of rebuilding our nation. Planning for such recovery must begin now, and before it is too late, we must take advantage of the international media attention to mobilize the extra resources needed to rebuild our county. The media suffers from A.D.D and it is only a matter of time before it loses concentration on Zimbabwe. Soon enough, Bin Laden, Iran, or the Olympics in China will be at the forefront. So, we better move before it is too late.

Whatever government the voting public chose, Zimbabwe will need help to revive the economy. Hence, the Diaspora must help raise financial and material resources to help respond to national needs. Our infrastructure is deteriorating, but unless we act, it will rot. The Diaspora must also contribute skills to address the serious brain drain that has long been affecting our country's capacity for development. Harnessing and successfully integrating our skills into public and private institutions at home provides a powerful opportunity for building a better Zimbabwe. We can use our knowledge and skills to provide strategic advice to any legitimate government to help address unfair international trade rules, and bad economic policies pushed on us. Even if it is common knowledge that forces beyond our boarders have exacerbated our crisis, we cannot let arsonists stop us from rebuilding our house. Instead, our efforts must be coordinated to enhance effectiveness of resources, and the unit of effort needed to defend our dream of a better Zimbabwe.While some people left Zimbabwe, not by choice, or chance, it is essential that we repair the damage inflicted on our relationships with each other and our public institutions. This we must do, to avoid the insanity of walking on the same path that has led us here today. But, more than anything, rebuilding robust institutions will demand major changes in attitude and values.

For a start, we will need to be disciplined enough to work for and protect the sacred promise of a healthy Zimbabwe for everyone. While we all have immediate needs, we must control our urge to satisfy personal needs at the expense of our national well-being. In practical terms, this means that the diaspora must work to create a mechanism to channel remittances officially to spread the benefits beyond immediate beneficiaries. Similarly, government must work collectively to create structural and institutional reforms to leverage remittances to address poverty. And those entrusted with the momentous task of safeguarding our national resources must not violate public trust for their own good. Our success as a nation will depend on our ability to perform as an effective team. This demands that we create an atmosphere of mutual support, respect, and cooperation. Because no nation can be built by one leader, no matter how wise and good-hearted, we must value the initiative of every single person.

The Zimbabwe crisis presents us an opportunity to examine the values we should embrace for national reconstruction and progress. As a nation, we must take ownership and responsibility for our country. Personal and professional integrity must be our guiding principles. And more importantly, we must hold each other accountable- not for anyone's sake, but ours. Accountability requires that we embrace the humility to accept when we are wrong.

Because of our current condition, we will need a lot of persistency and excellence in our tasks. Without service, sacrifice, and dependability, nothing will be built. Needless to say, restoring Zimbabwe's capacity to feed, educate, medicate, and defend her children will require "amadoda sibili." And of course "real men" are born of "real women". Thus, everyone will need to be involved in the decision making processes to address all of the problems pertaining to government policy. We must change our complacency and apathy to concern and action. And government must facilitate the creation of a mechanism for everyone to partake in our national affairs.

While the 28 years that Mugabe has been in power is a long time in one person's lifetime, it is but a grain of sand in our country’s history. Zimbabwe is too rich and precious to be left to a few individuals. Protests will not be enough and neither will outsourcing the task to the international community. The well being of Zimbabwe is our collective responsibility. Zimbabwe needs all of us. And, the question is, "can we depend on you to answer the call?"

Zimbabwe burns, SADC drinks tea, and the world builds pyramids.

As the world continues under the powerful grip of political anxiety over the election results in Zimbabwe, I wonder what child will be born to us from this political pregnancy. But, what baffles me the most is how and why one man’s fate would swallow up the entire imagination of Zimbabwe and indeed the world. With the media hovering on Zimbabwe like a fish eagle spotting a potential lunch in the Zambezi one would be tempted to think that Zimbabwe’s entire future is hidden in a box whose key is sewn in this man’s underwear. For why else would a country that is experiencing an unprecedented economic meltdown be so bent on one man’s fate? And why else would the entire world be building a pyramid of “IFS?” If Mugabe goes then the international community will…and if the international community…..then the economy will…and if the economy…my foot!

While much attention has been devoted to the political crisis in Zimbabwe, far less attention has been focused on the economic and social needs created by this crisis. The economy has shrunk by more than a third since 1999, a decline worse than during major African civil wars. Physical infrastructure is deteriorating and there is a shortage of food, fuel, and power. HIV/AIDS continues to severely impact the overall health and well-being of people. The shortage of skilled personnel in public and private institutions is affecting the countries' capacity for governance and development. Institutions are failing to deliver basic services to the people.

Meanwhile, Southern African Development Community (SADC) leaders are drinking tea in Zambia over the funeral that has become of this whole situation. The choirs singing the Mugabe must go chorus from Afghanistan to Augusta, Maine continue to sing even though their motivations are as different as the singers themselves. Crocodile tears are beginning to run into the atlantic, sweeping with them all the sense needed to resolve this crisis. In the midst of all this, no one bothers to talk about the needs of the people on the ground. People who have suffered both the sanctions imposed on the country under the disguise of helping them, a people who have suffered the harsh reality of casting a vote that is recounted so many times that the vote evaporates into nothingness. Instead, the preoccupation is one man. And that one man alone has stopped the flow of money,goods, and services to a people that cannot no longer wait for change, any change.

It has been said that Zimbabwe's crisis has diminished the country's capacity to recover on its own without help, but emphasis has not shifted towards practical solutions for recovery and reconstruction. And that baffles my mind. If and indeed the world is concerned about Zimbabwe, why should one man stand in the way of people helping the poor people on the ground? If the world is genuinely worried about Zimbabwe, why should congress not repeal sanctions that are hurting the common man?While 28 years is a long time in one man's lifetime, it is not much in the lifetime of a country. Forget the 28 years! Stop building pyramids. Help Zimbabwe, people are dying as the votes are being recounted and counted. Now is the time help Zimbabweans build.

Give me a pair of scissors- As Zimbabwe Waits, Britain promises AID, but what strings will be attached?

Zimbabwe is again on the front pages as the world looks to see whether there is change in the country. Media stories have been reciting the same song of how Mugabe has killed the economy and that he must go. However, no one ha been focusing on what must be done to revive the country's economy. Mugabe or no Mugabe, Zimbabwe will need a lot of help because of the following facts on the ground: These are some recent prices of basic commodities on the market or not on the market. Inflation is officially at about 164 900.3%. The exchange rate just changed while I was on my second sentence, so we do not know, but it is between $1 USD = $ 20 million Zim Dollars. Average office employees are making about $500 million.
• Bread- ZW$20,000,000
• Note book- 9,000,000
• Pen- $5,000,000
• School uniform (boys)- Shirt $350,000,000 Trousers-$250,000,000
• Sun Hat - $200,000,000
• Dozen eggs - $70,000,000
• Can of coke - 12,000,000
• Bottle of coke - $12,000,000
• Radio- $3billion
• Sugar (official price rare to get)- $10,000,000/2kg (parallel market always available) -$100,000,000/2kg
• Salt - $ 410,000,000/kg
• Mealie meal (official) $15,000,000/10kg (parallel)
• $120,000,000/10kg

AID: BRITAIN announced that it is working on an unprecedented £1 billion-a-year ($2.2 billion) international emergency aid and development package to rescue the ruined Zimbabwean economy, reports said yesterday.

I have been wondering who Britain is working with, whether they will involve Zimbabweans, how much money will go back to Britain, and how Zimbabweans are going to help themselves? How many strings are attached to this AID? Will it be more beneficial to Zimbabwe or Britain? While I do not want to sound unappreciative of the potential AID, it is important that the AID does not go toward recreating the problems that are part of what has led us to where we are today.

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