Our government has created a path to destruction because they continue to deny the reality that they have failed to deliver on the objectives of the liberation struggle – which sought to create unlimited personal and economic freedoms for the majority.
Today our country is characterised by widespread poverty, hopelessness and unnecessary political intrigue and bickering by those who seek to stay in power beyond the Mugabe era.
From businessmen who are struggling to make any profits or to pay employees, to vendors who are tired of working hard for nothing, to those that have suddenly been told that they will only get three months’ pay after a lifetime of working, to doctors, nurses, teachers who are tired of working for peanuts and to kombi drivers who suffer extortion daily by the police – we all want change now.
That is the true state of the nation where everyone is sick and tired of the arrogance and incompetence of this government.
Buying time
The failure of President Mugabe to address these issues head-on in his state of the nation speech has added salt to the wounds. He keeps promising that things will get better, and soon it will be 2018 where I understand he intends to run again. That is surely a preposterous proposition. He is buying time. Even those within Zanu (PF) know that unless something drastic is done, chaos is coming.
There is absolutely no way we can expect any significant investment until we repeal the indigenisation laws and replace them with a well-considered empowerment policy. We also need to deal with private property issues, especially with regard to land assets, in order to revive agriculture, insist on the rule of law and begin to demonstrate that it’s not okay to steal or to be corrupt.
In his speech Mugabe ignored these issues but chose to talk about how China is going to invest billions in the economy. That is not about to happen until China is assured of some political stability and leadership change. In addition, China’s investments have not created any jobs nor have they supported local industry.
I am therefore in full support of Bishop Bakare’s initiative in creating a national convergence platform where all Zimbabweans can come together, regardless of their political affiliation, to chart the way forward.
This has to be a non-partisan approach that appreciates that we really all want the same things. This platform can then come up with a collective approach to the political, social and economic quagmire we find ourselves in.
Complete halt
In the event that Zanu (PF) continues to ignore our calls for urgent change, the only way we can get the change we want now is to bring things to a complete halt and demand that an inclusive transitional management body be established to undertake recovery policies. Zimbabweans must for once step up and do the necessary to save their country. If this is not done, we are going to see a massive economic meltdown and widespread poverty worse than 2008.
What continues to surprise me is that our opposition politicians are not getting together now in order to deal with this situation urgently. It’s as if everyone is waiting and hoping while doing nothing to deal with the situation.
This is what we our politicians should do. All political parties must call for a unity conference and agreement must be reached on establishing a coalition movement. This movement must call for fresh elections. These elections cannot be run by ZEC but by a new independent representative body.
We cannot wait
My point here is that we cannot wait for 2018 or expect Zanu (PF) to change its management style. We have to create the conditions for change to happen – with or without them. Mugabe will never step down voluntarily so we must create conditions for change ourselves. The international community is also waiting for direction from us Zimbabweans – as we cannot expect them to lead the change we want to see.
I understand that a severe drought is likely in the 2015/16 season and this will surely be devastating to what already is an economy under siege. Serious food shortages are looming while unemployment numbers will balloon leaving millions of Zimbabweans vulnerable from all sides.
I pray that we all now gather the courage to confront this regime once and for all because we have much to benefit and everything to lose. This is no time for apathy or academic analyses. The issue is clear, Zany (PF) has destroyed this country and things have fallen apart. – Vince Musewe is an economist and author based in Harare. You may contact him on vtmusewe@gmail.com
I agree with you Vince we need to change direction right now before we crash!
This is the best news I have heard for a long time, you and Bishop Bakare have my 100% support and that of millions other Zimbabweans out there!
I wish I could be so positive!
Vince is talking about cross the River Jordan into the Promised Land, this is NOT the River Jordan!
If you face the setting sun with the River in front of you, then the water should be flowing from right to left, north to south. The water in this river is flowing left to right, south to north!
Just because Mai Mujuru sat in Mugabe’s government for the last 34 years does not mean she knew where Mugabe was taking the nation. She was just a passenger.
Just because Tsvangirai has a herd of wildebeest who are programmed to follow blindly does not mean he “knows” where he is going!
Both Tsvangirai and Mai Mujuru are claiming that this is the River Jordan but they do not even have the common sense to understand that water does not flow uphill! How can any one believe and follow such leaders!
If Vince and Bishop Bakare are serious about doing something useful then they must invite participants to discuss how to get Zanu PF to step down so that the reforms necessary for free, fair and credible elections can finally be implemented.
There is no need to appoint anyone the leader of the national convergence because any such leader will bring their own agenda and baggage with them. The meeting will be doomed to failure if you allow failed leaders like Tsvangirai or Mujuru control the proceedings when they have an invested interest in covering up the fact that we are in this mess because they failed.
Mai Mujuru and Tsvangirai had 10 and 5 years respective at the very pinnacle of power and yet neither achieved anything of note. So why anyone would think they would be much use now is beyond me.
I agree we need to get it right this time and not rush into something and once again fcuk it up!
All we need is people to meet and agree on a course of action in the national interest without having to worry about who is who or some parking order, especially for those who have been forced into the political wilderness and are now desperate for some limelight.
@ Vince
It is very heartening to see there are people like you Vince who clearly appreciate the seriousness and urgency of the nation’s political and economic situation and are working flat out to find a way out. Thank you. Please do not give up!
I agree that we need to meet and discuss the way out of this hell. But this should not be just another talk-shop that produce nothing but one that will, in the end, chart the way out of here.
I also agree that Zanu PF can be invited on the clear understanding that they are just participants like everyone else. Rather than waste time reminding them of this, my gut instinct would be to leave them out. Zanu PF will only want to attend for the sole purpose of maintaining the status quo!
I do not agree that Tsvangirai and/or Joice Mujuru should be asked to lead. If they are invited then they will be just participants like everyone else. Rather than waste time reminding them of this my gut instinct is to leave them out too.
We have not made any meaningful progress digging ourselves out of this political and economic mess these last two years since the rigged July 2013 elections because we have failed to make the first decisive step of accepting that MDC leaders betrayed us and therefore we must discard them and look for new leaders. There is a mountain of evidence proving people like Tsvangirai sold-out it beggars belief that anyone should still consider someone like him leadership material.
I can understand my Auntie in the rural backwaters still believing that Tsvangirai is the best thing since sliced bread but I am not expecting her to play any role in this national convergence. If anyone is going to play any meaningful role in charting the country’s future then surely they must the common sense to understand simple facts put before them.
If the delegates to this national convergence cannot agree of something as simple as individuals like Tsvangirai and Mai Mujuru sold-out then the gathering will be just another talk-shop that will achieve nothing.
You talk of the people being “sick and tired of the (Zanu PF) status quo”. That is true but they are also sick and tired is being promised democratic changes, free and fair elections, etc. and then not even one reform in implemented, the elections are rigged again, etc.
You talk of the challenge being one of “crossing the river” (presumably River Jordan). Are you sure this is River Jordan and not the crocodile infested Nile! Given that Comrades Robert Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangira have been leading the struggle these last 35 years and we all know how democratic, competent and incorruptible the two gentlemen are.
If you do not know where you are then you will not know where you are going. After 35 years of wondering around like the albatross you really need to be 100% sure you know where you are and where you are going and not take the people on some wild Sahara Desert tour – our people deserve that consideration after all these years of suffering and betrayals!