m 0cm 0pt”>It was said several years ago that about 6000 Zimbabwean families were direct beneficiaries of Mugabe’s patronage. The figures may vary now but the fact remains that the leader has clung to power in the face of every threat from whatever quarter. Chief among his talents for keeping his Zanu (PF) party followers loyal is the easy one, possibly the oldest in the book: “Give them bread and circuses” said the Roman emperor, Nero.
This is food for thought (no pun intended). It is true that the gift of farms has been the tyrant’s most successful means of buying enthusiastic support but it is also true that there has to be a limit to the benevolence of this clever Zimbabwean dictator.
My friend, Thomas (the one who doubts, remember?) disagrees: “He has just given all his cronies new, top flight Mercedes vehicles, notwithstanding the critical state of the economy,” he argues. “Ah yes, but what about the grass roots?” I wonder. Thomas snorts dismissively. “He can keep them down with starvation, threats, frame them, make the protesters ‘disappear’ ”.
I am not convinced and my thoughts veer towards a business model, the one drawn by management gurus, a triangular diagram known as Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Maslow’s model shows that you are at the pinnacle of success when you have vaulted over a progression of qualifying achievements. “What of the majority, huge numbers of Zimbabweans in this case, resting along the base of Mugabe’s pyramid of power?” I want to know. “He sits like a veritable pharaoh atop the rest of
Now comes the monologue:
Imagine: Mr and Mrs First Family have all the forex, fuel and diesel-generated electricity they need. The next level of the family, say for example, the Chikombas, have needs and they get a big slice of the FF’s benevolence. “But what about us?” say the cousins and the in-laws. Naturally there are timely deliveries of fuel (using more fuel of course) for more cars, more generators, whatever.
But the in-laws, the … lets cut it short, and say (for example) the Zezuru in-laws, “What about us?” They have supporters, not only in-laws but people beyond the boundaries of Mashonaland. Unfortunately these resourceful people have cut down all the trees on their stolen farms. There is no fuel for cooking (I am still keeping it short). “What about us?” They are asking.
This is getting tricky. Not enough forex, fuel or even FOOD to go around now.
And the conclusion:
I hope Thomas can see the direction I am taking. His eyes are closed. I am on my way out of the door to see a former comrade, now a chef. His uncle has got him a good job but he is among the lower ranks of the military. He has friends and relatives too, most are unemployed. My question for my friend (he could be relative) will be “What about us?”
Post published in: Opinions