You might be wondering and in surprise at what has happened? To you, this loss was a tsunami or kurohwa nezvishiri. Just to remind you of the not so few mistakes that led us to vote for change.We expected from you sustainable and equitable socio-economic development, and the improvement of physical, intellectual, social and economic health through services as health, education, trade, commerce, employment, rural and urban development, housing etc. We looked forward to good governance, which is vital for the happiness of people – referred to in modern language as Gross National Happiness. GNH is the responsibility of the state to create the right environment where the citizen can seek and find happiness, the goal of life, according to the ancient Greeks. Governance is the foundation upon which a country’s political stability, economic success, conflict resolution, efficient service delivery and basic human rights rest.We would have wanted to retain you, but the results on the ground show otherwise. You campaigned vigorously basing your hopes on the land issue, but this time, we showed you that you are a great orator, who never delivers.
You pride yourself in saying you gave back land to the blacks, yet there is no proof of that. We are a starving nation, a nation with the highest inflation, with empty shop shelves, with a deteriorating health system, with alarming rates of corruption at the highest level, with an education system that has failed and poor or non-existent social services.Mr Mugabe, success is never a secret for those who are committed and willing to execute. Results and performance cannot be hidden. Mediocrity can also not be hidden for long. To expect to reap where one did not sow is fraud. You have failed to deliver and for us to vote for you would be tantamount to suicide. The Gospels say: When salt has lost its saltness, it is thrown out to be trodden under foot by men. You have equally lost your taste and we are sending you to the trash bin.
We praised you so highly soon after independence without scrutinising your potential of love for humanity, over love of self. We anointed you saint and saviour and that was a mistake on our part. Absolute power has corrupted you absolutely.Yours is an addiction to power. For your benefit, addiction is any activity, substance, object or behaviour that has become the major focus of a person’s life to the exclusion of other activities, or that has begun to harm the individual or others, physically, mentally or socially. In your case, with respect, after misruling us for 28 years, this last election proved that we are politely awarding you the much deserved retirement. In this context, we voted against you for we want change.
We all know that you are in shock and surprise; something that you never thought would happen has happened. Unfortunately, we have reached the sunset of your misery to the people of Zimbabwe and we welcome gently the sunrise of the expected glories of Tsvangirai. Please respect our wishes.
Pluck a leaf from the book of the former premier of the island of Barbados, Owen Arthur. When he lost the election held on January 15 this year, he made a public statement accepting defeat and admitting responsibility for whatever happened during his years as prime minister. He said in chamber: I want without equivocation or without any reservation to accept full and utter responsibility for everything that was done by any officer, by any member of cabinet, by any official during the three terms that I was leader of this country, I accept utter responsibility (The Daily Nation March 27, 2008 – Barbados).
In the High Court hearing in which the MDC petitions for the ZEC to release the results of the presidential election, we expect impartiality. Allegations of torture as well as incidences of alleged misconduct on the part of government officials are not trivial matters and if not addressed in a prompt and in a proper manner, they cast a dark and unsavoury shadow over the entire policing and justice system. Why would Zanu (PF) call for a recount even before the results are released? Finally, we all expect from the new government, an honest management of public goods, commitment to the rule of law and the promotion of human rights and duty of all citizens to participate in the new society.To all Zimbabweans, this is a time to involve ourselves in constructive engagement. This is an opportunity for us to display a greater stance towards unity, racial equality, reconciliation, fairness, accountability, transparency, good governance and political stability – all in rebuilding our country.I borrow from better minds than mine. Rabindranauth Tagore says: I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy. Such an attitude should fill us. Only through service can we obtain Gross National Happiness and economic empowerment and human dignity, not for a select few, but for all Zimbabweans.
This is an opportunity for us to display a greater stance towards unity, racial equality, reconciliation, fairness, accountability, transparency, good governance and political stability – all in rebuilding our country.
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Post published in: Opinions