As a born free, his family expected him to obtain better education than other generations before him and eventually secure a decent and well paying job in a big city, preferably in the capital city, Harare. His life was unfortunately characterized by near-misses. When he started primary education at seven years of age, the populist government free primary education policy was phased out, compelling poor parents to raise school fees. He attended Tapfuma Primary School in the high density suburb of Rujeko, Marondera. He never enjoyed the much-promised fruits of self rule, as he narrated to The Zimbabwean.
I am the first born in a poor family of five. My parents are of Malawi origin and both worked as farm workers at Danrose Farm at the outskirts of Marondera. The white commercial farmer, John Wilson, assisted workers with school fees, albeit on loan basis. 1990, I completed primary education passing with four points, a rare achievement for a child born of a poor farm worker. I enrolled for secondary education at Rakodzi High School.
My parents struggled to maintain my welfare at secondary school and could not afford to buy school uniform. Thanks to the late headmaster at Rakodzi, Cedar Pavia, who appreciated my good grade seven results and offered to cater for my school uniforms throughout my secondary education.Pavias generosity forced me to work harder at my studies, as I did not want to disappoint expectations of the Good Samaritan. Since the headmaster was a sports enthusiast, I participated and excelled in various sporting activities and maintained top position in all academic subjects. He extended his school uniforms offer to provision of school fees starting form three.
As expected, I passed eight Cambridge Ordinary Level subjects with flying colours 1994. I secured a Rakodzi High School bursary and proceeded for lower and upper six forms at Peter House, an elite school outside Marondera along Mutare road. After completing upper six 1996, I enrolled for a Bachelor of Science Economics at the University of Zimbabwe. It was while at university that tyranny started rearing its ugly head. Corruption in government institutions began taking its toll on public institutions.
Welfare of students and workers took a down turn and students unrest became the order of the day at college and universities. Most of our learning time was spent waving protest placards along the streets of Harare as we expressed our disapproval of corrupt practices in government which resulted in poor living conditions of students at tertiary institutions.Calls for government intervention and improvement of our lot fell on deaf ears as Mugabes administration had turned dictator. The president deployed heavily armed police and state security organs to subdue our cause through an iron fist. I was savagely beaten up by riot police in one of the skirmishes at the university campus in 1998, and sustained a broken arm.
School activity was regularly interrupted with forced school closures by government at the expense of our education. This prolonged my university studies to 1999. Political temperatures had reached boiling point following formation of MDC the same year. University students were branded MDC by Mugabe and his party as we had sown the first seeds of mass resistance to corruption in government and mismanagement of national resources by the ruling party.
Despite being armed with a first class degree in economics, I failed to secure meaningful employment anywhere as the economy had started assuming a down turn characterized by closure of industry and commercial activity. I only managed to engage my services as a temporary English Teacher at a rural school, Saint Philips, for just six months in 2000. I have never worked formally anywhere else.
In a bid to make ends meet, I resorted to cross boarder trading while waiting for the economic turmoil and political dust to settle. I sold electrical wares at a stall rented at Mbares Siyaso informal market. Come 2005, my source of income was shattered by Operation Murambatsvina, which destroyed informal business enterprises across the country. For the past 10 years I have been living from hand to mouth. To secure employment with my professional qualifications, it would be a matter of who do you know at high places. The job market remains infested with corruption.
I did not benefit from the chaotic Zanu (PF) land reform programme since my political affiliation was regarded as incorrect by the powers that be. I hope 2011 would see successful implementation of the much expected land audit. Repossession of land from multi-farm owners could result in discriminated victims of circumstances in my situation benefiting from the eventual equitable redistribution of land to the landless.
I have already wasted the first 10 years of my working life sitting idly at home due to political and economic instability in the country. Other fortunate and well-connected university and college graduates in my situation took flight to the Diaspora, where at least they were able to use some acquired professional skills.
With the initial outcome of March 29 harmonized elections I had raised my expectations for a brighter future. My hopes and expectations of a new prosperous Zimbabwe were shattered as the partisan military and dictatorship decided otherwise.I have not started a meaningful life yet. Neither do I entertain any prospects of starting a married life any time soon given the current gloomy political and economic environment. I have since turned 31 without ever holding a payslip in my name.
Life expectancy for a male Zimbabwean was estimated at 45. Will 2011 be any different and usher in a new political dispensation capable of turning economic fortunes of the country. What will come out of the much anticipated 2011 elections? Will industry and commerce get on their feet as the economy assumes an upturn posture? What with the Zanu (PF) talk that they would never surrender power to any rival who wins the next elections? Will the leadership blamed for the economic meltdown maintain grip onto power until I reach the 45 year life expectancy? God please help.
Like Nhema, Brighton Takavadiyi (32), from Murewa among more than 90 percent unemployed youths across the country and those who took flight to the Diaspora, look forward to 2011 ushering a civilised political era characterized with an economic boom. Time will tell as Nhema and other youths in his situation would be rendered a wasted generation, should the countrys political and economic fortunes fail to assume an upward trend. MDC-T Minister of Finance, Tendai Biti, described 2011 as a tough year due to negative attitude of tired partners in the GPA.
Post published in: News