The convoys of trucks and buses from South Africa’s Home Affairs department that on Wednesday resumed weekly trips to the border town to deport hundreds of Zimbabweans signify one important and undeniable truth: Zimbabweans do not have confidence in this government.
Despite relative political stability when compared to the chaos of 2008 and despite the impressive economic growth of the past two years, very few people believe that the marriage of inconvenience between Zanu (PF) and the MDC has the ability, let alone the will, to lay the foundation upon which a new and better Zimbabwe could be built.
The best of our young men and women remain convinced that their future lies beyond the Zambezi and the Limpopo. They see nothing for them in Zimbabwe. They would rather risk life and limb crossing the crocodile-infested Limpopo River to get to South Africa than sit at home and watch the government dilly-dally on important issues instead of taking decisive action to move the country forward.
The unity government has shown that it has no capacity to deliver on the political and security reforms, without which there can be no new Zimbabwe. It continues to dither on key issues: a new constitution, security reforms, a land audit, rule of law and human rights.
And outside the circle of sycophants, there are very few people in either the MDC or Zanu (PF) who believe President Mugabe or Prime Minister Tsvangirai when they say the stop-start constitutional reforms will produce a truly democratic governance charter, or when they promise that the next elections will be free and fair.
But the real tragedy in all this is not of a people losing hope in their country or government. The tragedy is that the unity government has provided the best chance in decades to end political strife in Zimbabwe – but one which those in charge seem determined to let slip through their fingers.
Post published in: Editor: Wilf Mbanga