Tendai Ruben Mbofana
Who are we waiting for to come and save us?
Who is this “knight in shining armor”, or “Prince Charming” we are expecting to ride gracefully and valiantly into our seemingly god-forsaken country, scaling the tall walls of unbelievably horrendous economic challenges, and whisking us away to live happily ever after?
In fact, which fairy tale are the people of Zimbabwe living in?
Why do I ask such questions?
Well, what else am I supposed to wonder – when we appear to be going about our daily businesses each and every day, in the midst of all the undeniable destruction and ruination of our once prosperous country at the hands of the callous and corrupt ruling elite, leaving millions unable to manage a decent and dignified livelihood – yet, we seem unfazed and unconcerned about doing something about this miserable state of affairs?
Except for the incessant complaints and grumbling over our sorrowful existence – as we moan on ZUPCO buses or mushikashika pirate taxis, in supermarket or bank queues, and even in media articles or social media platforms – what real tangible action are we prepared to undertake to save ourselves from the hideous savage grip of an evil regime that knows nothing but stealing and destroying?
Is complaining and crying the best we have in our arsenal?
As Zimbabweans we appear to forget one crucial fact, and aspect of human life – our Creator gave us the ability to cry, only in order for someone else to come and assist or rescue us.
That is why this is a characteristic usually associated with a helpless vulnerable baby – who is entirely dependent on an older, more capable grown up, possessing the power and ability to provide the solutions and assistance the little one urgently requires.
Crying on its own can never feed a hungry baby, or change a wet and soiled diaper.
Nonetheless, helpless crying for help becomes a bit strange and unexpected as the individual becomes bigger, more powerful, and self-reliant – since, he now would be expected to adequately fend for himself, and take care of this own problems.
Are we then, to say, as Zimbabweans, we are still babies in the mix of things – such that, all we have is the ability to cry and moan, in the face of constricting and choking economic hardships, authored by those governing our country?
When someone, especially a baby cries, he would be crying to another person for help – so, who would we be crying to exactly?
Who is this “knight in shining armor” whom we would be expecting to ride in and save us?
I honestly do not understand us Zimbabweans!
Are we telling the world, which hears us perennially moaning, that we are yet not powerful or capable enough to fearlessly and relentlessly stand up for ourselves against those making our lives hellish and nightmarish?
If so, then I am eager to know who this “powerful and capable” savior is, whom we await!
Surely, is the anguish and humiliation of being unable to put food on the table for our families, or failure to pay fess for our children to learn at good schools, or the inability to buy a beautiful decent home for our spouses – not reason or incitement enough to finally say, “this is it, we are fed up, and can’t take this anymore”?
Or, do we need more pain and suffering for us to finally declare that, enough was enough!
What more do we really need to happen?
I am pretty sure even if the regime was to send thugs to kill our spouses and children – we would be cowered and terrified even more – instead of defending our families with all our strength, and putting our own lives on the line for them.
Is that really who we are as Zimbabweans?
That is why there was a time I even questioned whether Zimbabwean nationals were the ones who actually waged the country’s liberation struggle – or, we had others, maybe from Mozambique, fighting on our behalf – since, I find it extremely difficult to reconcile the people of the 1960s and 70s, and the witless and gutless generation of today.
Keyboard activisms, as I am doing right now, is well and truly fine – but, it has its own time and place – and, will never lead to the genuine emancipation of the people of Zimbabwe.
It is left to the real people on the ground, for us all to band together and unite, in the common purpose of finally freeing ourselves from the bondages and shackles of oppression and impoverishment.
Anything less, is just whiling our time, as we fool ourselves with fake consolation and false sense of bravado – as we make a lot of noise hiding behind computer screens and our smartphones, as if that will change anything!
© Tendai Ruben Mbofana is a social justice activist, writer, researcher and social commentator. Please feel free to contact him on WhatsApp/Call: +263715667700 / +263782283975, or Calls Only: +263788897936 / +263733399640, or email: mbofana.tendairuben73@gmail.com
Post published in: Featured
@ Mbofana
Thank you very much for giving Zimbabweans a kick in the backside to force them to do something to end the economic and political rot that has turned the country into a textbook failed state.
The only time Zimbabweans have got off their backside is in risking all to vote for the MDC/CCC in the hope the party will deliver the democratic changes the nation was dying for. As we know MDC leaders sold out and failed to implement even one reform in 22 years, 5 of which in the GNU.
“MDC died in 2008!” said Brett in a video that has gone viral on social media. He is right. The tragedy is that many Zimbabweans have yet to see that reality!