From an economic point of view, the realm of managing diversity requires managers to allow people to be different and treat diversity as an asset, not a cost. Zimbabwe, and indeed Africa, need to put this into practice as a foundation for development and progress, argues ASHTON MUTASA.It is sad to note that Zimbabwe under Mugabe has brutally punished difference and diversity in order to perpetuate his own and Zanu (PF)s political survival. From the languages spoken to access to political office, political participation and access to state support, loyalty and allegiance to Mugabe has always been the norm.
Calls to treat diversity as a resource have always been treated as cheap politicking, sometimes harshly punished or simply shelved in Mugabes cabinet. His office contains all the commissions of enquiry he ever commissioned but felt threatened to implement the recommendations. One such inquiry is the Nziramasanga Inquiry on education and in particular its call to use of the diverse languages of Zimbabwe in schools.
Links to how language empowers a people threatens Mugabe who currently enjoys being called the all-knowing supreme leader. The despotic leader knows how language can facilitate genuine political consciousness. Mugabe is in some kind of prison, he is trapped in his desire to survive as a political leader. All his party faithful are safe if they do not challenge him to account for his actions. One hopes Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai does not develop into this kind of leader.
Mugabes continuous disregard of the benefits of diversity is echoed across the SADC region. The subregion seems shocked by the rise of MDC and the new brand of politics that exists outside the liberation struggle/nationalist politics. Most of the SADC leadership is content with the heroics of the past and resists accommodating the young and those with bright ideas about how our region can fare in a challenging global world.
The bold stance of embracing Tsvangirai as leader of Zimbabwe is yet to emerge from SADC (with Botswana being the notable exception). The question we ask is, Why is SADC so afraid to embrace difference and diversity if it repositions our region in a positive light and places us on the road to recovery? Tsvangirais leadership surely spells many opportunities for the sub-region.
A glass half full
Proponent of asset-based capacity building approaches, Jody Kretzman, views diversity as a potential resource inherent in a community to initiate and sustain development. He and fellow proponents see communities that can successfully tap into their assets as a glass half full. Zimbabwe remains a case in point.
The country has many human resources that now run economies of such countries as South Africa, Australia, England and Botswana to name just a few. The political leaders of Zimbabwe view diversity and difference as a threat and as such have pursued a glass half empty approach. This was recently demonstrated when they celebrated the return of the erstwhile politician Jonathan Moyo to the central committee.
This really shows that leadership sees the likes of Dabengwa, Mabhena and Makoni as a threat. The police and armed forces are all thoroughly politicised. Voices that call for professionalism and patriotism to the country are punished and we hear grapevine stories of army personnel being executed for standing tall.
Most unacceptable is that the voters capacity to have a say in the determination of both their individual and collective lives has been severely limited. Mugabe has become unacceptably omnipresent in the political field. Yet he rebuffs genuine concerns about accountability and governance. Every time Mugabe faces criticism he links this to plots by the West to destabilise his rule.
Cowards have failed
Does Mugabe feel he or his Zanu (PF) cowards have failed the nation?
A simple challenge would be to explore if Mugabe has ever put forward a yardstick by which the nation can measure the progress and effectiveness of his polices? Seems that every time a ministers loots or abuse authority Mugabe offers them an olive leaf.
Government and party seem to be a family issue for the aged Mugabe. He clearly does not have a life outside of his political misrule of Zimbabwe. That he has looted the economy for his family enterprise is evidenced by the many farms he has, Gracelands and many other investments abroad. Why do all these riches not entice this failed leader to retire?
Questions have to be asked about what new things he can offer the country after nearly 30 years of misrule, changing goalposts and blaming others for his failures.
Dwindling support
The rural areas used to be a strong support base for the cunning master until they realised he has nothing to offer them and the nation. These rural folks need Tsvangirai to offer them what they expect of a responsible government of the people by the people, however will they be patient to realise that there esteemed leader is so near yet so far to respond to their yearnings.
Participation in the government of national unity is a step towards the change longed by all of us. We hope that a party that has demonstrated its willingness to harness diversity as assets and resources will eventually win. The MDC-T has an inclusion agenda that celebrates difference and diversity and this should ensure political participation by all Zimbabweans.
Continued involvement of the rural sector will lead to increased political participation by all Zimbabweans but, more importantly, will raise political consciousness which is crucial to sustaining governance and accountability within political leadership. Woman voices in the MDC are still loud and clear but they should include more rural women participation!
Embracing diversity
In his trip to Ghana last year, US President Barack Obama, challenged the nations of Africa to reshape themselves into lawful democracies. New values of good governance, sustained development and improved political consciousness need to be embraced. But for this to happen, strong institutions are needed.
Zimbabwe certainly needs new institutions to reinvent and reposition it. Tsvangirai seems to be the natural starting point for this new journey. But he needs to do this with the people. As Obama said You can conquer disease, end conflicts, and make change from the bottom up, you can do that. Yes you can. Obama in his country has embraced diversity and difference successfully not only to win the presidential elections but also to usher in non-partisan engagement in charting policies of national interest. Tsvangirai and Africa must learn something from America and Obama.
Post published in: Opinions