Zimbabwe 2013 aftermath: The US' review of sanctions among other things....

Sub-Committee Chairman Smith (middle) and Arthur Gwagwa (left)

There was pomp and fanfare in the ZANU Patriots' Front camp after the Zimbabwean election of 2013. Many people have come forward to decry the electoral process claiming that it was heavily rigged and the opposition, on whom people wishing for change pinned their hopes on. Beaten by a margin of over 20%, the MDC set off on a mixed exercise of blame and complacency to save face and perhaps get the people's empathy. To think of the electoral process as flawed is one huge guess, perhaps in the right direction, towards being labelled a traitor by the victorious party. They have notoriety in calling anyone who stands in opposition to their being, a western driven traitor who works to please his masters, the west. To think of it as not flawed again is to take a dive into the pitch black night because the victory margin is just unimaginable, especially in a country that has gone through a helluva time under the presidency of the octogenarian Robert Mugabe. What reconciles the two different opinions together could be a simple fact of the complex situation Zimbabwean people are caught in. On the other hand, there is need to safeguard the country's sovereignty, the land with its mineral wealth as well as championing of black people's critical role playing in economic development. Given the pre 1980 situation in which a handful of British descendants who colonized the country officially on September 13, 1890 had all the power and privilege. After Mugabe's paradigm for economic empowerment in Africa, which saw the privileged white Zimbabweans being stripped of their wealth and rights, wealth began to more and more fall into the hands of blacks, but only a few blacks.

Since the Patriotic Front has laid claim on the role of being the only liberator of black peoples in Zimbabwe, they have been downright arrogant in their affirmation and have refused to incorporate any other claims that other parties fought as much as they did and if they happen to do so, they have shown no proper respect for them. This has them to hold in contempt anyone who happens to vie to liberation of people but this time, from them. That is when the ex-trade unionist leader of the opposition Movement of Democratic Change comes into vision. Having amassed so much support during his reputable May 1 speeches. Mr Tsvangirai went on to form a party in 1999 that during the 2013 election promised to rebuild the economy and encourage foreign investment. In his JUICE programme, which promised to revitalize the country's economy, he pinpointed the need to encourage domestic and direct foreign investment, a point which their sole opposers seized to hammer home the point they had raised against them time and time again, that they were working hand in glove with western governments to effect regime change in the country. Their claim, the western countries covert the country's land, which has fertility and minerals. The MDC in my opinion, benevolent in their plans as they could be, failed to spring back and get themselves out of being traitors as they had been labelled by the ZANU (PF) government and to make matters worse, their plan JUICE seemed to confirm the rumors. They have also trotted the globe seeking for funding and that partly is caused by the fact that the government of Zimbabwe has no plausible structures to finance opposition parties that come in to achieve a healthy democratic nation. Furthermore, Patriotic Front-men, saviors at first turned into savages who began to greedily amass wealth for themselves, and sank their teeth into diamonds of Marange and shut everyone else out. As we know it, diamonds cost very much and so, they made a lot of it, and are still making it, being where they are because of the power of the ordinary man's vote, which in this regard, is questionable.

So when does the United States come into the picture? Thousands of people migrated from Zimbabwe to the US and other developed countries, seeking greener pastures and many have found them for some, the story is not pleasant to tell. Doctors, nurses, lawyers, teachers, engineers and others left the country creating a huge brain drain that made the country the country suffer even more. Meanwhile, the EU community and the United States slapped the country with economic sanctions that have brought untold suffering to common people and not the government officials who were said to have been targeted. One might think that these big powers, by sanctioning the country wanted to achieve the current Arab-world countries' style revolutions. If people are disgruntled, they riot and topple the government, at least the Arabs do. But Zimbabweans took it all differently, they remained mum, crying inwardly, smarting outwardly.  Attempts to march in protest were quashed by the police. In Zimbabwe, the government uses the army and police heavily to intimidate anyone who dares challenge the rulers. More So, they stamp their authority in the form of repressive laws such as AIPPA, POSA and the likes which work in a double way, helpful and oppressive, it all depends upon implementation. The proceedings of the Sub-Committee on Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations sought to establish a way for the United States government's continued stance on maintaining sanctions on Zimbabwe due to the Patriotic's party's victory which has been much thought to have been rigged. The chairman of the committee Christopher Smith pointed out that the US government sought to maintain the sanctions and make sure that they affect the members of the autocratic government as compared to everyone else in the country. UK based Zimbabwean lawyer, Arthur Gwagwa who gave a witness's' account as to the situation in the country as well as his opinion, since he worked as a lawyer on humanitarian grounds also gave his opinion on the matter of sanctions, he hesitantly said that he truly felt they negatively affected people and hence should be scraped or revised in order to relieve ordinary Zimbabweans who are already suffering from a ship-shape economy. He also suggested that they consider levelling the sanctions on the members of the ZANU PF party directly for they continued to prosper in the face of the so called sanctions. Smith then mentioned that his government was working on a new way to sanction dictators and other human rights abusers by trying to pass a new law in order to effect that.

So much work still needs to be done in this country, there is still joblessness, rampant corruption and a heavily crippled economy among other things. The question is: Is the new government going to deliver political goods as promised, as people expect or as they wish?

The link below has the proceedings of the Sub-Committee hearing of September 2013

http://foreignaffairs.house.gov/hearing/subcommittee-hearing-troubling-path-ahead-us-zimbabwe-relations

Zimbabwe, Africa and the world- Meddling and Peddling.

In as much as the world needs the best for Zimbabwe (which is not exactly true) we definitely need to come up with home-grown solutions to the crisis at home. More like drop all party politics and focus on the country itself. It seems like the more we war about who is in charge and who is not, while forgetting to look at the actual job they are supposed to be doing, the more we slide into mediocre an existence and allow the flourish of manipulation by politicians. If you would rather, its people against politicians, not ZANU PF against MDC or NDP because, they are living large while the ones pitted against each other are not. Now, who's the fool? I mean, I appreciate all the benevolent plans of these people but look at it, it seems to them like the easy way out of ordinary living. For others, it means being able to keep their hands in the bags of diamonds, for others it means living off the generous donations of Western donors to whom they always look up to for solutions in times of crises like this. 

I mean,honestly, what does western countries have to do with Zimbabwe's legitimacy of this or that? Well, OK, one may say they are safeguards of democracy or something like that but are they? Are children with a right to live not killed in the wars overseas in Afghanistan, Iraq and everywhere else? Certainly we can not say one kind of evil is better than another. Moreover, other African countries have no right absolutely because as far as concern is concerned about African affairs, Kwame Nkrumah tried and his legacy has been forsaken so shut it African countries, you are the most un-united countries under the sun because, you believe the developed nations love you while they love nothing about you but to exploit you and pretend to love you while doing so. This is caused by the lack of conviction by African leaders who for so long have itched to be where their former colonial masters were. Meanwhile, although imperialism ended in Africa, economic imperialism still has its tentacles around most of African economies. That is the reason why many political aspirants have in their plans accommodations for western businesses to invest in their nations. My recommendation is for Africa to come up with its own effective trading bloc because well almost every resource needed for life is in the continent. But the lie and continued exploitation of resources on the continent keep people lodged deep in the mud.

In Zimbabwe now, there are a variety of sentiments over the elections in which Robert Mugabe the aged leader emerged the victor. Many have called for the west to do something. What a shame! Others have called for taking to the streets! Way to go! And the rest are just but undecided wind-blown characters who do not know what is right or wrong for them. Time for reality check, crying out for the west to do something is utter dependence on those we are trying to get away from. Our economy can do well without them, if we do what we are supposed to. What we need to do is to put an end to this 'diamond' ring forged by ZANU PF and the Chinese. It's scary, with the rate at which they are going, I am even afraid that they may deplete diamond reserves in the belly of our earth before they are put to use for the benefit of everyone. Trust me, most of those haggling for positions for the benefit. Trust me, if I had the opportunity, I would get one or two, but not all and if anyone thinks they may just get in the government and ignore the temptation of all that gold and diamonds then they are serious liars!

So what's the way forward. I suggest, accept the results. Morgan Tsvangirai was quoted saying his party has no strategy as to what stance to take after Mugabe's victory and that it was up to the people to deal with the situation. Amid all these calls, the president of Russia, Vladimir has sent his congratulations to Mugabe while Khama is refusing to endorse anything, yet. The SADC region and the AU have given their thumbs up too. Those of us who belong to the losing camp have been hurt and disappointed that Mugabe once again rigged and I know still that they are those who voted for him genuinely, the numbers of which I don't know now. He may have won people's hearts over his indigenisation quips and stance, now that he wants to go into the banking sector, oh what a mess it will be! Or not! Who says that a country's banking sector thrives due to the presence of British Banking Corporations? That is the test Zimbabweans, to make it on our own. I'm quite sure if the British themselves meant it when they ceded power to a black government in 1980, they would have 'weaned' Zimbabwe. If all European nations genuinely gave up their colonies, they should have packed their bags and left completely so as to be spectators just like African nations are to them. You will never hear of a Lesotho minister saying that Kevin Rudd did a very bad thing to Julia Gillard. His/her opinion won't even matter to the Australian and international world of politics. However, the opposite is true to African nations. Ministers and congressmen from everywhere bay and bark about African politics anyhow! That ladies and gentlemen is wrong! If we are to take anything they say about us, it has to be a two way communication! The Zimbabwean Minister of Health should have a say about the US president signing the Monsanto Protection Act- and be heard too!

So the breakaway voices of the world over the election outcome in Zimbabwe should all shut up! People should learn to be observers and mind their own business. To fellow Zimbabweans I say, it is time to buckle up. ZANU PF has won running on an old campaign line of indigenization. Now look closely with a magnifying glass, in fact, discard the looking glass and look at what they are doing. It will give you a very clear vision of what they are going to do. They are going to continue empowering black people, or rather, Zimbabwean natives, even white people because it is not always about black and white people. Joshua Sako, the ZANU PF Youth League Secretary for External Affairs is white. So cut the notion that they are a racist party. They may be but just to racist whites. MDC meanwhile, is a party that promised democracy, but has not been able to effectively convince the voting public that they are for democracy, especially in the face of allegations by their opponents in the face of trying to hand over the country to former colonizers. But the democratic part is what won me, I yearn for a country where my voice matters. Just what we want in the country currently, for all people to participate in matters that matter. For government ministers to be held accountable and stop running off with money and abusing their power. I mean it has been a rough ride with ZANU PF in power and we still have to go another five years. I say, as the MDC president suggested, we need to take care of the issue ourselves, without having to depart from important ideals of empowerment of the people for the benefit of the people. And shut up western countries!

Public Debates, a political innovation- (I)

We've heard and seen them; high profile meetings of government officials sitting in for special deliberations about issues pertaining to national security, national financial well being and even national morality. The issues that are discussed and voted for in parliaments, congress or any other building that houses such important men and women of any sovereign nation. Concerns such as the debt ceiling, immigration, sanctions, war declaration etc are all kept away from the public (the real material). Only bits and pieces, biased are let out to the press and embargoed before they are consumed by avid masses.

Long time ago, when Africa was still not called that, and perhaps Europe was called that, long before America was even invaded by the Europeans, chiefs and kings led kingdoms that prevailed in the numerous wars fought over territories on the plains of what we now know as Africa. These chiefs led armies of well trained men who were dedicated to fight for their honor. Affairs of their states were discussed during times of crises as as well as during resting hours, mostly in the evenings after dinner. Most villages had diners where all men congregated and their wives brought them their food and they ate as they shared ideas and made plans. What these men agreed on were things they all saw as beneficial for the entire population and everyone mattered; because they were a tribe. Most texts will point out that democracy was pioneered by the Greeks but these are just suggestions of a few while the rest of us know and believe that democracy began or was prevalent in Africa by the time it was also being practiced in Athens and even before.

Today, democracy has been beaten badly out of shape. Many countries claim to subscribe to the ideals of democracy where the voice of every member of the society matters. Practically, it is not the case; they are dictators, plutocracies, autocracies you name them that are running on a lie that they are democracies. Wars have been fought due to disagreements between nations or factions in a nation eg, WW1 and 2, unrest in Syria, Congo, Central African Republic, Afghanistani. The Cuban crisis, had it gone on to be a war was going to change the face of the earth, however, it was diffused and books have been written from this events. In all wars, something terrible has always happened, innocent civilians and children have died. Children have been handed the gun and told to shoot and kill, however, the reasons remain under the carpet. With the loss of people involvement in the affairs concerning their national well being, more and more dogma has been spewed their way and there has been an increase in senseless following by people and terrible loss of life due to clashes. If a solution could be fathomed at all to stop this madness, it wouldn't come no better in a form to minimize the effects.

Today's political fronts, politicians and players in the industry have created a multi-billion dollar money spinning scam out of politics. Large corporations align themselves with governments and government officials in order to exploit people and other natural resources. We talk about multinationals such as Coca-Cola, mining entities such as Marikana, Zimplats, Mbada Diamonds. What happens is, in a truly democratic country, where resources are left to be used by by people for their benefit. The president of the United States of America, acting in accordance to the wishes of a company that has fed millions of people across the country and the world experimental and unhealthy genetically modified foods, signed a bill to protect it from Federal courts just in case it was dragged there and hence the signing of the Monsanto Protection Act.

What is actually happening is, in a truly democratic country, people's voices are heard. Perhaps we wouldn't be having all these wars, all this looting by government officials across the world. We certainly wouldn't be having a concentration of power on a few individuals who then go on to abuse it. A result of this has been anguish and suffering for innocent people who practising their democratic right  vote individuals into power. If we look at things properly, every and one of all presidents in the world have lied to people for election. They have promised high heavens and yet have turned out to deliver hades once installed. For how many more years shall ordinary people keep on to be lied to and abused all in the name of democracy? This lie, perpetuated for hundreds of years now has to be crushed by people. The Egyptians have lately been known to be intolerant of rascals as such. A year into Muhammad Morsi's reign, they dethroned him for his incompetency.

With elections merely a week away in Zimbabwe, people are excited and have been fed contesting parties manifestos. Some of what was said makes sense but the rest of it is mumbo jumbo, ancient promises from 1900 that have never been fulfilled before. What makes me wonder is, how will they be effected if they have never been in the past thirty something years. There has always been talk about development of indigenisation that so far has been heavily partisan although every one in the country who deserves it has not been served. In their manifestos, major parties have scantily outlined that they are going to create more job opportunities, something they have failed to prove while working for the Government of National Unity. One may come to their defenses and say, they sabotaging  each other, but that is no valid excuse because if that is the case, none of them deserve to be in the government if they put their feelings and importance before the people of Zimbabwe's. In writing, I still have to see an elaborate plan, budgets and cash flows showing how they intend to generate all their fancy promises, otherwise it is all but just talk. Unfortunately, tired and expectant, the people were quick to buy these promises and are on their way to yet another disappointment on July 31. How can rampant corruption and blatant disrespect of nationally valued resources suddenly disappear in a newly elected government. Given more time, by the ballot, they will wring the nation of its last diamond, gold and anything of value while people continue to languish in dire poverty.

We need to stop and think before empowering yet another bunch of no- gooders to happily stuff themselves at the expense of millions who are gullible. I of course have no regrets for my words for I have seen this happen and efforts to stop this have been met with snide commentary and nothing done to resort the issue. I love Zimbabwe and every other country. It's the heartless politicians and the government officials who have not a grain of care in their hearts who should answer to God for their atrocities, otherwise, we the people should run the affairs of the country, they are only overseers and nothing else!

Be wary of Political Users

The world is full of people and nations that use others for one sided gains. This is an old practice that ancients discovered and used it to achieve power and opulence. The organization of ancient settlements was based on this. Kings became and got the support of those who stood by them. People identified with each other by shared ancestry, language, heritage, shared interests and many other things. Today's formalized economies are just the same system evolved. The modern way of life is in every aspect similar to the period of peasants and landowners. The working class who are the modern day serfs all have been trained to attend educational institutions so as to learn modern wisdom and get good jobs in companies owned by rich people. These people discovered secrets that serfs have not, or rather, are reluctant to. The secret of making it big, is to go for it! So they all work for companies that make billions of dollars and they pay taxes to their governments that do not tax the same companies they work for that severely. The reason being that the same companies in much of the world control the governments. Most of the companies are run by people in the congress or have direct influence to members of parliaments and congress.

Titles we use at work play a large role in keeping us divided. Just like the slave system had house-negroes and the colonial system in Africa had baas boys, we today are kept at each others' necks by the titles such as 'supervisor, manager, team leader' etc. We are always stepping on each other trying to please the men at the top. Men, real men act like little girls in a bid to make bosses happy. On the other hand, soldiers are sent to shoot and kill fellow human beings just because their countries leaders harbor political differences. In most cases, wars are fought for monetary gains, not real differences but one nation tries to get in the way of the and stop it from obtaining oil, minerals or something of that sort. End of the day when those at the very top reach a consensus, they men sit on the same table and feed while wounded soldiers are usually left to suffer leading destitute lives as if their medals will replace their blown off limbs or lost sanity. We are living in such a greedy world where political leaders poison our minds with dogma and set us against each other like prize fighting dogs. We do not care to think about the greater picture but lash out at the next person who harbors a different political viewpoint. We burn infrastructure and kill children because of that. And when all is said and done, when these men and women are comfortably in power, they turn against the same people who helped them get to the top. They secrete into social conscience, issues of race, religion and tribal differences just to pit people more against each other. At work, union workers are intimidated and killed as with the Coca-Cola Union workers situation in Colombia, Guatemala and Marikana Mine workers in South Africa who government was stunned because they could not raise their voice over the corporate giants who happen to be their paymasters.

The real enemy as I have discovered over the years of being bombarded with lies to hate people or treat them unequally just because they speak or look different from me, is not the Muslim across the street, or the Ndebele down the line, neither is he the white man I meet in the street. The real enemy is the system designed to perpetuate such stereos. I will not on any given day, raise a hand to strike another because they subscribe to a different ideology than I do. Life is meant to be full of variety, that is why God created different kinds of animals and varieties of flora. We all love to buy different kinds of flowers don't we? Why then do have to have every person subscribe to one ideology, that is tyranny and has no room in this life, not in the next either. The purpose of our lives is to celebrate each other, live together and help one another, and not treat each other suspect because they are black or white!

If we carefully analyze violence, politically motivated in Zimbabwe, we see that the sufferer is not the minister vying for the spot for which he is murdering for. The casualty is ourselves because if in our village, neighborhood or church whatever institution it could be, we lose a member due to political violence, responsibility ricochets back to us and we have to partake in the wake and other things. Take it this way also, if we kill a baker in a village, who then bakes our bread. Already a vacuum has been created hard to fill and it may take years if it finally gets filled. Again, the person behind all this does not care to invite us into his lavish residence to privately thank us or include us in the business deals that he will sign with shady foreign companies to exploit our resources. We talk about indigenization in Zimbabwe and supporting everything Zimbabwean. But look at how political figures run to western countries their sworn enemies to educate their children and seek medical help? Their suits are tailored by people they claim cause their people's suffering. If at all sanctions are affecting people, they are not affecting them because they still live in absolute comfort and freedom. The same people who implant hatred in our hearts for western countries who actually do have sinister motives of their own. So instead of protecting us from them, they accuse them and then deal with them. We still are far off from reaching true independence as a continent, wholly.

Another important aspect to grasp and practice is Questioning authority. We need to be able to ask questions and demand answers. We need to feel like we have control over the minerals in our country as well as other resources' allocation. We need courts to represent people without bias and the police to safeguard our freedom, not to steal it. We need to stop thoughtless chanting of slogans and think about what we are committing our votes to. We need African leader who rise and question authority imposed on them by the western world. We have courts like the Hague trying mostly African deposed leaders for crimes against humanity. What about the rest of the world? We believe in the lie that nothing good comes out of our continent but the truth is, God is for us all. We wait to hear what western countries have to say about our economies and wait for their generosity through funds they proffer to us. That help does not come without strings attached. They always need something from the help they give from the money most of them made of Africa. Thus there has been this dependency that has been created and people believe that everything good comes out of the west. That is blatant lie and needs to be killed before future generations are swallowed by it.

The revolution that swept across Africa during the colonial days was a very good development. What killed the zeal of most of those who led it is the corrupting power of privilege. Once installed, in absolute control of everything, the men and women who were supposed to raise the flag of the continent up high and put it on the map soon forgot their missions. Once they tasted sweet power and money, they moved in for the kill. They wanted it all, and all for themselves. People see this daily and never care much to reprimand them. The real criminal in every nation is not the man and the woman who are daily convicted because of various crimes, of course they are but the real ones are men and women who gamble with national wealth and the rest of the people suffer austerity. The real criminals who are unpatriotic are men and women who drill the earth to extract diamonds meant for the benefit of the whole nation and sign deals with foreign firms who pay them to divert the money and put it in their private bank accounts. The men and women who ignore the signs of distress to go partying while their people die from lack of medical care among other shortages endured. As a matter of fact, instead of going to vote for the simple fact that one likes an aspiring candidate, we need to ask questions and we need assurance, signed and agreed that whoever shall take over, will indeed honor the wishes of people every time.

Zimbabwe Elections 2013.

Picture-Facebook.com

Could this be the end? Or it is the beginning of a new reign of the same old? Could we part of a wave of change that is sweeping across the world? Are we expectant of change? Do we as Africans harbor any hope for change, now that our counterparts in the North have twice effected change in their nation? As the world celebrates with America's United States their independence I have sat down contemplatively and have come up with questions unresolved that I will pose to the rest of the world.
To begin with, the president of the Republic of Zimbabwe has announced the dates for the 2013 elections for the public to democratically elect a new head of state. This will bring to an end, the life of a Government of National Unity that we all agreed to back in 2009. We in Zimbabwe I must say are the most resilient and peaceful people on the face of the earth. One can say we were subdued long before we could protest, but the truth of the matter is, we know the value of human life. Among us live a breed of people who could do anything for money and other gains, and those are the easy targets our politicians use to kill and destroy other people's livelihoods. Political pawns they are and the most corrupt and decadent among us manipulate their dim wits to grow opulent. 
On this day, in 1776, 13 American States declared themselves free from British rule and embarked on a journey that the country is still on today, towards the achievement of total democracy. The declaration of independence in America prompted the French to demolish their monarch. Old ideals were thrown out and founded were the new ideals of liberté, égalite and fratenité. A new dawn began that saw the independent states coming also together under one Federal Government. At the same time, Capitalism rose and saw the world prosper. Colonization of Africa followed suit, with ambitious European states venturing far across the seas to claim territories that belonged to native Africans, Indians and Asians. Later, they too were displaced and native peoples ruled in their respective countries, free at last! However, with all these good developments happening across the globe, there lately has been yet another sign of the times. Perhaps it is time to depart from the so-called democratic practices or rather, it is time to practice the 'real' democracy as has been avoided by many democracies across the world. Democracy is a very hard practice, for those who want the word to be defined in the true sense of the world. It is so because it means every individual in a nation is heard and is truly represented and leaders are held accountable at any point in time.

Picture-yahoo.news.com

We have seen the current ongoing events in Egypt who have twice forced their leaders to leave their posts. Early in June, the Brazilians took to the streets in Sao Paulo over bus fares. By mid June, about a million protesters turned up to protest against an even longer list of injustices they had braved over the years which include poor public services, corruption, overly paid for World Cup stadiums et cetera. There has been protests in Turkey over a building project backed by Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan. In Indonesia, they have refused to accept the increase in gasoline prices. What began as mere demonstrations in Sofia, against abnormally high electricity and hot water bills became even more serious demonstrations against the government's policies and the entire political system in the country. As a result, the government of Boyko Metodiev Borisev resigned. The rest of Europe, in Greece people are displeased by austerity measures adopted by their government as well as in Spain and other Euro zone countries. It seems like the time we are in is a phase of people-initiated changes in the most high places in countries and this should ring bells to current African leaders as well as those planning to lead. Personally, I feel we should not remain quiet when things in our beloved Zimbabwe are not going so well, especially if they are because government officials are not performing their duties. The issue to keep in mind is that we should be peaceful, in everything that we do. We must, just like the rest of the people who are realizing this, see that power, real power lies in people, not governments. 
As for the presidents old and young in Africa, presidential aspirants, let Dilma Rousseff, Tayyip Erdogan, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Mariano Rajoy and Morsi and the rest of them tell you how it is to have people who you would have thought you had gotten them in the bag tell you. As docile as we may look, as lethal as the armies may seem, it will take just a day for the walls to break and the water come crushing in on authority. Remember, it is hard to contain an angry mob that is not fighting among itself, but shouting for your removal from power. Perhaps it is the work of the Divine one fighting for the injustice His children are suffering at the hands of unruly politicians. 

The lines that run under the heading 'What is ZANU PF? in their constitution include the following portion,'driven by its Democratic African Values where the leadership is accountable to the membership which elected it...'. On the other hand, the MDC's elections manifesto promises people that the party, once elected into power will strive to create a 200 billion dollars economy by 2040 and a creation of over a million jobs within the next five years. On the other hand, ZANU PF whose manifesto is soon to be launched, says they are going to be promising voters more in the areas of indigenization, empowerment and development. I think both parties really need to come up with well laid plans of how they shall accomplish what they are saying to be for. Given the little time there is before the deciding days, it is imperative that every voter demands to know and let it be known that whoever shall be elected, they will be held accountable and failure to produce results, nothing personal, but the elected people shall be removed without having to think twice. I believe that it would be a strong line to run by if leaders tell people that if they fail them, they will leave room for others to try out, after all, the president's job is not designed to accommodate only one person per thirty years.

This is what to expect from the new government.

Time to face the facts now. Elections being imminent, a new government just is a ballot count away, we all have some homework to do. Leveling up to it, the D-Day of course will have to take a deep breath and a flexing of muscles before we know who is taking the most important job in the land. We may fight for now, burn each other and hate on each other forgetting that we are doing it but for the benefit of one or several men, as is the case with the brood of ministers currently. Now is the time to get a little serious than we were yesterday, because its not a game, anybody who thinks or acts as if Zimbabwe's livelihood is a game might as well relocate to another country, not under our watch! (Mine actually).After the July elections, it will be testing time for the promises by people who vied for the positions of president, MPs and the rest. As we all know, with politics, they are not going to be 100% deliver what they promised us. 

This has been proven already, with the pre-1980 promises, and promises made everywhere else in the world and then politicians renegading once they get into power. This is also a probable outcome with our elections and I am afraid, people around me have banked some much on the words only of the politicians on the scene currently, mainly Mr Morgan Tsvangirai and Cde Mugabe and the rest of them. Having to coerce the winner(s) into taking action is going to be a bit of a struggle as once elected, the looting begins, abuse of power and privilege  and then they turn around against their former supporters. To them, everyone of the people who propped them up become suspect and taking them out is the only option to stay in power. After July's elections, we will have to have a new government, elected by the people or otherwise, and we will as we have prayed and hoped see a turn around in our economy. Let us not pin that hope on the Western countries, they only are interested in controlling others, like big brothers, and they give with strings attached. So whatever it is going to be, Bootstrapping is the way to go. We have way too many resources to finance our economy and the industrial infrastructure that is not currently in use shall have to be used and the workforce mobilized once again, that way, we will begin to do better. 

Efforts such as the Diaspora Engagement that saw us hosting a delegation in May 2013, in Washington DC of government officials and business people from Zimbabwe representing pretty much the vital elements of the economy are very good moves that have to be perpetuated in order to turn the fortunes of our well endowed country around. But I am not saying also that we have to refuse help of any well meaning nations, but am saying we are not a cabbage of a country, but a country that shall produce and sell cabbages if it has to, to make money. Trade is as vital in our economy as it is in any other country and it is exchange in trade that invigorate any economy, hence the need to focus efforts to rejuvenate Zimbabwe's trade. On the same token, how shall we measure success in Mr Tsvangirai's or Cde Mugabe or whoever wins the election's administration?It is simple and a bit hard to accomplish, but I know, with proper administration, time and patience as well as participation of every well meaning Zimbabwean and Zimbabwean partner, the true measure of accomplishment in the new Zimbabwe shall be when today's rich man's luxuries become tomorrow's poor man's basic necessity. Is Mr Tsvangirai able to pull this feat? Is Cde Mugabe, given his track record able to? Well among his failures and accomplishments, he has done what he has and I believe the agrarian land reform was a very good policy that was implemented terribly but we can rectify that, as a nation. Pinning blame on him, whining and killing g each other shall do us no good. Whatever promises those vying for the number one job in our country are, we need to hold them accountable to it and I believe they can pull it off, of course with my participation in my own capacity, so is anybody and everybody else. 

Zimbabwe has been conditioned if I may say to having one leader wrestle power from another. That must end. We all want a true democracy, even if democracy, today's democracy is defined in terms alien  to our nature, we all need to have people that do not grab power from another and then having it to themselves, becoming tyrants themselves as Julius Caesar did, Idi Amin did and of course Cde Mugabe to Ian Smith. Smith and his predecessors disposed of our traditional chiefs to rule with decree over our forefathers. So, this election must mark the end of such a cursed line and we begin a new era where changing leaders is as easy and comes with merit, not blood. In as much as we also have known, that most revolutions come with bloodshed, we need to put an end to such a system and begin a new way of doing things. That comes from the realization that we are all fighting to sort the affairs of our country, no-matter which camp we belong to. Given that, we must be very wary of Mr Tsvangirai, he could turn out to be worse than he who we are trying to dispose of. I am not saying he is going to as I subscribe to his ideaology, I harbor a few questions of my own and I still am a supporter of the land redistribution programme, the empowerment programme initiated by the Mugabe administration, I still fear that Mr Tsvangirai's head may swell too and he in turn turns out to be worse than his predecessor. However, I believe that this may not happen, in fact, only God knows with the constitution that was passed giving the president some power that may be detrimental to us lot. Out of all people, Nelson Mandela has actually managed to languish in prison for the freedom of his people and then get out, rule and leave. It takes a man and a half to do this and this is what most leaders go wrong. They think that leading, one has to lord over his people. It reminds me of a quote I read in his biography, Long Walk to Freedom, a saying coined by Nelson Mandela, that goes, 'It is better to lead from behind and to put others in front, especially when you celebrate victory, when nice things occur. You take the front line when there is danger, then people will appreciate your leadership'.

Mass action, if nobody knew is the single most effective way of implementing change in any given situation. If  people, all people of all ages and race or tribe come out and stand against a law, a ruler or anything, they will achieve resounding success. The February Revolution of March 8 to 12 1917 saw the notorious Tsar Nicholas II of Russia abdicate. The Egyptian Revolution of January 2011 saw Hosni Mubarak leave his office. In fact, every instance in history that has had people, all people stand up against anyone, they have succeeded. There is no difference between Zimbabweans and those people, so power lies in the people, not in the president, ministers or the police as we have been conditioned to believe, they are a minority, while we are the majority, and hence wield more effective power. Many people have been selfish especially at the onset of the acute woes of Zimbabwe. Most of those who decided to take a stance against Mugabe's regime and landed aid from foreign nations soon lost the purpose. They began to be more interested in making money, rather than having to help the entire nation as per constitutions of their establishments. Most have gone around the world and over again just to fatten the bellies of their wallets. Many have fled to foreign countries where even granted stay, they are treated as nothing but second class citizens. Their rights are not recognized and never prioritized, funny how people still believe that their host countries do so much to care for them, when they are just equally doing so much for them in terms of paying taxes and providing brain and physical power to their economies. Living in foreign land is never fun, especially when the legally accepted term of identification is 'alien' which we all know is something strange and extra-terrestrial a being. 

That aside, Zimbabwe's fate lies in our own hands, in every citizen's hands. Now is not the time to be blaming each other, sitting back and watching the vocal ones take action. It is time to be heard and taking action, from the remotest parts of the country to the metropolitan areas. We are as strong as our weakest link. Sincerity benevolence and accountability are needed, so is forgiveness and hope. I was quite happy when freed MDC Youth Leader spoke so much in favor of forgiveness of his political rivals. There is certainly hope if leaders take initiatives to instill such good values in our hearts, but again, there is a difference between speaking and doing, time will come for him to prove that he indeed meant it when he said those words, but I believe he is a man of his words. This is a call to action for all and every Zimbabwean and friend of Zimbabwe everywhere in the world.                                                               VIVA REVOLUTION!

My Development Plan for Us.

Image courtesy of www.brazza.culture.fr

Africa is beautiful, home to a billion and some wonderful people. Most of my people are somewhat blissful and yet live under some of the hardest conditions on earth. Daily survival is our main concern, and so just as it is, daily, the survival of the world, mostly the capitalist states of this earth depends on the resources above and buried deep under the belly of this wondrous continent. To this, the world has been conditioned, sadly to  believe that our home continent is so poor, and can't do without the assistance of the western world whose agenda in Africa has been to kill, destroy and exploit since the days of colonialism. Sadder, is the fact that many are children born in the different parts of the region who believe that their fate lies in the goodwill of a nation other than theirs, they can just sit there and wait if not, for help from the west to arrive. With all that is going on, do we ever stop to question ourselves, the reason why western countries are so keen to be involved in African affairs?

Having said that then, I have come to identify some of our shortfalls, areas where we need to look into and address for our journey to a better future to begin. As long as we continue to ignore the very fact that we are being subjected to a system that has no value for our lives, a system that was carefully designed that even in our independence, we are still entirely dependent on it. The money system of the world was designed to serve but a few human beings on the face of the earth and they are evidently not our people mostly. The issue here is not about money, it is the least of concerns, the issue is our identity. As a people, we have been sucked into a system of beliefs alien to us, and most of us are content that way. This has created an ideological complex that has seen many of us being absorbed into any dogma that wafts across the sea to us, and we seem to be so ever grateful about such, even if its a poisonous lie about us. There is nothing wrong with knowing God and Jesus, but there is everything wrong with those who came to us under the guise of God and Christ so that they colonize our lands and make us subservient to them. Colonial masters they became until nationalist movements wave swept across the continent and what emerged when these Europeans were overthrown by Africans was a system that still served them and yet African rulers were in position. Now, how would such a development occur?

The African spirit of Ubuntu, meaning, embracing life, loving yourself and those around you, even when strangers appear among us, we embrace them and make them feel at home at our expense. The good nature of African people is what the visitors took advantage of. They set a snare and we all fell into it. The lives we have today, are determine by forces living the facade of dreams. These are the same elements controlling the elements that spell woes upon our people namely war and artificial shortages of basic resources. I believe we can do much better and combat them, rather than continue to live and being gullible. It is very easy to see that many multi-national corporate giants found operational in most African countries are exploitative of native peoples and the resources. On top of that, they are hateful and very greedy. They cheat on taxes and pay the worst salaries to their workers while their chief-whips make off with bucketfuls of cash to spend overseas. When workers demand proper remuneration, they are threatened to be and are killed, as has been the norm the world over. Consider the events in Colombia Coca-Cola plants and in South Africa, Marikana recently. These things are glaring issues that need to be addressed by the current governments. The major reason they are not is because governments in Africa are run by the rich elite who have tasted what they long since coverted to obtain from their white masters, power and wealth and are in no position to turn the tables around because they are in the middle of the fiesta. They are sharing the spoils of the exploitation of their people while they have yelled all that is bad against their former white colonial masters. Few have attempted to redress the scene, in Zimbabwe for example, Robert Mugabe threw into motion the land programme that actually spilled out to all other facets of the economy. However, his plan was not so well implemented before too long, his ministers and friends were having a party with the country's resources. Ordinary people shut out of this, their concerns were met with murderous lash-back.

We have revolutionary struggles, having happened in the past, during the colonial period, led by western educated individuals whose ideals of democracy or any other form of government have been originated in either the west or the oriental lands. Russia and China's economic ideologies were transferred to the revolutionaries from Africa and that gave the capitalist world quite a scare. But it was soon to be over, once the once revolutionaries turned profit seekers. Africa had a perfect educational system and an organized way of life that saw the people live fulfilled lives. Whatever happened to perfecting those ways and using them to match the current developments in the world. Neither has that been experimented with or given a second glance. Our people have just fallen for the ways of the west in all faculties, from education, religion to manner of dress and speech. The shameful part of it is, we have been trained by the system to look down upon the core elements that make us who we are. Many will not agree with these sentiments and probably I will be labelled as anti-western but I shall put it right here that I was compelled to write these words because of the love I have for my people. Hatred is the last thing I am willing to entertain at this point. The lack of proper policies that see the utilization of the available resources in the continent have made the countries rely on hand-outs from clever rich countries who then goad them on to give them their resources and put them in debt. Most of these governments can not even make their own decisions without getting the approval of their sponsor countries. I think that as we might suffer for a little while, if we severe ourselves from the global vein of finances, we will be able to bootstrap among ourselves as a continent and reinvent our ways, create a bloc that will completely or not so completely shut the world from us and then we can welcome them back. Are our people not tired of our resources being hijacked from our very own eyes? The people whom we trust to be stewards of these are selling out, selling mines and timber to Indian, Chinese and Western investors whose interest is to make themselves rich. Many whenever they speak, do so not on their accord  but they speak for their masters and that is wrong. They have been paid so well to not care about everybody else but their pockets to look out for.

As long as we shall remain under the political divides put up by the Berlin Conference? Until when shall we continue to live under the dictates of the laws passed in other countries across the seas most of which are about how to govern our own? And definitely we can not put up with rude people who got into power under the guise of being our revolutionaries and then refusing to let go and let people choose other leaders. Until then, we will live in complete adoration of what is not ours and belongs to the west, whose ideologies mainly are alien to our Africaness. Let he who hears listen.

Beatrice Mtetwa vs A gang frozen in time.

Beatrice and me.

Beatrice’s pursuers know one thing for a fact; that they are greedy,wrong and could face prosecution once they allow the rule of the law to prevail in Zimbabwe. Therefore, they have placed themselves smack dab right in the middle of political political power struggle ring, to try and make sure that power shall never leave their enclaves. In so doing, sadly, they have led many a Zimbabwean into shame, pain and heavy loss of property and freedom of which they care less. Once vibrant, Zimbabwe's economy is tottering hanging on by the skin of hair while they carouse and spend lavishly then turning around to vehemently deny charges leveled against them of human rights abuse and squandering of national wealth. They do so by denying well-meaning journalists from reporting the truth about them. People like Jestina Mukoko, Geoff Nyarota; Institutions like The Daily News and a whole bunch of others are sworn enemies of their bogus revolutionary movement that has long since abandoned the revolutionary dream. Instead, ZANU (PF) is following a path of a mixture of barbarism and despotism that has seen some disturbing developments on the religious front, with many a religious leader abandoning utmost trust and reverence for God, and dumping their respect on the sole figure of Mugabe, the president. This is supported by many occurrences including a report recently published by Zimbabwean tabloids about a priest Msindo who clearly indicated that he feared only Mugabe and anyone else, goodness knows what about them? Victor Kunonga too, dragged church business into politics a while ago and well, who knows how many other leaders are mingling God's business with politics? The two in my opinion should never mix otherwise things get pretty nasty. Along with many other individuals who use their affiliation to the third of the Government of National Unity which is set to dissolve after the impending elections this year, the mention of the party ZANU (PF) has many people giving up their rightful property, letting go of debt and giving of special privileges to the individuals flaunting the law in broad daylight. Many of those who speak out have been sent to jail without fair trial and representation, and that is where our own Iron Lady Beatrice Mtetwa comes waltzing into the light. It hasn't been easy for her as well.

Let me begin by dismissing all the rubbish that the media wherever it may be from, that speak ill about Zimbabwe. Of course, the country has been stumbling for the past decade under wanton exploitation by ZANU (PF), a political party made of cowards and opportunists whose activities have been cruel and denigrating to the general majority of the people. Zimbabwe is a country of peace-lovers, compassionate people among who dwell brainwashed disciples of the ZANU (PF) religion. Had it been another country, it would have been thrown into irreparable chaos by this time, but the people are long suffering and hopeful that sooner or later, things will change, God willing. That has been the trump card of the opportunists riding on every one's back, they have banked on that the people shall continue to tolerate them till they all expired by natural or other causes. Amongst the people of Zimbabwe,there are brainwashed people who would go to extremes to protect their political figures and the policies of this party. There are about similar minded people as well in the opposition, Movement for Democratic Change led by Morgan Tsvangirai and the other MDC breakaways. In every political formation, there are such people. Over the years, I have noticed that ZANU (PF), given their long track record at the helm of government, among the numerous problems that they have propagated, is tribalism. There was the notorious Gukurahundi in the eighties which they do not want to really address on national platform. I have only heard about it in stories told by victims and journalists who have done documentaries on the grave event. It is an issue that caused a deep wound on national unity and although it seems to have healed, on the surface, deep under the skin, it still hurts and proper medication has to be administered to eradicate it. Today,you hear people express that they would not like to live under the rule of  a Ndebele president, swearing that that day will never come at all. Similarly, the Ndebele blame the Shona that they are the ones who have ruined the country, every one of them and should be driven from Matebeleland beyond Shangani River. I see clearly the colonialist mentality coming out into the light here because the white settlers are the ones who created this animosity commonly among the Shona and the Ndebele so as to keep them divided and weak. At the end of the day, we are all Zimbabweans, and that is what we are failing to see. 

Having an aside with Beatrice.

Other than that, Zimbabwe is a great place with loads of potential. There are many people aspiring to bring about a positive change in the country including Beatrice Mtetwa who was arrested on the morning of March 17, 2013 after she responded to a call to attend to her client while the police were searching him/her premises. Upon arrival, she says, she as usual, requested for a search warrant from the police who went on ahead and arrested her claiming that she was obstructing the course justice. Her brief stay in prison has given her yet another beast to wrestle, the prison system of Zimbabwe which she said is in need of an overhaul. She spoke about the horrible conditions that women prisoners live in in incarceration and from the reports that have circulated around, men prisons are even worse. Beatrice began her career working as a prosecutor for the Mugabe government until she quit and started practicing privately. She saw unheard of enormities perpetrated upon journalists, white farmers, ordinary Zimbabweans, opposition party members and peace activists by the Mugabe government in their bid to stay in power and rob the country thus more of its precious resources. In so doing, she has managed to help quite a number of people get out of the cruel jaws of the law imposed by ZANU (PF). In fact  she is fighting for justice to prevail in the nation and for the rule of the law which is almost extinct in the country, and that ladies and gentlemen, is her crime! For a lady her size, she surely has done more than enough to raise awareness and begin a revolution for change. I met with the Iron Lady at the US Institute of Peace in Washington DC this month of April and was quite impressed by her presentation which came after her short film made by independent filmmaker Lorie Conway. At the end of the presentation, she gave the floor an opportunity to fire some questions, an opportunity of which I wanted but did not get. However, those who did ask, asked their questions and the following is some of the questions and answers, which you may also have had per chance, if not, watch the space, you will get your responses as her work continues. A brief chat with her, she expressed her passion to see justice being served in Zimbabwean courts and I was quite bawled over by her compassion for the equality of all men advocacy she is fighting for. Some may say that she is all about money, you are fatally mistaken! She has worked on numerous cases without getting paid a penny, all she has done is do the work, see to it that people are served justly and go home to her family. God bless such a spirit!

On being asked why she was on this campaign, including her short film which chronicles her targeted professional life as she helped loads of persecuted people get justice till her arrest and beyond, she responded by pointing out that all that she wanted was a change of governmental behavior in the country. All that she stands for is peace, equality and the rule of law. Whoever delivers that, she is content with it. She made it clear from this that she is not partisan and would not single out individuals by names. It’s a very smart thing to do and I guess as a lawyer, she knows best how to handle such situations. She expressed her wish that the upcoming elections should have fair coverage by observers so as to curb any party from rigging the elections or winning by other unfair means. So this was an advocacy to raise awareness even prior to the elections day, knowing the animosity that political party supporters carry around times like this.

Another questioner observed that the short film was biased towards demonizing ZANU (PF) and Beatrice passed on the blame to the maker, Lorie Conway who went on ahead to state that ZANU (PF) principals, other than Johnathan Moyo were willing to give interviews so as to have a balanced showcase. Other politicians did not have any problems with it and were interviewed. Beatrice does not discriminate anyone in her representation. Hers is a duty to see to it that justice is served to deserving people. She represented current Police Commissioner of Zimbabwe Mr Augustine Chihuri when he was vying for the position that he now holds. She says he was not qualified to contend for the post because the law then disallowed any ex-freedom fighter from being police commissioner. Today, she pointed out, there are widespread divorces of high-ranking ministers in the present government and she has represented the women, quite a significant number for that matter. She called her clients in these cases, ZANU wives, meaning that she represented wives of these infamous ministers whose moral conduct is also questionable. 

Among those who attended the session were people from the Embassy of Zimbabwe, US Institute of Peace, Zimbabweans with concern for our country's well being (including your truly), people from Voice of America , an ex-client of Beatrice's who works for the British tabloid Sunday Times. who was arrested in Zimbabwe in 2005. The session began with Alejandro Ponce who works with the World Justice Project as Senior Economist giving a brief overview of Zimbabwe's economic performance and rankings alongside Jefferey Smith, an Advocacy Officer with the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights specializing in human rights issues in Southern Africa. 

Double Standardization of Zimbabwean Politics!

It's all talk, all baloney, a bunch of impotent lies! Most of, if not all, the policies of the Zimbabwean government have been nothing more than just a bunch of words.  One of them is the program meant to emancipate ordinary Zimbabweans and empower them economically, turns out it's just another scam. Well, they do get away with it because they are politicians who have friends in the high courts of the land, and money, the money that they have amassed by mostly illegal means while the rest of the country watched. Every one of us knows the rules they have flouted every one of them, from the times of the GMB saga, Minister Chombo's unexplained and unaccounted for wealth, farms invaded and their owners maimed or thrown out of their properties, companies taken over, women snatched by force from other men, young girls taken advantage of. Their decadence pervades the whole atmosphere. One may wonder where am I getting all this but again, that question may be answered by the one who asks because ministers and other high-flying government officials or just ZANU PF chief whips, apologists and hangers on have been on a rampage in the country they liberated. I witnessed with much pain and later ambivalence the events leading to the 2008 parliamentary and presidential elections, how the men and women took advantage of naive people and helpless youths and at some point held ransom just to march and chant their slogans. Well, the ZANU PF camp that included Comrades Mlala, Makhulumo, Gwelo, the CIOs and the rest of them displayed some of the most appalling behavior ever. First, they took for themselves the subsidized mealie-meal meant for the people and resold it at inflated prices. The same they did to cooking oil, sugar and other basics that were scarce during that period. Furthermore, the men especially took the opportunity to have their way with many young girls who for economic and safety reasons, did not mind selling themselves to the men. Young men were given beer and cigarettes  a place to stay and piled onto the back of trucks so they could go around the city campaigning for them. They were given promises that soon as the men whom they were for won, they would all get benefits such as jobs or funds to start their businesses since the country was in a heavy period of high unemployment rate and vigorous entrepreneurship. The elections came by and went by and some of these men lost while others won and the promises said were put in abeyance. Most of these young people who wasted their time now scrounge for a living, their former comrades in arms are now too comfortable to entertain them even. That aside, after a rather disputably successful land and economic redistribution programme championed by the Patriotic Front, I was mainly interested in the Indigenisation Programme which has its dictates that in every corporation operating in the country with foreign investment or interest, 51 per centum of ownership should be in the hands of a Zimbabwean and the rest belongs to the other parties that are non-Zimbabwean.

Everyone was supposed to benefit from this platform, as long as they can engage foreign investors. However, the sad reality of the matter is, just like anything else meant to benefit the people, the greedy politicians hijacked the programme and set off to make money out of it. The rest of us, well we might as well settle for crumbles, but not for long.

 Talk of the guy who was nabbed in flagrante delicto, Savior Kasukuwere whose shady dealings with Zimplats have raised loads of questions in addition to those that have been raised already. Many people may have differing opinions to the issue of Gideon Gono and Munyaradzi Kereke who exposed the reserve bank's governor's corrupt dealings at the central bank.

The Indigenous policy was a very noble idea for the people with companies registered and in compliance with the laws of the country with regards to ethical operations. It was open to all people in the country, young entrepreneurs and old ones alike. Just like the land redistribution program, it is greatly flawed. Whether Kasukuwere understands the meaning of indigenisation or he just plainly refuses to acknowledge the existence of people's privileges because it is 'his time' is baffling to me. In plain sight, the corrupt government officials keep hiding their deeds. Their wealth and remuneration can not tally. A close associate who is an accountant with Zisco Steel also confirmed that the programme is not working in the steel making giant as the Indian company that is running operations does not even remit its taxes. At the earliest sign of duress, the ministers are called and they sort things out for them. Not only those companies, there is PPC, Anglo American Zimbabwe that operates Unki Mine, Mimosa and Larfage among all the others. All these have had back door entrance onto the scene meant for local investment benefit but the greedy vultures again took them to the side and whispered in their ear.

Growth and economic improvement can never be achieved if we have these cheating men in office. I believe Zimbabwe has the capacity to feed its people only if, resources are appropriated properly and government income is spent well. It's time to take some action, tell the men that we are fed up of their gimmicks and as a nation of smart people, we shall once again rise to prominence in Africa and the entire world.

Respect of visitors among Shona people- By Black Technorat.

Before we became “civilized,” we had no concept in which fellow human beings were designated aliens. A newly arrived person whose home was very far was considered mubvakure but not an alien. Since we all used mitupo to identify ourselves, and in every area there were people with various totems, the wayfarer was likely to encounter someone with whom he or she shared the same totem.

To share the same totem meant and still means you have the same blood flowing in your veins. For this reason, people with the same totem are considered consanguine brothers and sisters. We have consanguine relatives, hama dzeropa, and uterine, hama dzakabva mumimba imwechete. According to our social institutions, these two are indistinguishable from each other.
In traditional rituals that require making petitions to the ancestors, a funeral being a prime example, the person presiding over the ritual must have the same totem as the deceased person. Kuchera rukarwa is one such critical ritual. Only a person with the same totem as the deceased person can perform the initial step of preparing the burial place. If a uterine relative is not available then a consanguine relative can perform the kutema rukarwa rite.
When my Soko/Bveni mother passed away, her relatives carried out the ritual because they were from a nearby village. Had they been far, anyone from the Soko totem would have carried out kutema rukarwa. It would not have mattered whether the person was a Phiri from Malawi, a Mfene from Eastern Cape (South Africa) or a Ncube from Matobo.
That is the reason we never considered anyone an alien or groups to be so unique they had to be considered complete outsiders. We even made sure that the complete outsiders were quickly integrated and finally assimilated into their new communities. Firstly, we were encouraged to establish serious friendship, husahwira. As a trusted friend, sahwira played and still plays a critical role in some of our rituals. So husahwira enabled us to embrace the strangers.
Finally, we were and still are forbidden from marrying within the same totem group. This was a deliberate and very thoughtful custom of making sure that different totem groups were related through marriage as well. It meant that “strangers” or “uniquely new groups” had a high likelihood of forging not only good neighbourliness but blood-cemented bondages with the rest of the community.
That is the genius bequeathed us by our “primitive” forebearers but now that we are “civilized,” we run around chucking spears at each other because we belong to different “tribes,” that being the dog collars clapped around our necks by the newly arrived but “civilized” wayfarers we now love to follow and imitate.


That is my Zimbabwe/African Factoid of the Day (FOTD), I’m Bvumavaranda Black Technocrat Muera Moyo.

My call for a clean election.

Its busy time again in Zimbabwe with politicians yak-yakking about what their election will bring to the people, or the election of their opponents. I think that is just but a bag full of it- bull. They all are nervously holding onto their trump cards hoping to reveal them when it is critical to do so. But what a waste of time? Zimbabweans are ready to see change, to begin a new life altogether. The change we have yet to effect is going to come by way of the ballot and soon.

We all have to know the reason we elect a government. If we do not, then, we may as well stay at home and allow the country to go to the dogs. However, having gone through what we have as a nation, I believe we now are ready to elect men and women who will perform outstandingly and lead our troubled nation out of its straits and usher in a new period of prosperity. The world has a mixture of expectations, and as our spectators, different nations are watching us predicting different outcomes to the impending election. It is however, our sole role to choose the best candidate and to call for a clean and fair election. Anyone who disputes this obviously knows they are not fit to be in our government and would be trying to be by hook and crook.

What we went through as a country in the past decade may have made many of us forget what role the state plays in the livelihood of the people. A government state is there to secure a nation and its territory. It is there to safeguard the interests of the people living within its borders as those in neighboring states. Without going far, this is almost non-existent in Zimbabwe at the present moment. It would be a blue lie to say the government currently truly commits to this. For example, the people want freedom to express their concerns without fear. They do not have that freedom because of the censorship laws piled upon them.

Another role of the government is to guarantee the welfare of the people. Reflecting upon this, we find that our government does not put a hundred percent in dealing with the people's welfare. Look at the major sectors that suffered in the past decade, health, education, primary production etc; they all had huge implications on the people's livelihood and as a result, many people perished, fled the country while some simply lowered their heads and got busy to adjusting to the new ways of living. Operations like Murambatsvina were a complete disregard of the rights to safe and sound shelter of the people of Zimbabwe. Many of the victims of this government authorized operation were left for dead in the cold, shelter-less and humiliated to the core! Now those who think because it happened in the past, under a ZANU (PF) led government, it will never happen again, history always repeats itself.

A government is supposed to protect its people, not expose them and take their lives at will because the people running it are bloodthirsty. That was the case, and one of the epic failures of the ZANU (PF)-led government and gross display of disrespect of human life was during the times of the Gukurahundi, the elections since 2000 which have been marked with lots of bloodshed and human loss of life. Such measures have shown how desperate and power hungry the men and women who ran the government were and still are. Take this into consideration when deciding who to put the X on in this coming election. Forget about the immediate result, think about the future generations, how they will blame all of us for having not taken action against a band of thieves who went out to rob our nation.

Apart from that, a government is supposed to ensure the creation of an environment that allows growth of business and ultimately economic success. We have noticed over the past years that the Zimbabwean government only created conditions suitable for the people in the party's success while shutting the rest of the nation out. 2009-10 saw the efforts by the government to support youth run businesses around the country. The money was injected into the economy through banks such as CBZ and authorities like SEDCO and Ministry of Youth. Top secret; the money was siphoned out of these accounts by officials and the dregs were given to ZANU (PF) stooges. Are we not tired of their lip service?

Political goods delivery in Zimbabwe has been shoddy; there has never been a sensible economic policy for the past ten or so years and even before. When I was a little boy, the government flighted a Vision 2020 campaign on national television. It gave me hope for a brilliant future. Its tag-line was, Together, we can build the nation. That was maybe before the greed settled in. Politicians seem to have very short memory because they have since forgotten this pledge.  A lot has also happened in terms of respecting the constitution, the proper use of the judiciary system of our country and the mess that is of having to stick to our African values in the advent of modern living. Once again, the 'champions of Africa' of government officials seem to have a taste of exotic things from medical attention to suits. They take the money from Zimbabwe and spend it across the seas while they always have things to say negative about those who run away from home seeking for greener pastures regionally and internationally.

After these elections, we have to see a significant change in the levels of corruption, unfulfilled promises, unfairness and then we can begin a new era of our nation's history so it is all up to us, to vote and do it wisely.

The International Community syndrome

Well, our government is down to its last couple of hundred bucks after remunerating the civil servants. It is a good thing that they got paid. Now that there is nowhere to raise the funds from, the upcoming elections being now prepared for, there is nowhere to get the money from. However, the cloud with a silver lining comes floating by, it is the 'International Community'. The question would be, will they just give aid without demanding anything? If they will not, that is a good thing. However, has the country tried to BOOTSTRAP? Positively, it always has to be the first option when we have all the diamonds and platinum as well as gold. Why not levy a special tax on these to raise the money. Wasn't it the original purpose of tax? It was levied on the rich people to support national initiatives like war. In this case, how much is needed? - About a little over $100 million. The diamond mineral sales would suffice but they are not being brought to the fore, instead, begging bowl in hand, they are running around the world to beg. How much gems is Mbada Diamonds (Pvt) Ltd pushing monthly? I am sure the figures are in their hundreds of millions if not close enough. It would be a great idea if we use what we have before we run to the neighbors because they will always laugh at us. If Mr Mugabe condemns the Western countries and despises their trying to meddle with the affairs of the country, why would he allow things to get to such an extent and then leave the only option being to consider helping us. By the way, China, his pal from the East is there to help, oh wait, things may not be as sweet as they have to be between him and the Chinese. 

Knowing that elections were going to be held sometime after the constitution's acceptance  I believe it would have been wiser if they had created a fund, specifically to finance elections.If they believed that there were going to be elections in the country sincerely, they would have made a provision for them a long time ago. Last minute rushes always result in ill-made decisions and usually land countries into contracts they in future regret to have signed initially. However, it is here, its upon us, they did what they did and so the begging bowl it is. Whatever it is, we may have been taken for a ride by the Indigenous rulers of our country.