Zimbabwe a long way off, but there is still hope

Zimbabwe a long way off, but there is still hope

Ashley Dobia Mwanza

It has been a long time since I last wrote about the situation in Zimbabwe, which is most certainly a sign of the times. It most certainly has been a rocky, turbulent time in Zimbabwe, but Zimbabweans are well used to it, but it does really get annoying having to play the waiting game. Many a times people have been told things will be fine, promised that its only a matter of time. Most certainly it is, that time seems to be an eternity. Having taken a moment to think about some of the most notable events that happened this year, there were fine moments, but it is always the bad, the depressing, and the tragic events that leave a longer lasting impression on us… most of us anyway. Well there is one momentous occasion that got the world applauding, the USA came of age.

Anyway before I lose the plot, is there anything to look forward to in 2009? Well for Zimbabwe we will continue to scratch our heads and ponder on where we went wrong. Until the hatred that now manifests in Zimbabwe is muted by love, forgiveness, and agreement (rather agreeing to disagree) we will not have lasting peace anywhere in Zimbabwe. I can't say how to fix Zimbabwe, but I believe peace is a first requisite. Peace not only on the political front but on how we do business, how we govern and our way of life.

Unfortunately, it is unlikely that any of the problems in Zimbabwe are going to go away any time soon, it is dismaying to see what our leaders are doing, I am still waiting to hear anyone who will justify the size of the Zimbabwean government with the resources we have. Is it not true that the inclusive government is here to solve Zimbabwe’s problems? But it does not require a rocket scientist to realise that the political situation in Zimbabwe right now has created other problems, most notably the number of personnel in government that creates a money problem, who is going to pay these ‘officials’ ?

On the dawn of 2009 we all awaited in anticipation as we were all eager to see the close of 2008 the year that brought with it new, revitalised and dashed hope. It seems appropriate to go back in time and revisit the decision that started us down the road to developing what are now large and complex issues in Zimbabwe. Issues of power, politics, disease, poverty, starvation, economic woes, growing activism etc, these have in one way or the other had their fair share in causing trauma, suffering and creating hope.

It is 100 days for the Zimbabwe Inclusive Government today, and as we trudge on, on this uncertain journey (I don’t wish to be pessimistic) we only move with the little hope that remains in us. What happens next in Zimbabwe is anyone’s guess.

The situation in Zimbabwe is one where the principals to the agreement [the Global Political Agreement (GPA)] are doing anything and everything possible to accommodate their trusted lieutenants at the expense of the suffering populace. What we have is a situation where one side does anything and everything possible to bring the other side down, and then they end up agreeing to augment both ends. In as long as we continue to tread on such a ‘callous’ journey, without any second thinking in decision making, those at the bottom end of the ladder will continue to endure hardship.

The West’s funds that we are heavily relying on will not come our way in as long our leaders do not agree on all terms. The West has its fair share of problems and so they will be very strict in how they go about opening their purses, our government must not forget they joined forces to build the nation, and not to build a ‘palace’ of a government. Of course we need a government to get the nation moving, but our government is getting overweight and hence the inertia. Again I don’t mean to say, they have not done anything positive, but if they iron out their differences once and for all then just maybe can we get the engine running.

Zimbabwe's economic meltdown will not improve if we keep accelerating backwards. With the South African government ‘s recent waiver on visas a multitude of Zimbabweans are trekking down south en masse. The reason given by those I have talked to is that they need to get food on the table, they say there is food in the shops but only for those who can afford it. And most of those remaining face extreme hardships. Some 3,500 people die every week from the combined effects of HIV/AIDS, poverty and malnutrition. Such grim statistics make it difficult to imagine a hopeful future, but there is hope if we get our act together once and for all. It comes as a relief to note that teachers are returning from South Africa to the homeland to augment the efforts of the Education Ministry of rebuilding the education sector which was once the best in the whole of Africa, it will be the best again no reservations about that. Thanks to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) for the support of such an initiative.

Nobody at all is going to raze the existing walls (poverty and starvation) except a group of committed Zimbabweans who have their fellow populace at heart. But long-term planning offers little solace to the suffering people of Zimbabwe if in the short term there are no tangible results. We cannot keep on talking about tomorrow lest we forget of the mountain in front of us. Does that mean there is no hope? Certainly not, in the midst of all this suffering the year of 2009 offers the whisper of hope. The alarm bells have sounded for far too long. It has been a long time coming, but finally the birth of a new generation is upon us. Zimbabwe’s 3rd independence is on the way, this transition will provide Zimbabwe with incredible opportunities to move forward and restructure the failed systems.

Zimbabwe is in a grim state, one of the greatest tragedies in world history. The working people of the country's once proud capital have been plunged into a Darwinian struggle to get by. Many have been reduced to peddlers and paupers, hawkers and black-market hustlers, eating just a meal a day, their hollowed cheeks a testament to their hunger.

I normally do not like to mention individuals because I believe any real success is a collective effort and the reverse holds true too; the issue of the central bank governor and the attorney general have to dealt with once and for all. The very people we hope will help us in the morrow have countless times mentioned those two areas as sticking points, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) has to deal with this ultimately, and sooner rather than later. The attorney general and the central bank governor’s roles are very crucial in this crusade. I need not even delve into the problems in the Movement for Democratic Change –Mutambara (MDC-M) and Zimbabwe African National Unity Patriotic Front (ZANU PF) and Movement for Democratic Change-Tsvangirai (MDC-T) who also have their fair share of problems too, these are just destructions that we all hope can be resolved so we can focus on the ‘prize’.

Zimbabwe is working in rounds: Zimbabwe’s round 1: elections 29 March 2008, round 2: GPA signed on 15 September 2008; round 3: 11 February 2009 the inclusive government was sworn in; and yet to be overcome is round 4: unfortunately the attorney general and the central bank governor’s roles and; round 5: undoubtedly will shape the future of the country, that is the much talked about constitution.

Is there a stop to the never ending tragedies afflicting millions of Zimbabwean people? Is there hope for a better way of life? As we trudge on this year, we can only do one thing - hope for the best and make the most of what we have.

Words like "momentous" and "historic" were used by international journalists to describe the events in Zimbabwe in April 2008. And that later turned out be hyperbole, yet it wasn’t. Had the reports proven to be true, Zimbabwe may well have experienced nothing short of a rebirth. All the same …..Let us pray…. 2009 could be the year, and this I believe. If we ever hit rock bottom there is only one way from there, that is up. Maybe from then the great Zimbabwe bird can finally fly. Zimbabwe will arise from the long slumber. No matter how dire the situation there is always hope, that is the only thing that Zimbabweans cling to and that is all we have. It’s only a matter of time nothing lasts forever - even empires and dynasties don't last, even famines do come to an end too.

Most certainly there will be instability within the country. But that too will subside. Each of us can make a difference. The knowledge is there for us in plain view. We just have to choose to participate in the process. Zimbabwe is capable of feeding its people, but the collapse of the state and society makes it temporarily impossible. Mark the word temporarily. 2009 is the year.

Even if the current sticking points are dealt with and result in a satisfactory political dispensation, Zimbabwe will still be confronted with the arduous task of rebuilding its moribund health system. Zimbabwe will need money and expertise to recoup even a shred of normality in its health services. After a long period of waiting and anguishing, this is truly a hideous life experience and is something that all Zimbabweans will never forget. There is so much potential in Zimbabwe and from Zimbabwe, we will spark again, no doubt, it’s just a matter of when? What lies ahead only God knows…. so let us pray.

Also published in The Zimbabwe Times under the title Only God knows what lies ahead.