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A
nation in dire straits: Law, politics and the crisis in Zimbabwe
Dr
Alex Tawanda Magaisa
June 08, 2006
This paper
was presented at the Inaugural Annual Basker Vashee Memorial Lecture
on 8 June 2006 hosted at the De Balie, Kleine-Gartmanplantsoen 10,
Amsterdam.
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Introduction
Zvakapressa
in Zimbabwe
When
Zimbabweans say "Zvakapressa" they are describing
the terrible state of their circumstances but at the same time this
Shonglish word reveals a certain creative quality about the people,
which helps them to cope during hard times. It symbolises from a
linguistic perspective, how people manage to make use of and balance
both the local and the foreign. Having been brought up in Zimbabwean
society, I am familiar with the way in which we sometimes make fun
of our own hardships, how we create jokes about things in ways that
elsewhere might be considered rude and disrespectful. I profess
no expertise in psychology or sociology but I sometimes think that
this capacity to laugh and even smile about our tough circumstances
helps us cope with the difficulties. I suppose it also explains
how we tend to have such durable stress and hardship absorbers so
that when in any other society people would have revolted we are
still taking more.
Zvakapressa
in Zimbabwe - things are very difficult. Looking at the political
and socio-economic landscape, it is easy to appreciate why a whole
generation will grow having known only conditions of poverty. What
appeared to be a blip at the bridge between this and the last millennium
has become a permanent scar that will define the character and behaviour
of generations to come.
In
the Footsteps of Basker Vashee
Before
I proceed, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the
organisers of this event for inviting me to present this Inaugural
Lecture, to honour a great man who dedicated his life to scholarship
and the welfare of mankind. As a young generation Zimbabwean who
tasted freedom because of the efforts of men and women such as Basker
Vashee, I feel honoured to be here, presenting this lecture in his
honour. When I received the invitation, it was totally unexpected
but a pleasant surprise nonetheless. It was said that they had seen
in my work a new generation of Zimbabwean intellectuals, keen to
chart a progressive way and new kind of politics. There are so many
dedicated Zimbabweans out there, wishing to be heard and I was happy
to take this opportunity. We in Zimbabwe are very keen to tell our
story and we are also dedicated to generating ideas to shape the
future of our country.
I
have learnt of Basker Vashee’s work and contributions towards Zimbabwe
during his days in ZAPU during the struggle for independence and
I am proud to share the same origins with a great intellectual and
activist. I was only two years old in 1977 when he became Director
at this Institute – I am sure he would be proud to know that a younger
generation of Zimbabweans has taken the torch and will carry on
from where he left. Let me now turn to the substance of my lecture,
which is dedicated to the memory of Basker Vashee.
Purpose
and Perspectives of the lecture: Principles and Values
The
purpose of the lecture is not to demonise the ruling ZANU PF party
and government or to laud the opposition forces such as the MDC
and Civil Society Organisations but to present what I consider to
be an objective assessment of the current political situation, highlighting
the key challenges that the project for democratization faces and
offer views on the construction of a vision on how to extricate
Zimbabwe from the current difficulties.
I
am under no illusions that I have perfect answers to the problems
we Zimbabweans face as a nation. I have written and spoken in different
forums and each time I have been preoccupied by the desire to participate
in mapping a better future for my country. In looking at the situation
I am not swayed by the political actors but by the desire to promote
individual freedom in all respects. I am wary of backing any specific
individuals because rightly or wrongly I am very sceptical of politicians
as a tribe. The trouble with politicians is that you can back one
today and tomorrow he will perform a spectacular somersault and
you are left bare and looking stupid.
Rather,
I prefer to stand on my permanent interests: points of principle
and values. That is also why one of my principal arguments has always
been that true change lies at the core of society – that is, at
the individual level; the ordinary men and women that make up society
more than at the level of political leadership. The political leadership
comes in different forms and appearances and unless members of society
accept the demands of change in the way they conduct their affairs
at the basic level the type of change that everyone seeks will remain
a distant dream. Political leaders come and go, each time making
their promises – but society remains. I place the real obligation
for change at the doorstep of each individual member of society.
That, for me, is how they take ownership of the process of change
– by taking responsibility.
From
Where I Stand: Insider-Looking-In
I
speak and comment about Zimbabwe from the vantage position of both
an insider and outsider – an insider because I have spent much of
life in Zimbabwe and an outsider because I have spent the last few
years of my professional life outside Zimbabwe. I am familiar with
the way we see ourselves internally and also with the way in which
we see ourselves from the outside. I am also aware of how the world
looks at us. So in essence my views are shaped by this position
of being an Insider-Looking-In. I have been looked at as a Zimbabwean
and I have looked at fellow Zimbabweans from a distance. I like
to think that such a position, far from being confusing, gives one
a chance to develop a balanced opinion of the subject under observation.
I
am particularly impressed by this opportunity because many Zimbabweans
and myself often express reservations about everyone but Zimbabweans
writing and speaking about ourselves as if we have no capacity to
communicate our feelings, thoughts and positions on the issues that
affect us. It is not because we are incapable – very often it is
because we never get the opportunities to do so.
A
Battered and Tired Economy
It is
common knowledge that Zimbabwe is a country in deep crisis and I
do not want to spent much time and space repeating a lot of what
is already in the public domain. Zimbabwe has a very tired economy.
The statistics are staggering. Hyperinflation is running at more
than 1000 per cent. Unemployment is more than 80 per cent and according
to the World Bank GDP has contracted by about 40 per cent in the
last 6 years alone. There is shortage of food and about 90 per cent
of the people are living below the poverty datum line. Life expectancy
stands at around 35 years. I will recount a personal testimony to
illustrate the lived experience of the fall of a nation.
I
graduated from the University of Zimbabwe in 1997 and landed a
beautiful job in a large Harare law firm. It was all that I had
dreamt of when I decided I would become a lawyer. To be sure,
I had never contemplated doing anything else or going somewhere
other than to become a top Harare lawyer. I remember my great
friend Tapiwa Muzvondiwa boasting while still in law school, that
in a few years time people would refer to him as a "Harare
lawyer and businessman". We had high hopes and dreams. Tapiwa
is now in London practising his trade. From time to time we talk
about what could have been. But hope has not dissipated yet.
A lifelong
student of history, I always carry a small suitcase that bears
important episodes of my life – letters, photographs, old books
– anything that might remind me of the past, because I love memories.
I was going through my case recently when I discovered an old
pay-slip from 1998. It showed I was earning a 9 000ZWD per month,
which by all accounts was an excellent salary for a first professional
job. That salary liberated me to live on my own in a new apartment.
It enabled me to live a relatively comfortable lifestyle befitting
a bachelor. I was even able to relieve my parents of the burden
of paying school fees for my siblings. And yes, the clan in the
village could expect a few dollars as well. Today however, 9 000
ZWD is not enough to buy a loaf of bread which costs ten times
that amount. I will leave the rest to your imagination, if you
can bear it.
But what has
caused such a dramatic downfall of one of the most beautiful African
countries, which before the demise was one of the leading economies
on the continent?
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