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The
anatomy of the Zimbabwean problem
Maggie Makanza1
August 10, 2006
This paper
was presented at the Public Discussion Forum hosted by Zimbabwe
Social Forum (Pachedu/Sisonke) and Institute for Justice and Reconciliation
in Cape Town, South Africa
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Introduction
It
is indeed an honour for me to be standing here tonight addressing
this fine audience who I know care deeply about the events happening
in Zimbabwe. I however, do not have any kind words for you tonight.
I know most analysis of the Zimbabwean situation centres on the
regime and its leadership and what they are doing or should do.
My presentation is targeted at the ordinary Zimbabwean citizen who
I sincerely believe is the only person that really matters in this
crisis. As they say sometimes you have to be unkind to be kind and
the truth, while painful, shall set us free. I am here to say the
truth as I see it. I have deliberately chosen to say the unsaid;
that which goes unreported and has been largely ignored in the public
discourse. Although I am here as a member of the Zimbabwe Social
Forum (Pachedu/Sozonke) the views presented in this paper are
not necessarily the views of the forum. The Forum, which started
sometime this year, has members from all political persuasions and
subscribes to the value of divergent views and tolerate diversity.
One writer said that perceptions are like windows; the more we open
the more we can see of the world. ‘If you could look through my
window and I could look though your window then we would both see
what neither of us could have seen alone.’ This presentation is
my attempt to share what I see from my looking glasses as the key
to Zimbabwe’s problems. I must mention that I am a Psychologist
by training and that tends to influence my thought processes and
the issues that I am raising. I am also leaving a lot of questions
unanswered to facilitate discussion.
The
Death of Outrage
Why
has the pro-democracy movements not been able to capitalise on the
so many reported failures by the ZANU (PF) government. Operation
Murambatsvina, failed Land Reform Programme, the economy characterized
by high inflation, high prices of basic food and commodities, unemployment,
the list is endless. Some people say all the necessary conditions
needed for combustion to happen exist in Zimbabwe. All that is needed
is a spark. Why then has there been no spark despite numerous opportunities
that if presented elsewhere in the world would have brought about
a change of the ruling government. Why has there been no eruption
in Zimbabwe? As William J Bennett coined it in one of his
books "The death of Outrage" Why has there been
no outrage in Zimbabwe by Zimbabweans on the current crisis. Most
pressure for reform appears to be coming from external forces rather
than internally. There has been calls for the international community
to intervene and for President Thabo Mbeki to ‘do something’ on
the Zimbabwean crisis. Such efforts as we know have not yielded
any results. If anything positions have hardened and the situation
continues to deteriorate at an alarming rate. But seriously, why
have the people of Zimbabwe not revolted against the Mugabe regime?
There is something special about one who has the ability to laugh
at one’s situation in spite of its gravity. That person has transcended
the boundaries of what others call normal and refuses provocation.
Remaining calm in the face of provocation takes a lot of character.
Zimbabweans have that ‘collective character’ that the world
has termed the ‘great Zimbabwean mystery’. Zimbabweans use
one word to describe the current situation without further expounding
on it. Should you ask them, how are things in Zimbabwe, the response
without fail is "Zvakaoma". Meaning, it is ‘tough’.
It is an abnormal response for one not to be outraged in the face
of extreme provocation. Lets explore why?
The
Change Equation
All
the necessary ingredients for combustion to happen exist in Zimbabwe.
Wrong. The change equation tells us that change equals the degree
of dissatisfaction with one’s current situation plus a compelling
and attractive vision for the future. The assumption has been that
if we increase the level of discomfort and suffering of the Zimbabwean
people, change will inevitably come. It has not despite the fact
that Zimbabweans were rated as the unhappiest lot in the world (survey
in June, 2006). South Africa was rated as the fourth in the world
in terms of people who are happy and proud of their nationality.
While we as a nation are clearly dissatisfied with our current reality,
specifically the economic situation, the forces for democratic change
have failed to provide Zimbabweans with a compelling and attractive
vision of the future. While people agree on the need for
change, they are unsure of where the MDC is taking them. I want
change yes, but change into what. In other words, there is a lack
of an ideology that underpins the call for change. Such an ideology
would give birth to a compelling and attractive vision of
the future like we had during the war of Liberation. The
end state is not clear. Is it simply about a change of government
or more so, a change of rulers. I hear of a new Zimbabwe but my
questions on a number of issues remain unanswered. For example,
there has been a lack of clarity on the political position of the
pro-democracy forces on key and emotive issues like the land reform
programme. Discontent alone is not sufficient as a rallying point
for change. While as an ordinary Zimbabwean, I am dissatisfied with
my current reality, I am not convinced with the viability of the
alternative options presented to me.
On
the other hand, the ruling party ZANU (PF) had a potentially compelling
and attractive vision of the future given our liberation history
and the primary reason why we fought a war(s). Notice that I use
the word potential, because it has not been realised. If you have
a vision, and people buy into that vision, you do not have to beat
them into subscribing to that vision. ZANU (PF) didn’t have to do
that. They failed to package their vision of transforming Zimbabwe
and did not sufficiently share it with the masses. The people of
Zimbabwe have therefore questioned their motives for propelling
the land question at this point in time. The poor and chaotic implementation
of the Land Reform programme shrouded in corruption and greed by
officers in high places has made it difficult for people to buy
into the ZANU (PF) vision of the future. Land reform is now simply
perceived as a personal enrichment programme, rather than an economic
and social transformation intervention. So Zimbabweans are caught
between a rock and a hard place. A ruling government that is brutal
and is not delivering, and an opposition that has not made itself
clear on many fronts.
Participation
in politics
Participation
is one of the key elements of a true democracy. While it is an acknowledged
fact that those of us in the Diaspora have been disenfranchised
by the Mugabe regime, there is a general disengagement by Zimbabweans
from actively participating in politics. We are usually resigned
to being armchair critics. This disengagement is evidenced in the
ways people express themselves in reference to the MDC and ZANU
(PF) in the external. You hear people saying ‘what the MDC should
do is………or ZANU (PF) should do A, B and C to get the economy back
on track’. These statements are telling. They show a clear distancing
of oneself from these two major political parties. In such cases
I have always asked, so who is the MDC or who is (ZANU PF). Are
these just empty political vehicles travelling to nowhere and not
carrying the hopes and aspirations of Zimbabweans? Or is this merely
reflecting a divided society. Why have we become commentators and
spectators of our own situation? Some of the reasons underlying
our failure to participate include the following among others.
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Maggie Makanza writes from Cape Town, South Africa and can be contacted
on maggiemakanza@yahoo.com.
She is inviting your comments on this paper.
Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.
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