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New dogs doing old tricks
Sandile Memela, Dispatch
September 18, 2008

http://www.dispatch.co.za/article.aspx?id=250345

Perhaps I must caution the people of Zimbabwe against hoping too much for a beautiful and bright future. Of course, there is much euphoria now that "The Deal" has been signed.

Robert Mugabe even heaped praises on President Thabo Mbeki, not only for being a skilled negotiator, but for his relentlessness and resilience - he made African history by bringing three rival political parties together when the world had given up hope.

The cynics however, fear "The Deal" may still fall apart, but for now, it is done. However, the ordinary people of Zimbabwe should not make it a priority, methinks.

Rather, the people of Zimbabwe, like all people on the African continent, and especially those in South Africa, must make responsibility for self-a priority.

If you do that, you cannot turn around and point fingers at bishops, politicians, business people and your parents for your failures. Bishops, presidents and political leaders come and go, but if you take responsibility for yourself it makes it easier for you to live with your own situation.

Right now there are far too many people here who are placing too much hope in a new post-Mbeki regime.

If anyone could guarantee that the new regime, under whichever new president, could satisfy the aspirations of all the people within five years, then people could go ahead and put all their eggs in one basket.

But that it is impossible. The reconstruction of South Africa and Zimbabwe is a project that will take much more than the presence or absence of any one particular leader.

I fear we have far too many Africans who place their hopes in particular personalities, parties or governments, thinking they are supporting a new messiah.

Ordinary folks have such political blind faith that they forget their personal responsibility to make things happen for themselves. This expectancy and dependency traps them in a form of modern slavery which sees them unemployed, poor, illiterate, diseased and, generally, hopeless.

I think the people of Zimbabwe must free themselves from expecting the troika of Mugabe, Morgan Tsvangarai or Arthur Mutambara to do anything for them.

Personal responsibility and transforming lives at an individual level should remain their basic and ultimate concern.

Tsvangarai and Mutambara have moved into plum positions and enjoy power, but I cannot imagine them doing any better than Mugabe.

They may make a threesome who are destined to get into the history books, but they have reached their end. There is nothing beyond this.

Most African politicians, especially presidents, down the ages leave office without having done much for their people.

It has been 28 years and look at the state of Zimbabwe and the quality of life of the people. It is embarrassing.

Tvangarai and Mutambara have been waiting in the wings to fill Mugabe's shoes. Ironically they are comrades who ended up enemies because they both wanted to be a Mugabe. Now, they are working with Mugabe - the very man they wanted to oust - so they can improve things for the people of Zimbabwe.

I went to a Catholic high school and remember how, in 1980 after Mugabe took over, we prayed for genuine freedom to deliver the people of Zimbabwe from misery.

But I also learnt at that time that individuals must take responsibility for what happens in their own lives - good and bad.

Nobody can afford to believe that a fallible, human president can be a messiah like Jesus Christ. Such a belief is at your own risk.

Yes, both Mugabe and Mbeki may go soon, but will that mark the breaking of a new dawn? That would be a miracle.

*Sandile Memela is an author and spokesperson for the Ministry of Arts and Culture. He writes in his personal capacity

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