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Starting blocks of a gruelling marathon!
Mutsa Murenje
November 03, 2010

This is exactly where we are in our struggle for a free, just and democratic Zimbabwe. For this reason, it is no doubt premature for us to be tired. We haven-t started, and a lot still needs to be done to achieve fructification of our insatiable desire to be governed well. Hear me for my cause.

I have seen, during the past five (5) months that I have spent in Nigeria, marked interest in Zimbabwe from my colleagues. I have seen a number of people using Zimbabwe as their case study in almost every other course on offer. And I have seen the negative image that the country carries beyond her borders. You can imagine how I felt, at times I would ask myself if it was because I happened to be a member of the just-ended class. That some people suddenly became experts on Zimbabwe is beyond argument. Outside the classroom environment I have repeatedly heard other people trying to proffer explanations as to why Zimbabwe is in this political and economic predicament.

Some attempts were made to explain this unfortunate scenario in terms of the educational level (Nigerians believe they are the most educated in Africa!). Some erroneously believe that Zimbabweans are illiterates and as such they are finding it difficult to deal with the Mugabe regime. This I quickly dismissed because I believe the Zimbabwe problem cannot be adequately explained in terms of literacy levels in the country. If anything, we happen to be among the best in terms of literacy even more than the Nigerians themselves (compare Zimbabwe-s 85% to Nigeria-s 69%). Besides that, weren-t there literate people during the military dictatorships of Abacha and Babangida? The thing is dictatorship knows no boundary; even the most erudite can be under the threat of the dictators. For your own information, 20% of Nigerians control 65% of the country-s wealth while 80% have to live on the remaining 35%.

And now to the crux, I have thought of bringing to your esteemed attention, my fellow citizens, my revolutionary, people-centred perspective. Revolutionary in the sense that I am a positive extremist and you will not hear me talking about reconciliation and unity at the expense of truth and justice. And why people-centred? Because I believe it is only by working with people that I can achieve anything authentic on their behalf. More to this, I am scrupulously adhered to the belief that justice and freedom are fundamental to life. In light of this revelation, I believe that we Zimbabweans have to pursue our mission honestly, fearlessly and selflessly, leading by example in a disciplined and dedicated manner. The time has come for us to sacrifice our own and our family-s comfort and security and our brilliant and successful academic careers for the liberation of our homeland.

I need not remind anybody about the harrowing experience of the ugly brutalities of Robert Mugabe-s dictatorship, subjugation, deprivation and humiliation. Our ugly and unfortunate experience has made it absolutely clear that the only way out of our current political and economic impasse is through a revolutionary path i.e. a radical break with dictatorship. We will forever resist the power of a government that has clearly betrayed our hopes and our trust, a government that has stood in the way of our development. Dictatorship has destroyed social solidarity and promoted the worst form of alienated individualism without social responsibility.

What then is the way forward? My candid opinion is that the dictator is already going through a difficult moment in his personal life and chances are that he is growing weary; can he really face the public given the newsy story about his unfaithful wife? I reiterate that 2010 remains Mugabe-s last year in office. Should he decide otherwise, then I believe a stupendous transformation initiated by dwellers in the nether region of exploitation and subordination is the cure-all. I am sure that after all is said and done, we will all live to witness the restoration of democracy in our country.

In a nut-shell, I still am convinced that our gruelling struggle against the omnipotent dictator requires these qualities of mind: firmness, perseverance, patience, coolness, forbearance and longanimity. Aluta continua! The struggle continues unabated!

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