The world would not have known that they had thrown away the baby with the bath water when they dealt with the southern African country - Zimbabwe.
Not many people would have thought that revival would soon arise from within the nations veins and blood stream despite the ever stinging needles and of political rivalry from both home and abroad. Though it has taken quite some time it is now evident that a nation of resilience can soon rise up and compete on the race to match the global struggle to equality and social tolerance.
In 2000 a new constitution was drafted and sent out to a referendum but was out rightly rejected by the people because it was not about the people or for the people. It was according to those that may have voted it out, a constitution to the people but not from them.
I recall attending some the meetings where consultations were done but unfortunately the majority vote was negative.
That was then and I think the most important point to note is that we have all learnt the lesson on the governance for the people, by the people and with the people. It is not about democracy but the principles of acknowledging one's weaknesses and another's strengths.
When people of different opinions agree to get on with the same job at the same table then in my view, a nation can be reconstructed to a better standard where everyone becomes not a number but a member.
Zimbabwe is now a new pathway to development in every aspect of social acceptance and tolerance with the aim to silence the arrogant and unrepentant ideologies of capitalism that are based on greed.
It is worth noting that the signing of the new constitution has brought in a new horizon to the nation, region, continent and the world at large.
I was thrilled to see the president putting pen to paper as he signed off most if not all the injustices that were crafted within the long overdue constitution of the 1980 independence. It was a moment of deep refreshment to see the national leadership agreeing to a formation of a ruling that when followed will provide a platform for public safety and confidence to serve others.
It might have taken more than a decade to be where we are today but this is part of reconstruction of a broken society and abandoned life story. I would like to see the planning and running of the next elections complying with the signed constitution which every citizen is obliged to abide by.
Zimbabwe will soon be on a highway to total recovery. Fellow country men hold on to the hope that has led you to this day and I believe your perseverance and commitment will pay even more if you do not give up.
This is like reconstructing an abandoned life story.
Friday 24 May 2013
Monday 20 May 2013
A NATION OF RESILIENT ECONOMICS
In the late 1990s Zimbabwe began to feel and sense the biting teeth of politics of the day. Many of its birthrights started to think of escaping the bitting and grinding molars of economics and politics. Come 2000 a majority of those that had opportunities to escape soon found themselves crossing boarders despite which direction they took though most of them took the Beitbridge route. Of course those that could fly took their journeys across the oceans of which most of them landed in the UK which at the time was the most conducive habitat for those from the beautiful land locked Southern African country.
Well, as the years ticked their time off with 2001-2003 having perhaps the highest figure for migration into the western European countries. Zimbabwe continued to experience the deepening scourge of dollarisation which depreciated further down as the years passedby. The depreciation of the dollar became a loughing stock and by word for everyone known to the once the bread basket of Africa. It became the talk of the day and most of the immigrants would not like to be identified with the "Zim dollar". Money was printed in bearer cheques with expiry dates though they still remain in circulation, printed in "trillions" denominations!
On the other hand, those that had enough to spare took advantage of the situation and made even more due to the exchange rate against the pound and other currencies of the same value. Some invested in businesses, properties, transport industry and the like, though a majority soon lost everything due to lack of effecient management because these were being managed by remote while they live abroad.
Then came the diamond field which really boosted a lot of people who were close to the fields and had the market in hand. However, as can be heard over the news agencies there are some who are reportedly slain in the scramble for the gem. Stories are still being told of the pending judgement on who killed who, and who has taken what at the gem fields.
Following, there came the Government of National Unity (GNU) which has stabilised the politics and moreso, the economy of the strangled Zmbabwe. In 2009 the world waited to see what would become of the GNU when at the time, the resources were almost extinct, with cities going without electricity, clean water supply and schools were only for those who had real cash and could afford, the rest had to live on hand to mouth. It was a time of testing who the real neighbour is, as in the Bible "Who is my neighbour?".
People shared the little they had until the sprouting fresh hopes from the GNU began to show up. Surely this is a nation the survived the day of dispare. I remember my visits to my motherland, these were good times of meeting friends and relatives but at the same time they were moments of reflection.
Prior to this GNU, there came Murambatsvina (operation cleanup) which on one hand it cleared all disorganised lifestyle but it really hit hard on a majority of people because that was their source of income namely (home industry) with tuckshops and workshops, combined with lodging houses, which was a real sorce of income for a significant number of people.
Some had organised themselves and according to the then push for property ownership built houses in nearby plots arround the cities. These were bulldozed and flattened to ground level. It was reaaly a time of reckoning and never to be admired. The GNU, I think came at the right time and it saved a lot of lives who could have either physically gone to the grave or perhaps lives could have been lost in the crowds without a glimpse of hope.
It was during that time that the common wealth "club" was debanded by the Zimbabwean leadership. The World Bank tightened its grip on the borowing and payment of the existing debts, all other non-governmental organisation became unwelcome behind the pretext that they may support the opposition of any ideology of the sovereign state. Some reputable, educated and experienced, well versed in their industry could only conclude that Zimbabwe would not surviuve beyond a specified time.
Thankfully some international organisations were still allowed to operate though with some restrictions. It was at this time again that cholera hit some parts of the country to its knees and if it was not of the resilience of the Zimbabwean people who supported and worked tirelessy to fend for the bed ridden members of the society, surely we could be having a different storytoday.
As if not enough, nature took its toll that some parts of the country were hit so hard with drought that some people survived on very little if not nothing at all. It was a talk of the day that the west caused the draught, and surely it was not an easy time but the Zimbabwean child survived. Since the coming in of the new government of unity there has been a big leap from the "dungeon to the palace guard" as in the story of Joseph of the Bible in the book of Genesis.
On one of my trips, I remember getting into super markets only to find spread out packets of maize popcorn, a few matemba (very small fish) and salt. All refridgerators were turned off because there was nothing to freeze or cool down and there was not enough electricity. It was only those shops in the afluent areas of the "dales" or those that were linked with the South African supply system.
How about fuel, people had to park their cars for days because there was no fuel at all and when it was supplied it was rationed so that at least more people would get some. Only those that could purchase coupons had a slight advantage and would not spend as much time without fuel. Fuel became like gold at some stage.
Motherland Zimbabwe will not be the same again and will not go back to the era of struggle and endless fighting. If it does, surely somebody must be taken to task. It is this time that the world should know that God is not for the elite, He is for the whole of humanity despite how each one respond to His acts of love. God is the sustainer of his people and all his creation will have to abide by his sovereign controling power. This is a call to all inhgabitants of the earth to realise that life on earth belongs to the maker who created all and He will grant his mercy accordingly.
I am still waiting to see the next level of maturity and understanding in the mind of the Zimbabwean economist as well as politician without forgetting the constituent- member of the public, voter, follower and the most vulnerable.
Well, as the years ticked their time off with 2001-2003 having perhaps the highest figure for migration into the western European countries. Zimbabwe continued to experience the deepening scourge of dollarisation which depreciated further down as the years passedby. The depreciation of the dollar became a loughing stock and by word for everyone known to the once the bread basket of Africa. It became the talk of the day and most of the immigrants would not like to be identified with the "Zim dollar". Money was printed in bearer cheques with expiry dates though they still remain in circulation, printed in "trillions" denominations!
On the other hand, those that had enough to spare took advantage of the situation and made even more due to the exchange rate against the pound and other currencies of the same value. Some invested in businesses, properties, transport industry and the like, though a majority soon lost everything due to lack of effecient management because these were being managed by remote while they live abroad.
Then came the diamond field which really boosted a lot of people who were close to the fields and had the market in hand. However, as can be heard over the news agencies there are some who are reportedly slain in the scramble for the gem. Stories are still being told of the pending judgement on who killed who, and who has taken what at the gem fields.
Following, there came the Government of National Unity (GNU) which has stabilised the politics and moreso, the economy of the strangled Zmbabwe. In 2009 the world waited to see what would become of the GNU when at the time, the resources were almost extinct, with cities going without electricity, clean water supply and schools were only for those who had real cash and could afford, the rest had to live on hand to mouth. It was a time of testing who the real neighbour is, as in the Bible "Who is my neighbour?".
People shared the little they had until the sprouting fresh hopes from the GNU began to show up. Surely this is a nation the survived the day of dispare. I remember my visits to my motherland, these were good times of meeting friends and relatives but at the same time they were moments of reflection.
Prior to this GNU, there came Murambatsvina (operation cleanup) which on one hand it cleared all disorganised lifestyle but it really hit hard on a majority of people because that was their source of income namely (home industry) with tuckshops and workshops, combined with lodging houses, which was a real sorce of income for a significant number of people.
Some had organised themselves and according to the then push for property ownership built houses in nearby plots arround the cities. These were bulldozed and flattened to ground level. It was reaaly a time of reckoning and never to be admired. The GNU, I think came at the right time and it saved a lot of lives who could have either physically gone to the grave or perhaps lives could have been lost in the crowds without a glimpse of hope.
It was during that time that the common wealth "club" was debanded by the Zimbabwean leadership. The World Bank tightened its grip on the borowing and payment of the existing debts, all other non-governmental organisation became unwelcome behind the pretext that they may support the opposition of any ideology of the sovereign state. Some reputable, educated and experienced, well versed in their industry could only conclude that Zimbabwe would not surviuve beyond a specified time.
Thankfully some international organisations were still allowed to operate though with some restrictions. It was at this time again that cholera hit some parts of the country to its knees and if it was not of the resilience of the Zimbabwean people who supported and worked tirelessy to fend for the bed ridden members of the society, surely we could be having a different storytoday.
As if not enough, nature took its toll that some parts of the country were hit so hard with drought that some people survived on very little if not nothing at all. It was a talk of the day that the west caused the draught, and surely it was not an easy time but the Zimbabwean child survived. Since the coming in of the new government of unity there has been a big leap from the "dungeon to the palace guard" as in the story of Joseph of the Bible in the book of Genesis.
On one of my trips, I remember getting into super markets only to find spread out packets of maize popcorn, a few matemba (very small fish) and salt. All refridgerators were turned off because there was nothing to freeze or cool down and there was not enough electricity. It was only those shops in the afluent areas of the "dales" or those that were linked with the South African supply system.
How about fuel, people had to park their cars for days because there was no fuel at all and when it was supplied it was rationed so that at least more people would get some. Only those that could purchase coupons had a slight advantage and would not spend as much time without fuel. Fuel became like gold at some stage.
Motherland Zimbabwe will not be the same again and will not go back to the era of struggle and endless fighting. If it does, surely somebody must be taken to task. It is this time that the world should know that God is not for the elite, He is for the whole of humanity despite how each one respond to His acts of love. God is the sustainer of his people and all his creation will have to abide by his sovereign controling power. This is a call to all inhgabitants of the earth to realise that life on earth belongs to the maker who created all and He will grant his mercy accordingly.
I am still waiting to see the next level of maturity and understanding in the mind of the Zimbabwean economist as well as politician without forgetting the constituent- member of the public, voter, follower and the most vulnerable.
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