June run-off was a one-man comedy show

By Mutsa Murenje

In his contribution entitled “What heroes fought for” published in The Herald on Monday 13th July 2009, Trevor Manhanga argued that on March 29th 2008 “…the people of Zimbabwe collectively decided that they wanted a political dispensation that gives representation in Parliament to three political parties and one independent”.

According to him, this is the sort of change that the suffering and oppressed people of Zimbabwe wanted and not the other change that we keep on talking about. I beg to differ. I think it is the other ‘change’ that we voted for and not the one in place at the present moment. I will explain later what I mean by this.

I totally disagree with Manhanga especially on his endorsement of the June 27th,  2008 One Man Stand Up Comedy Show. That thing was not an election at all and as far as I, Mutsa Murenje, am concerned, Robert Mugabe remains illegitimate not only yesterday, but also today, tomorrow and forever more. But before I draw your attention to what we voted for on March 29th, 2008 allow me my dear esteemed readers, to bring to the fore the fact that Manhanga is to me one of those false prophets that the prophet Jeremiah spoke of. Yes, those whom the LORD said: “I did not send these prophets, but even so they went. I did not give them any message but still they spoke in my name. If they had known my secret thoughts, then they could have made them give up the evil lives they live and the wicked things they do….I am against those prophets who speak their own words and claim they came from me. Listen to what I, the LORD, Say! I am against the prophets who tell their dreams that are full of lies. They tell these dreams and lead my people astray with their lies and their boasting. I did not send them or order them to go, and they are of no help at all to the people. I, the LORD, have spoken” (Jeremiah 23: 21, 22, 30-32).

 As already pointed out, there is a particular change that we voted for on March 29th, 2008 and we are yet to realise that change. We sought macroeconomic stability for long-term development because of the role it plays in the country’s economic recovery. Low levels of underlying inflation, limited public sector deficits, a stable exchange rate and low interest rates are what we voted for. We aren’t oblivious of the fact that this is the only way in which confidence among investors and ordinary Zimbabweans can be maintained. We wanted a stable economic environment because it works in favour of the poor who stand to lose the most in periods of high inflation.

Furthermore, our vote also meant governance reforms. We sought to create a better environment for doing business, and for the full enjoyment of individual rights that Zimbabweans are entitled to under the constitution. We hoped to achieve better investigation and prosecution; elimination of discretionary decision-making in a public service that is prone to bribery; public education and judicial and legal reform. We are not gullible citizens, for we are acutely aware that in an open and democratic society, the people themselves, Parliament, civil society, and a vigilant press are the ultimate defence against abuse of office and that is the kind of change that we voted for. Our vote was stolen by the octogenarian tyrant and we will not relent in our quest for governance reforms!

We had in mind enhanced equity and wealth creation opportunities for the poor when we voted for change on March 29th, 2008. We all know, don’t we that no society can gain social cohesion if significant sections of the population live in abject poverty. We, therefore, sought equity as a recurrent principle in economic, social and political programmes. We sincerely thought special attention would be given to investment in arid and semi-arid districts, communities with high incidence of poverty, unemployed youth, women, and all vulnerable groups. That is the change that we voted for.

Our March 29th, 2008 vote also aspired for a country firmly interconnected through a network of roads, railways, ports, airports, water and sanitation facilities, and telecommunications. We wanted it to become impossible to refer to any region of our country as “remote”. From the foregoing, it becomes clearer that our vote meant investment in the nation’s infrastructure that the evil regime of Robert Mugabe destroyed.

Need I say more? Why not? Our vote also meant intensified application of Science, Technology and Innovation. It recognised the critical role played by research and development in accelerating economic development. We wanted more resources to be devoted to scientific research, technical capabilities of the workforce, and in raising the quality of teaching mathematics, science and technology in schools, polytechnics and universities. The change that Manhanga refers to is hollow and that is not what we want as Zimbabweans.

We, the suffering and oppressed people of Zimbabwe are aware that land is a critical resource in social, economic and political development. Respect for property rights to land, whether owned by communities, individuals or companies, is an important driver of rapid economic transformation. This transformation is largely dependent on a national land use policy, which, I believe, needs to be completed as a matter of urgency. We had in mind this policy when we voted out Robert Mugabe. This has to be because this policy will facilitate the process of land administration, the computerisation of land registries, and the establishment of national spatial data infrastructure in order to track land use patterns, and the introduction of an enhanced legal framework for faster resolutions of land disputes.

Zimbabweans intended to create a globally competitive and adaptive human resource base. This they wanted to be done through life-long training and education. As a priority, we thought a human resource base would be established to facilitate better planning of human resources requirements in the country. Other intentions included the establishment of new technical training institutions, as well as the enhancement of closer collaboration between industry and institutions.

In addition, we voted for a society free from danger and fear. We had in mind a government determined to improve security in order to lower the cost of doing business and to provide Zimbabweans with a more secure living and working environment. Our vote sought an efficient, motivated and well-trained public service. Our vote intended Zimbabwe to build a public service that is more citizen-focused and results-oriented.

We wanted to intensify efforts to bring about an attitudinal change in public service that values transparency and accountability to the citizens of Zimbabwe. Don’t you think that a results-based management system is necessary for rewarding public servants on merit? That is the change that our vote sought. It also sought a Zimbabwe School of Government. This school is important in that it provides research and training for transformative leadership to the highest international standards.

In conclusion, is the change that Manhanga talks about the one that we had in mind when we voted for change on March 29th, 2008? The answer is a clear no! His thesis should therefore be treated with the contempt it deserves. I rest my case and I put it to you dear Zimbabweans. Stay well and keep safe. Be blessed and remember that you have a deep place in my affection.