Opinion by Tendai Kwari
The untimely death of Professor John Makumbe reminds me that there is nothing definite in this world. I am shocked and saddened. RIP Professor. When a rare and fearless voice of sanity passes on, we feel the loss; it’s a loss to Zimbabwe as a nation.
We therefore must give something back to our motherland, whilst we can. This is the time we should actively get involved in shaping the future of Zimbabwe. We must do what we can, whilst we can.
The struggle we fight in Zimbabwe is to be heard; a struggle against the draconian rules that stifles our freedom of speech and association. Ours is a struggle for a democratic Zimbabwe; a struggle for REAL change.
Let us put our differences aside and build a common front against anarchy and autocracy. As long as dictatorship exists, the national cause should advance and become the cause of each and everyone. The struggle against anarchy should take shape and involve all peace loving democratic forces.
They should link arms and act for REAL change. Every youth must become a free agent and a relay point. Every rally will signal that everybody is looking for REAL change and is taking a stand.
In order to succeed, our struggle against autocracy must be based on a clear set of objectives and a well defined methodology. The majority of us are jobless and have witnessed the disintegration of our society.
The struggle against autocracy is not one battle, but a succession of struggles, none of which, in fact, is decisive. The objectives of our struggle must not be loosely defined as they have been all along. If we are not well defined, the people will ask why bother to follow or listen to us.
They may not see the need of changing the status-quo. Our leadership should not start and end on public press conferences and speeches; we must strive to achieve results. We must engage men and women on grassroots levels.
Our people have become so used to the contempt and determination exhibited by the autocratic regime to remain in power. Whatever the cost, any semblance of generosity or any sign of good will [such as a mere bag of maize] from the autocratic regime is greeted with surprise and jubilation.
Over the years, it has emerged that some of our comrades have become filthy rich over night. The much purported indigenisation has not automatically resulted in equal sharing of the national cake.
Some of our comrades have used national resources to better their material gains and reinforce their ill conceived burgeoning wealth. These profiteering elements are realizing considerable gains from our independence at the expense of the masses [who are living in abject poverty] that sacrificed everything and soaked the national soil with their blood.
We now know that the iniquitous phenomenon of exploitation can assume a black face, a brother and a kinsman. We are determined to change this and see democracy prevail in our country. Lets us work together, regardless of our political affiliations, to disembowel anarchy and corruption bedeviling our nation.
In God we trust, and the struggle must continue unabated.
Tendai Kwari, Mavambo Kusile Dawn UK Province Communications.