Technocracy key to Zimbabwe’s survival: Where is Strive Masiyiwa, Nkosana Moyo and Brian Kagoro?

By William Muchayi

The inevitable looms over the horizon as President Robert Mugabe’s 33 year grip on power comes to an end. What lies in store for the impoverished Southern African state‘s fragile political landscape and who can rescue her from the mud she finds herself trapped in?

Mine isn’t an analysis of the numerous scenarios Zimbabweans might find themselves in a post-Mugabe era as several critics have dwelt on this area before, but an attempt to give an alternative viable option out of the crisis.

Writers, like other artists in society do have an obligation not only to interpret the past, present and future, but also to search for answers to problems bedevilling that very community. Neither do they claim to have all answers to society’s problems for their vision is that of mortals and not super humans. Theirs is an effort to complement society’s in the advancement of its cherished dreams and aspirations.

What are the alternative options for Zimbabweans to get out of the current socio-economic and political quagmire? A narrative dominated by Zanu PF is guaranteed by the constitution for the next 5 years since a Mugabe exit automatically paves way for his successor within the party.

A Mnangagwa or Mujuru presidency is the talk of society, but as I articulated in my previous piece, neither candidate can rescue the country from the inferno as both are extremely flawed. The two candidates have been Mugabe’s lieutenants ever since and none has proved to be any different from their god father to be worth a saviour.

African leaders, Mugabe included as well as Mujuru and Mnangagwa, are rich physically but poor mentally. Since independence in the 1960s, the continent has had not less than 203 heads of state and fewer than 20 can be described as ‘good leaders’.

This is an appalling record by world standards and neither Mujuru nor Mnangagwa is capable of dispelling this curse.  The two, typify the all – powerful African leaders who took on such epithets as the ‘Ngwazi’ [Wiseman] , ‘Mwalimo’ [teacher] and ‘Zim 1’ .

President Joseph Desire Mobutu changed his name to Mobutu Sese Seko Kuku Ngbendu Wa Za Banga, which translates to ‘the earthy , the peppery , all powerful warrior who , by his endurance and will to win , goes from contest to contest leaving fire in his wake.’

Unfortunately, such leaders know nothing about the rule of law, democracy, property rights, how to steer the state in the right direction for they are rich physically but mentally impoverished. As one scholar accurately identified, the chains that prevent us from being free are mental more than physical.

Africa is in chains and as long as those who are mandated to steer the ship forward continue to suffer from mental amnesia as her people navigate the thorny terrain ahead, the continent will remain the laughing stoke of the world. Neither a Mnangagwa nor a Mujuru presidency can and will improve the fortunes of Zimbabweans.

What about the formation of new political parties like Lovemore Madhuku’s NCA? Neither Madhuku , Job Sikhala nor Munyaradzi  Gwisai has answers to Zimbabwe’s problems for the best they can achieve is to get publicity by attacking Tsvangirai and nothing else.

Zimbabwe is not short of political parties but has a severe drought of visionaries who can stir the boat in the right direction. The United States of America has a population of approximately 314 million people but has fewer political parties than Zimbabwe which has a meagre 13 million people.

Can Madhuku, Sikhala or Gwisai justify the mushrooming of political parties although it is within their democratic right to do so? What sort of change does Madhuku promise Zimbabweans and what is his vision?

Alternatively, Dumiso Dabengwa proposed the idea of a rotating presidency from Mugabe, Makoni, Ncube, himself and Reketai Semwayo of Zanu Ndonga.  Again, this is a flawed arrangement for it doesn’t address the mental drought that grips the country since it would just be  a changing of faces.

Zimbabwe can’t be saved by individuals like Dabengwa or Mugabe for they are past their welcome in the political matrix of the country. The best they can do is to take an advisory role while they are in the background.

Again , some in the opposition have called for a re-run of the botched polls , but without elaborating on how the rules of the game will change to guarantee a free and fair poll acceptable to all. Neither SADC nor the AU can help in resolving Zimbabwe’s problems let alone Jacob Zuma of South Africa.

Didn’t the South African incumbent boost recently that the ANC will rule South Africa forever? How is that rhetoric different from Mugabe’s who sweared that the MDC will never rule Zimbabwe in his life time?

The ANC and Zanu PF are not much different from one another, and given the same pressure, they would behave in the same manner.

Does the opposition have any answers on how to stop Zanu PF from rigging the next elections even if they are to be conducted in the next six months from now? Again, they find themselves without answers just like Zanu PF who rigged the polls but don’t have answers to revive the ailing economy.

For Zimbabwe to escape from her current crisis there is need to navigate into the unknown by establishing a technocratic government. Technically, a technocratic government is one in which the ministers are not career politicians,’ in fact, in some cases, they may not even be members of political parties at all.

This political arrangement can be discussed and agreed upon by all political parties and act as a transitional government for at least 5 years while preparing the ground for new democratic elections.

Usually, a technocratic government arises  when the political spectrum  in a country is so fragmented , with the political  conversation so acrimonies  that, the markets  and the international parties of the country looks for concerted  and determined answers which can’t be provided by political parties .

Firstly, technocrats, by reputation, competence and experience can persuade the markets and world leaders that they stand for real change. The presence of a 90 year old Mugabe as head of state doesn’t help in calming the jittery markets, let alone improve the image of the country that desperately needs investment.

Secondly, these individuals are men and women familiar to world leaders, an advantage they can exploit for the benefit of their country. Didn’t we see Strive Masiyiwa sharing the stage with Barack Obama?

Thirdly, technocrats are known for the speed with which they get their feet together, at a time when swift action is needed to calm the financial markets. Mauritius is an example of a country run successfully by technocrats who have managed to turn it from an agricultural to a manufacturing state.

In Europe, both Italy and Greece are run by technocratic governments. Mario Monti of Italy is an economics professor and a former European Commissioner while Lucas Papademos of Greece, a distinguished liberal economist, is the  former  Vice President of the European Central Bank.

However, being a technocrat alone is not sufficient enough to drive Zimbabwe into Canaan for the people to do this must be of integrity. Indeed, they are not many but few. Strive Masiyiwa, Nkosana Moyo, Brian Kagoro, Eric Bloc, Tony Hawkins and few other individuals can be co-opted into the transitional arrangement to work with politicians who are already there on the ground.

However, these technocrats would be empowered to implement the much needed changes that can drive the country forward in the right direction.  This arrangement can only be implemented in the absence of Mugabe who is more comfortable to be surrounded by the Chinotimbas, the Dokoras and Chigwederes than visionaries who can turn around the fortunes of the country.

Nkosana Moyo proved his genuineness and integrity by resigning from Mugabe’s gravy train in spite of the fact that he could have remained silent and enjoy the benefits associated with his post as most PhD holders in Zimbabwe’s cabinet do today.

Africa and Zimbabwe in particular, can’t be saved by these individuals from the inferno. The country needs visionaries who tell the truth all the time and live the truth themselves. As Mahatma Ghandi once remarked,  ‘I must first be the change I want to see in the world.’

Not only do visionaries see themselves as victors over circumstances rather than being victims of circumstances, but they are men and women of integrity who make good predictions of the future through their understanding of the present.

They have a dream as in Martin Luther King’s famous ‘I have a dream ‘speech.  As Ian Khama of Botswana once remarked, Africa does not need to be destroyed to flourish.

Having said so, the odds of having a technocratic government are slim in non –democratic states as Zimbabwe. It is usually economic crises and revolutions that sweep technocrats into power when their expertise in finance and economics appears most desirable.

It is the duty of every civilised Zimbabwean to look above petty party political inclinations to address the crisis in the country that threaten not only ourselves but future generations. Our children do not have any other place to call ‘home’ except the motherland.

The decisions we make today will shape their destiny and they don’t have to sacrifice their precious lives by crossing the scorched Sahara desert on foot nor should they risk being swept by deadly seas in an attempt to reach Europe in search for  greener pastures.

We can’t afford to blame others for our demise for we have a part to play in shaping our destiny.

William Muchayi is a pro-democracy and political analyst who can be contacted on [email protected]