Dear fellow citizens
What an end to 2017!!! The otherwise seemingly uneventful year politically has at the eleventh hour literally witnessed a political earthquake. As families and communities we enter the festive season with a sense of guarded hope and renewal. Without seeming to condone military overreaching in political affairs, more so, internal party succession issues the result was hugely welcomed by many Zimbabweans. I would suspect that part of the excitement was just to see some too familiar faces exiting the political stage. Is it in our nature as human beings to appreciate change for its own sake? I am in no way underestimating some of the serious issues that this country has to address; issues which were topical in the pursuit of ‘Operation Restore Legacy’. An operation that raises its own problems regards the need to deal with the past.
The outpouring of joy and excitement by many Zimbabweans, especially in Harare and Bulawayo streets speaks volumes of long suppressed aspirations by the suffering majority. Any window of hope had to be seized without fail no matter how it came about. The flip side of it is really tragic. Should a founding father of the nation exit with such jubilation from the citizens he purported to serve and had in the last election bestowed on him a super majority in Parliament? To me, that is Africa’s real tragedy and dilemma which we cannot ignore anymore or else our very sovereignty stands on shaky ground. It is a question that all well meaning Zimbabweans should ponder over as the nation navigates the long route towards socio-economic recovery and hopeful political stability with free, fair and credible elections in 2018.
As I noted previously, the job at hand is ensuring we have a credible voters roll with all those who qualify and wish to cast their votes properly registered. While acknowledging the peaceful transition from former president Robert Mugabe to President Mnangagwa, the return to normalcy and economic recovery and political stability still lie in our hands as Zimbabweans. Only through patriotic duty of voting in credible elections that will give a legitimate outcome can we really talk of a new Zimbabwe. Of course, with oneness demonstrated in the streets of 18th November 2017, I have no doubt that a genuinely new Zimbabwe is possible.
May I also urge that our trust as a nation be on our institutions rather than on politicians or leaders no matter how magnanimous we believe them to be. In former President Obama’s words, “Africa needs strong institutions not strong men”. I need not further underline the proper conduct of 2018 elections and thereafter. Most importantly, it is the full compliance to the Constitution of Zimbabwe as passed into law in 2013. Not much has been done on the crucial National Peace and Reconciliation Commission and we all would agree that the issue of national healing is pressing even more with the recent events in the ruling party. Chapter 14 of the Constitution that ushers in a devolved system of government remains on paper to the frustration of local communities. It is hard to comprehend any return to normalcy when the country’s constitution is applied selectively and piecemeal. The whole government attitude to public administration is yet to reflect the spirit and values espoused in the constitution. I need not talk about the end result of police excesses on roadblocks prior to the new administration.
Let us go for holidays and the farming season bearing in mind our collective duty and responsibility to ensure that come 2018 we return Zimbabwe towards the rule of law and full implementation of the constitution. We pray for more rains and good harvest thereafter. We also caution against recklessness that could harm us especially on our dangerous roads during the festive season. Let us celebrate the Christmas holidays with restrain.
Happy festive season to you all.
P.T. Nyathi