There are numerous reports in medical history where people have
suffered excruciating pain for years after undergoing abdominal
operations. Only after x-rays are carried out does the cause of pain
emerge as one of a surgical instrument embedded in the belly of a
patient. Another painful excursion into the theatre usually follows to
correct this man-made medical anomaly. Such is the contemporary
history of my country, Zimbabwe. Almost thirty years after
independence, we celebrated our independence anniversary on April 18,
2010 with lots and lots of post-independence surgical instruments
inadvertently tucked 'safely' in the national belly politic and
causing untold misery, discomfort and pain.
Thanks to the Robert Mugabe movement backed by an unholy cabal of
misguided zealots, some of us now have a lifetime commitment of
inciting tantrums just to raise awareness of the country's unenviable
condition.
Many Africans wonder why progressive Zimbabweans are disgruntled with
the black majority rule of Mugabe. More accurately, those Africans who
closely follow my commentary are at a loss why I dislike the Robert
Mugabe brand of governance. In Ghana and Nigeria, many otherwise
well-meaning citizens have been sold on the disfigured contraption of
what Mugabe calls 'land distribution', so much that they believe how
this draconian policy was meant for my benefit! The cycle of tragic
deception has continued with another lie that our troubles begin and
end with 'illegal Western sanctions'. Some have now gone to an extent
of attempting to persuade me to see the good side of Mugabe, with very
little success. In USA, whole communities of Afro-Americans have
elevated the ageing dictator to iconic status simply because they
perceive him to be a rare breed of African leaders who has stood his
ground against the bullying Uncle Tom. I am probably labelled a member
of the mischievous minority ungrateful dead who do not appreciate the
essence of liberation!
Thirty years into so-called independence, none of my critics have
bothered to interpret my political, social and economic x-ray. The
contortions you see on my face, guttural groans you hear are not
symptoms of gluttonous constipation. I sleep with my knees tucked into
my belly because there is a hedge-trimmer size scissors placed
precariously just below my liver, and Mugabe insists it is discomfort
cause by the Americans, Europeans and the Movement for Democratic
Change [MDC]. In a country where Municipal Councillors are arrested
for investigating fraudulent acquisition of council land, there ought
to be a bellyful of pain. In a country where a mere minister can
prevent a Parliamentary Committee from investigating 'state sponsored'
diamond smuggling, the pain surely must be paralysing. Which country
can a mere businessman order police to arrest civic leaders he claims
tarnish his name by questioning his ill-gotten land assets?
'Independent' Zimbabwe!
It is not like Mugabe does not know the 1987 'unity agreement' was
more of a surrender proposition than an opportunity for
reconciliation. The man is aware that the Chiyadzwa Diamond Mine is
an expropriated venture benefiting only his cronies and that his
cousin, property tycoon Philip Chiyangwa connived with party activists
to secure 20% of Harare land through shady deals. Mugabe is alert to
know that Roy Bennet, who has been on trial for treason was in fact
innocent. Most of all, Mugabe knows that it is he who is scampering
the full implementation of the Global Political Agreement [GPA].
Therefore those who argue that Mugabe's cronies 'keep him in the dark'
are themselves misinformed. The man reads and comprehends the minute
details.
On this and future independence anniversary days, there must be
collective unison from all progressive Zimbabweans that one-man
presidential contestant Robert Mugabe is the pair of sore scissors in
our bellies, and that as long as he is in active politics, abdominal
discomfort will persist before developing into fully-fledged
intestinal cramp. The rogue Southern Africa Development Community
[SADC] appointed doctor dispatched from South Africa to seek a panacea
to the frozen GPA has no clue what afflicts us. Both African Union
[AU] and SADC have given him several tons of placebo painkillers to
prescribe, hence the pain persists. The adage that: “when pain
persists, see a doctor” does not apply. The doctor is on the side of
pain! Someone has to tell them that this pain is not the cure but an
extension of the problem!
In this respect, it is now left to us, the citizens of Zimbabwe to
seek out our political redemption. ZANU-PF's contempt for agreements,
their disrespect of legitimate authority, arrogance and bravado
requires robust, collective and decisive response. Ruling elites are
essentially a minority, even if they are backed by a partisan army.
Their main strategy is intimidation and abuse of power. We the
citizens, have the numbers on our side. In the absence of free and
fair elections; when deprived of freedom of association and press;
face to face with autocratic brutality, corruption and patronage – our
only chance is to limp to the operating table, stare defiantly at the
anaesthetising ray of hope and beckon courage to pull out the
scissors. This is a call to all Zimbabweans at home and abroad that
the era of mourning about abdominal pain is over. Dictatorship can be
defeated, the scissors can be extricated. “Get up, stand up. Stand up
for your rights,” sang the late reggae maestro Robert Nesta Marley.
There is no Knight in Shining Armour or Buffalo Soldier who is going
to rescue us from the clutches of racist fascism. We are our own
liberators.
Rejoice Ngwenya is Executive Director of Coalition for Liberal Market
Solutions and an affiliate of AfricanLiberty.org