A warning to Zimbabwean Ministers. All of them

The current political picturesque has Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa at the focal point and going into 2016, much is expected to add to the drama, mainstreaming a handful of government officials to support his cause as well as another quarter of government officials teaming up to rally against. Although the accompanying fidgeting advise us that all is in order, the worry is too strong to ignore, and rather one that grows fatter with each packaged consolation. To most, past events when compared to present trends awaken a direful sense of déjà vu. And yet to some, it is nothing more less than a mere result of ‘targeting’ media constructs which should be discarded outright.

But, that this issue has found its way into mouths of the most vital persons in nation building, it should be digested although of course the media should not be forgiven if it delves in such covet sagas, with prayers that they don’t exacerbate much unwarranted despondency just as it is feared by President Robert Mugabe himself.

This writer has always posed a point that Zimbabwe will always have something to serve from its pots, something to serve from its pans to satiate hungering political bellies. Anytime, all the times, whichever way!

Not so long ago, I announced that it was high time Zimbabwe appreciated its disabilities as a way of shaping an informed strategic resolution for the country’s own desired growth, ideally as a way of crafting synchrony with popularized international growth placements like the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) amongst others and also in the process containing the country’s fast approaching decay of its vital driving social, political and economic tapestry.

Zimbabwe is seriously bleeding and there is a right minded few who will concede to this, provided that at the center of the madness whence the rot emanates is ministers quenching their political thirst under ministerial robes and in the act down-playing a greater part of their broad national obligations.

Spanning from just a few months back, Zimbabwean ministers have become mere civil servants not any different from the average $450 earners. And again, many have argued that as a result of appointments of ministers which is solely based on the crest of ‘politics’, ministers are now more less job secure than the general bulk of civil servants as they can be called off their portfolios after any political mishap, and in the extreme of cases, ‘stuttering on a war cry’. But again, it might not be surprising to find out that some ministers would not be aware of this stark fact.

Zimbabwe has had an ugly culture which veiled incompetency in ministers serving in government. Although the irony being that there has never been any competency to talk about but what matched their chairs has been mere eulogies that trails a displayed diplomatic etiquette, for which it would not be any much offending to assume the diplomacy was/is oft rehearsed and therefore plastic and unyielding. New youths Minister, Hon Patrick Zhuwao spoke of what he saw as some ‘stubbornness’ in some Zimbabwean ministers even. There is absolutely no reason to argue against Zhuwao’s charge.

Minister Christopher Mushowe

Most cabinet ministers have garnered a considerable amount of ministerial comfort and experience, noting that a huge selection has been made to assume various ministerial portfolios, with most deserving to proffer gratitude for heading an average of three to four ministries in their political lifespans. Although this scheme of rotating minsters bordered on intentions to culminate ministerial insight, harvesting a breed of public governors able to transform and rebrand ministries by resuscitating ministerial vibe and accelerating output, most ministries have sadly remained archives that tell of a once glorious past, ignore the infrastructure in shameful decrepitude.

And, in the midst of ministries’ docility has been a stiff competition in graft by ministers themselves shielding behind Zanu PF cards and bringing the party to its current political dis-grace. Only a few ministries have had a radical shift from their former shells, whether for the good or for the bad. Just a shift.

In a time where the entire line of cabinet of ministers is modulated by Zanu Pf, it is not wrong for Zanu Pf as a house to call its ministers to order, or anyone whose voice counts, for beyond Zanu Pf, no other power has superintending authority that can cause ministers to adopt a positive result focused lineament towards public service. This has to be basal and blind to institutional politics. Zimbabwe is immune to petitions and public action.

With ministers’ actions unchecked, it will be soon realized that the clique that went off government on their alleged association with former Vice President Dr. Joyce Mujuru were not in any way worse that the remaining ‘big boys in Prados’, who might even be worse, in all respect and rationality also considering that they remained in office on political allegiance far from meritocratic footing. If politically possible, a new experiment that puts impunity around ministerial power to nullity might soon trickle a great sense of intrigue to the common citizen and general onlookers, middle income earners and the rustic.

One thing that the prevailing ‘factionalism frenzy’ in the country could be credited for is, according to this writer, creating a democratic space that gives tolerance to the interrogation of politics’ untouchables, but the same is condemned for prank cronyism and ‘ flimsy protectionism’.

Of late, most Zimbabweans have been calling for the ouster of David Parirenyathwa, whose conduct at PSMAS has earned an equation of both abuse of office and undermining the health profession, which he is said to have represented, in the process swindling $100 000 of PSMAS’ finances. However, Parirenyatwa’s fate was expected to be an addition to the strong warning to a number of ministers whose covers are still tourniquet tight, hiding graft and filth. That he returned the money later after sensing intense humiliation should never be the basis upon which we should ‘forgive’ the ‘honorable’ minister for that would be plain silly. In Manicaland, many have once complained of now Minister of Media and Broadcasting Services, Honorable Christopher Mushowe over funds intended for Mugabe’s Community Share Ownership Schemes, the president’s personal commitment more equal to Barrack Obama’s Health Care pledge, the Obama-Care Plan. Although the issue might be one of the tenuous lot, or dismissed as thus, that tasks government to establish stringent monitoring mechanisms on public finances and government backed programmes. Ignored, this will again be a high ranking challenge towards the attainment of ‘pledges’ contained in the now aging Zim-Asset blueprint. Begriming it.

Till recently, or rather, till the congress of 2014, a government minister was an untouchable mortal. By this privilege, they had become a coterie of demigods. But this never translated to increased ministerial yields, or influenced any. They harbored grey areas, cultivated and nourished by serious impunity which the government chair brought.

To some, Mujuru’s case, which involved stark corruption was a trendsetter yet to some it was a high level betray of ministerial homage. So, Dr Mujuru soon became known as Dr 10% following her fleecing of investors, directing proceeds towards ‘Private Personal Pacts’, PPPs. This made her a disgusting and nauseating prototype of graft Zimbabwe does not need.

Ministers’ mandates in Zimbabwe are exceedingly misconstrued, and there is danger when ministers cry with the people in lieu of proffering remedial action. One of the major tasks for ministers in Zimbabwe, besides being ‘megawatt political scarecrows’, is promoting sustainable growth in all its levels, averting dangers at hand and those imminent. They have to act ‘sniff dogs to danger yet to come’.

Zimbabwe will only be entrapped in poverty as an outcome of the country’s ministers. Most of them are in fact more dangerous than problems bedeviling us.

This writer was happy when one director in Chikwinya’s office pulled up guts to declare, “Ah ava vari hands-on, havadi zvekutaura taura”. That was a better eulogy for the gender minister and a challenge to the same.

Of course many will flinch, but there is reason why discourse involving this issue must be crude. It is now or never.

Outside politics, one fails to even take offense when Welshman Ncube states that climate change is in part contributed by Zanu Pf’s people, and for my glorification, the party’s ministers in light of the fact that the remaining industrial equipment run with persistent sniffs and coughs and are starved of proper maintenance.

A few weeks past, President Mugabe was dispirited by mushrooming settlements near airport, and Zimbabweans weren’t slow to state that was Chombo’s show, although obliquely. Saviour Kasukuwere reportedly stuttered even, for he stood new to the awe.

Economic investments and the SDGs administered by the United Nations are all anchored on ministerial commitment for their successful realization. This can be done, but is there an inborn will for development amongst our ministers and do they identify with the people? A conjecture that the United Nations in Zimbabwe gets worried too may be true, especially in keeping sentry on ZUNDAF.

Zimbabweans should refuse to be killed by people who should instead guard them. In 2016, let all energy be on the regulation of government ministers themselves, to vaccinate them against being a bunch of nuisance. And, all the best ‘Comrade’ Christopher Mustvangwa!

Zisunko Ndlovu is a Zimbabwean practicing political journalist and development practitioner and can be contacted at: [email protected]