There has been a lot said about the failure or success of the Zimbabwean unity government. A lot of it has been based on what concessions Tsvangirai has been able to wring out of Mugabe. There is almost an obsession with who has scored more points than the other that a very important issue has fallen by the wayside. In August 2008 I wrote in The Zimbabwean about the need to help the victims of political violence find closure. While there has been a number of high profile cases highlighted in the media the same cannot be said of the ordinary villagers whose homes and families were destroyed by the actions of political thugs. In my letter I argued that “The victims of the Zanu PF violence risk being forgotten in our desire to get this country working again. Those who lost family members or those whose relatives were maimed and crippled risk just being cannon fodder if we do not put in place a system to keep this in the public domain”.
I believe that while there has been progress in other areas there has not been much in the direction of getting the people responsible for destroying families and homes to account for their actions. Peace without justice rings hollow and I think the people of Zimbabwe will feel hard done by if our political leaders do not pursue this matter with the vigour it requires. Morgan Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara owe it to the people to demand justice for the victims of violence. I am not advocating for retribution but it is essential that we investigate and prosecute those who killed and maimed political opponents. I do not believe that the perpetrators should be given amnesty without trial because then they will have received no more than a slap on the wrist. The thugs need to go through the courts and where there is evidence to convict then they should be convicted.
The politicians can then agree that the crimes were done at a time of political madness and grant amnesty but the convictions would be on record. I think we need justice for the men, women, and children who suffered greatly for choosing to oppose Mugabe and Zanu PF. As we seek to open a new chapter in the history of our nation I believe we need to proceed “with malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation's wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan -- to do all which may achieve and cherish a just, and lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations” as Abraham Lincoln counselled in his second inaugural address as US President. We owe it to these courageous women, men and children to bring to justice the perpetrators of the violence that ravaged our nation.
While there may be relative peace now there is no guarantee that it will last if we continue to ignore those who suffered at the hands of the political thugs. One day the people will choose to take matters into their hands and we may have to deal with a much messier situation if we do not have the courage to face up to the past now. Let us give these families closure by ensuring that justice is done and is seen to be done. Let us give meaning to the shaky peace that has enveloped our nation by showing that we are willing to forgive and forget but only when justice has been done. Peace will have no meaning for the people because it will only be the absence of physical violence but the psychological wounds will continue to fester. As Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet says, “Peace, in the sense of the absence of war, is of little value to someone who is dying of hunger or cold. It will not remove the pain of torture inflicted on a prisoner of conscience. It does not comfort those who have lost their loved ones…. Peace can only last where human rights are respected, where people are fed, and where individuals and nations are free.” I can find no better way of putting across the argument for peace with justice. When I read this quote I was reminded of Albert Nyathi’s questions, “Peace! What peace? Justice! What justice? Whose justice?” Indeed what peace, what justice if we continue to ignore those who were killed and maimed for their belief in democracy. As we seek peace in our nation we must ensure that it has value for all the people otherwise we will have failed those who gave all for freedom. We must not waiver in our commitment to see those who committed crimes against our people brought to justice. Our desire for justice should not be driven by our need for vengeance but the need to close a horrible chapter of our history. In 1987 we agreed to peace without justice and the results are there for all to see. Let those with ears hear.
Thursday 28 May 2009
Saturday 23 May 2009
THIS IS NOT A TIME TO SCORE CHEAP POINTS
I find the current media exchanges between Gideon Gono and Tendai Biti unfortunate. At a time when we are trying to build investor confidence we seem to be going about it in the wrong way. The recent leaking of Gono’s letters to the media before they have been delivered to the intended recipients shows that Gono is playing politics. One can’t help but ask why if there was such compelling evidence against the Minister and his law firm it has taken this long to prosecute them? Why did Gono wait until Biti started questioning his suitability for the post of Central bank governor before coming out with this case? If the case has been there since 2004 or thereabouts why has it never come to court?
I am not in a position to say whether Biti is corrupt or not because that can only be proven by Biti himself but I believe I am in a position to critically analyse Gono’s actions. For a man who claims to do things openly I believe it is incumbent upon Gono to let the law take its course without trying and convicting Biti in the media. There is no doubt in my mind that Gono or those close to him deliberately leaked the letters to the media in an effort to humiliate or even smear Biti. Gono has been known to use smear tactics to silence his critics and to intimidate those who threaten his unfettered control of Zimbabwe’s fiscal and monetary policy. David Butau, former Guruve North MP, gave an insight into the workings of Gono and his cronies at the central bank. Although not entirely innocent Butau showed how Gono reacts to investigations into his conduct of central bank and government business since arriving at the RBZ. Everyone who has questioned him has had a case of forex externalisation pulled from somewhere and splashed in the media. For Butau’s full statement go to http://www.talkzimbabwe.com/news/117/ARTICLE/1354/2008-01-17.html . Here you will be able to read Butau’s side of the story. I cannot confirm the veracity of the allegations but these allegations are significant in that they are made by someone from inside Zanu PF with some knowledge of how the system works. Faced with indefinite remand prison the young MP ‘legged’ it to the UK. His innocence or otherwise is still a matter for debate.
Looking at this case between Gono and Biti one cannot help but see similarities between it and many others used by Zanu PF and the central bank to silence critics. Remember Chris Kuruneri, James Makamba, Mutumwa Mawere, etc? However, since there is a chance that Biti and his firm may have broken the ‘law’ it is important that they are brought to court to answer the charges that Gono makes in the media. It is also important that more than just deny the allegations Tendai Biti demands his day in court. The only way to restore his standing is to demand that the central bank take him and his firm to court where he will have a chance to prove his innocence or otherwise. Those of us in the court of public opinion await the outcome of this case with baited breath.
On a different level I believe that Gono should acknowledge that his actions led the country up the garden path into an uncertain and perilous future. Reading his letters one does not seem to see any acknowledgement that his actions accelerated the process of economic decline as more and more people took their forex out of the local banking system fearing that Gono would raid it to fund Zanu PF’s agenda. While he is quick to credit himself for the successes recorded by the new Unity Government and to accuse Biti of plagiarising STERP from him Gono makes no effort to highlight his failures. Reading his letters one would think that Zimbabwe is a successful economy. One, therefore, wonders why with all these successes the economy is in doldrums. It is also difficult to see the difference between Gono’s role as outlined in his letter and the duties of the Finance Minister. It is this quasi-fiscal role of the central governor in the last few years that, in my opinion, accelerated the pace of economic decline. Because Gono no longer had to answer to any politician he became a law unto to himself. This is what makes his position untenable because he is unlikely to remember that his remit is to run the country’s monetary policy not the fiscal policy. He has wielded too much power to an extent that he no longer understands his role as central bank governor. Given this the only solution that will allow this new government to move forward with its new agenda is for him to step aside. This is nothing personal but it is rooted in the idea that new thinking needs to permeate the central bank’s policies. Unfortunately Gono does not represent new thinking neither is he willing to adopt a new approach. Gono believes that he is the best thing ever to have happened to Zimbabwe’s central bank and the arrogance is very evident in his letters. In most democracies a new government appoints a new governor of the central bank and a new attorney general not because the incumbents are incompetent but because for change to happen there is need for new blood. In Zimbabwe’s case I think the tag of incompetence can also be attached to the current incumbent of the Central Bank governor’s post.
My advice for both Biti and Gono is that this is not a time for scoring cheap political points. Zimbabweans want their lives to get better and not to see people wasting time on non issues. Biti has the mandate to run our fiscal policy as well as to oversee the running of the monetary policy hence he needs to focus on this. Gono must realise that all good things come to an end and that his time has come to an end. All Zimbabweans educated or not, economists and layman are agreed that Gono has failed except of course those who have benefited from his largesse. It is time for the two protagonists to sit down and deal with their issues away from the media spotlight. While they are scoring cheap points in the media Zimbabwe continues to burn. No one man should be bigger than Zimbabwe. I feel that Gono has had his chance so it is now time to pass the baton.
I am not in a position to say whether Biti is corrupt or not because that can only be proven by Biti himself but I believe I am in a position to critically analyse Gono’s actions. For a man who claims to do things openly I believe it is incumbent upon Gono to let the law take its course without trying and convicting Biti in the media. There is no doubt in my mind that Gono or those close to him deliberately leaked the letters to the media in an effort to humiliate or even smear Biti. Gono has been known to use smear tactics to silence his critics and to intimidate those who threaten his unfettered control of Zimbabwe’s fiscal and monetary policy. David Butau, former Guruve North MP, gave an insight into the workings of Gono and his cronies at the central bank. Although not entirely innocent Butau showed how Gono reacts to investigations into his conduct of central bank and government business since arriving at the RBZ. Everyone who has questioned him has had a case of forex externalisation pulled from somewhere and splashed in the media. For Butau’s full statement go to http://www.talkzimbabwe.com/news/117/ARTICLE/1354/2008-01-17.html . Here you will be able to read Butau’s side of the story. I cannot confirm the veracity of the allegations but these allegations are significant in that they are made by someone from inside Zanu PF with some knowledge of how the system works. Faced with indefinite remand prison the young MP ‘legged’ it to the UK. His innocence or otherwise is still a matter for debate.
Looking at this case between Gono and Biti one cannot help but see similarities between it and many others used by Zanu PF and the central bank to silence critics. Remember Chris Kuruneri, James Makamba, Mutumwa Mawere, etc? However, since there is a chance that Biti and his firm may have broken the ‘law’ it is important that they are brought to court to answer the charges that Gono makes in the media. It is also important that more than just deny the allegations Tendai Biti demands his day in court. The only way to restore his standing is to demand that the central bank take him and his firm to court where he will have a chance to prove his innocence or otherwise. Those of us in the court of public opinion await the outcome of this case with baited breath.
On a different level I believe that Gono should acknowledge that his actions led the country up the garden path into an uncertain and perilous future. Reading his letters one does not seem to see any acknowledgement that his actions accelerated the process of economic decline as more and more people took their forex out of the local banking system fearing that Gono would raid it to fund Zanu PF’s agenda. While he is quick to credit himself for the successes recorded by the new Unity Government and to accuse Biti of plagiarising STERP from him Gono makes no effort to highlight his failures. Reading his letters one would think that Zimbabwe is a successful economy. One, therefore, wonders why with all these successes the economy is in doldrums. It is also difficult to see the difference between Gono’s role as outlined in his letter and the duties of the Finance Minister. It is this quasi-fiscal role of the central governor in the last few years that, in my opinion, accelerated the pace of economic decline. Because Gono no longer had to answer to any politician he became a law unto to himself. This is what makes his position untenable because he is unlikely to remember that his remit is to run the country’s monetary policy not the fiscal policy. He has wielded too much power to an extent that he no longer understands his role as central bank governor. Given this the only solution that will allow this new government to move forward with its new agenda is for him to step aside. This is nothing personal but it is rooted in the idea that new thinking needs to permeate the central bank’s policies. Unfortunately Gono does not represent new thinking neither is he willing to adopt a new approach. Gono believes that he is the best thing ever to have happened to Zimbabwe’s central bank and the arrogance is very evident in his letters. In most democracies a new government appoints a new governor of the central bank and a new attorney general not because the incumbents are incompetent but because for change to happen there is need for new blood. In Zimbabwe’s case I think the tag of incompetence can also be attached to the current incumbent of the Central Bank governor’s post.
My advice for both Biti and Gono is that this is not a time for scoring cheap political points. Zimbabweans want their lives to get better and not to see people wasting time on non issues. Biti has the mandate to run our fiscal policy as well as to oversee the running of the monetary policy hence he needs to focus on this. Gono must realise that all good things come to an end and that his time has come to an end. All Zimbabweans educated or not, economists and layman are agreed that Gono has failed except of course those who have benefited from his largesse. It is time for the two protagonists to sit down and deal with their issues away from the media spotlight. While they are scoring cheap points in the media Zimbabwe continues to burn. No one man should be bigger than Zimbabwe. I feel that Gono has had his chance so it is now time to pass the baton.
Saturday 16 May 2009
This robot is in self destruct mode
It would appear that the conglomeration of individuals calling themselves MDC-M is in a crisis. The Professor of Law and his sidekick the Professor of Robotics are bent on destroying their robot. Reports indicate that there is disaffection among the rank and file MPs with the Executive and accusations of disloyalty have been made against five MPs and others. The five MPs and others now face disciplinary hearings and possible expulsion. For a party started by those who claimed to have left Morgan Tsvangirai’s formation because he had a kitchen cabinet it would appear that Mutambara and Ncube have now decided to run the ‘party’ like their personal business.
I wonder what is going on in David Coltart’s mind as the circus plays out in the media. I remember Coltart’s eloquent explanation as to why he chose to go with the Mutambara crowd instead of the larger formation. He accused Tsvangirai of being a dictator and negating the democratic principles that the MDC was fighting for. What sayeth the Honourable Coltart now? I know he acted out of his convictions and probably from the advice Welshman Ncube and others but I think he spoke too soon. He was naïve to trust people who were driven by a desire to grab power more than their belief in democracy. This should have been evident to Coltart if he had chosen to look carefully at the facts around him. Although there were many people at the meeting at which Tsvangirai and others decided to overturn the decision to participate in the senate elections Welshman Ncube and Gibson Sibanda targeted Tsvangirai and singled him out for expulsion from the party. This should have made all independent minds question the motive behind this action but Honourable Coltart in his wisdom chose to ignore these early signs of vindictiveness. It is the same vindictiveness that seems to have come back to haunt MDC-M. The leaders who sought to eliminate those who disagreed with them then seem to be at the centre of this effort to remove all dissenting voices from MDC-M.
The irony of this whole charade is that Welshman Ncube would have us believe that he stands for democracy and that he is better than those who stayed with Tsvangirai. In democracy people are allowed to hold views that are different to their leaders and to question the direction in which their organisation is going. I am not suggesting that these people are right but that they should have the right to question and to disagree with their leaders. For an organisation founded on opposition to the dictatorial tendencies of Tsvangirai one would have thought that they would be tolerant to dissent. One of the fiercest critics of Tsvangirai and a founder member of the formation, Job Sikhala, has since resigned from the ‘party’ citing the same allegations made against Tsvangirai in 2005.
MDC-M is in self destruct mode and unless the Robotics Professor can work his magic to stop the robot from self destructing then there may not be MDC-M to talk about in a few weeks. The analogy between this party and a robot is true on many levels. As a self contained organisation without roots in the masses it is like a machine which reacts only according to the instructions programmed in it. It would appear that the instructions programmed in the ‘mind’ of this robot are to get rid of those parts which do not agree with it. A robot acts without emotion or conscience. It would appear that the MDC-M executive is acting without regard to the implications of their actions. Here we have an organisation that has never had popular support with a leader who was elected at a kitchen cabinet dubbed a congress now threatening the people’s project because those in power in the organisation fear that they may be removed. The ten MPs that MDC-M has are part of the process driving change in Zimbabwe and the leadership is prepared to sacrifice the Zimbabwe project to save Mutambara, Ncube and Misihairibwi-Mushonga’s skins. Many people couldn’t care less whatever happens to this ‘party’ were it not for the ramifications for the New Zimbabwe project. The events of the past few days do not augur well for the people of Zimbabwe in general and for the people of Matebeleland in particular and there is need for the rational beings in MDC-M to reign in Mutambara and Ncube. Those in Matebeleland who voted for this party did so because they believed that it represented a major shift from what they perceived to be the weaknesses in Tsvangirai’s formation. They will feel ill used if the party destroyed itself in the process of getting rid of the ‘bad’ apples. Robert Mugabe must be thanking his demons for this sideshow as it will certainly distract MDC-M ministers and MPs from doing their jobs effectively. Like a hawk Mugabe is waiting in the air ready to swoop when the opportunity avails itself and it looks like the opportunity may not be far away if MDC-M does not hold their act together. I hope that the affable David Coltart and others will once again find their voices to criticise these ill advised actions of the top leaders of this party otherwise this robot will indeed self destruct…
I wonder what is going on in David Coltart’s mind as the circus plays out in the media. I remember Coltart’s eloquent explanation as to why he chose to go with the Mutambara crowd instead of the larger formation. He accused Tsvangirai of being a dictator and negating the democratic principles that the MDC was fighting for. What sayeth the Honourable Coltart now? I know he acted out of his convictions and probably from the advice Welshman Ncube and others but I think he spoke too soon. He was naïve to trust people who were driven by a desire to grab power more than their belief in democracy. This should have been evident to Coltart if he had chosen to look carefully at the facts around him. Although there were many people at the meeting at which Tsvangirai and others decided to overturn the decision to participate in the senate elections Welshman Ncube and Gibson Sibanda targeted Tsvangirai and singled him out for expulsion from the party. This should have made all independent minds question the motive behind this action but Honourable Coltart in his wisdom chose to ignore these early signs of vindictiveness. It is the same vindictiveness that seems to have come back to haunt MDC-M. The leaders who sought to eliminate those who disagreed with them then seem to be at the centre of this effort to remove all dissenting voices from MDC-M.
The irony of this whole charade is that Welshman Ncube would have us believe that he stands for democracy and that he is better than those who stayed with Tsvangirai. In democracy people are allowed to hold views that are different to their leaders and to question the direction in which their organisation is going. I am not suggesting that these people are right but that they should have the right to question and to disagree with their leaders. For an organisation founded on opposition to the dictatorial tendencies of Tsvangirai one would have thought that they would be tolerant to dissent. One of the fiercest critics of Tsvangirai and a founder member of the formation, Job Sikhala, has since resigned from the ‘party’ citing the same allegations made against Tsvangirai in 2005.
MDC-M is in self destruct mode and unless the Robotics Professor can work his magic to stop the robot from self destructing then there may not be MDC-M to talk about in a few weeks. The analogy between this party and a robot is true on many levels. As a self contained organisation without roots in the masses it is like a machine which reacts only according to the instructions programmed in it. It would appear that the instructions programmed in the ‘mind’ of this robot are to get rid of those parts which do not agree with it. A robot acts without emotion or conscience. It would appear that the MDC-M executive is acting without regard to the implications of their actions. Here we have an organisation that has never had popular support with a leader who was elected at a kitchen cabinet dubbed a congress now threatening the people’s project because those in power in the organisation fear that they may be removed. The ten MPs that MDC-M has are part of the process driving change in Zimbabwe and the leadership is prepared to sacrifice the Zimbabwe project to save Mutambara, Ncube and Misihairibwi-Mushonga’s skins. Many people couldn’t care less whatever happens to this ‘party’ were it not for the ramifications for the New Zimbabwe project. The events of the past few days do not augur well for the people of Zimbabwe in general and for the people of Matebeleland in particular and there is need for the rational beings in MDC-M to reign in Mutambara and Ncube. Those in Matebeleland who voted for this party did so because they believed that it represented a major shift from what they perceived to be the weaknesses in Tsvangirai’s formation. They will feel ill used if the party destroyed itself in the process of getting rid of the ‘bad’ apples. Robert Mugabe must be thanking his demons for this sideshow as it will certainly distract MDC-M ministers and MPs from doing their jobs effectively. Like a hawk Mugabe is waiting in the air ready to swoop when the opportunity avails itself and it looks like the opportunity may not be far away if MDC-M does not hold their act together. I hope that the affable David Coltart and others will once again find their voices to criticise these ill advised actions of the top leaders of this party otherwise this robot will indeed self destruct…
Saturday 9 May 2009
Who is the real loser here?
I have watched with intrigue the drama surrounding Madonna’s attempt to adopt the Malawian girl Mercy. There have been very strong arguments for and against this idea. Those opposed, and it appears most of them in the media, have argued that Madonna is taking advantage of her pop star image to impose her demands on a poor African country. They have accused her of just wanting polish her ego and feeding the feel-good factor in her. We have been told that it is ‘wrong’ for westerners to take away children from their home countries and their natural environment. There has also been a morality twist to the whole thing. Is Madonna a good mother or role model? Madonna has not done herself any favours by getting divorced and then publicly flirting with her Brazilian Jesus (For those not in the know Jesus is the name of Madonna’s Brazilian toy boy) in front of the world’s media. Any self respecting person would find it hard not to judge her as unfit to adopt a child. My intention here is not to defend Madonna but to explore the intricacies surrounding this case and to determine who the real loser will be in the end.
For Malawians to turn round and say that Madonna is not resident in Malawi so she cannot adopt a child when they have allowed her to adopt before is ridiculous. One can almost see that the courts and the politicians have now decided to protect their tattered reputations by refusing Madonna this time. Having allowed Madonna’s controversial adoption of the first child they are now using Mercy to make a point. So while we are sitting on our high horses judging Madonna for polishing her ego we also need to start looking at how the courts and politicians are also polishing their egos. In fact one of Madonna’s lawyers has argued that this provision may be “…unconstitutional because it negates certain rights of the child.”
The other argument that it is wrong for a child to be removed from her home country and her natural environment is very persuasive. It is always good for a child to grow up among her own people and in her own culture. However, I do not believe any child’s natural environment is in an orphanage. This child has already been uprooted and removed from her natural environment. While change is upsetting to most children, for this child change is normal. I totally agree that it would more desirable for the child to be adopted by a Malawian family but what are the chances that this will happen? Malawi is a poor African country with most people living on less than one US dollar a day. The opportunities open to children, even those with families, are very limited so if there is a chance that this girl will have a good education which will provide a good foundation for her own future then maybe we need to be less judgemental. It is possible that this child may one day be able to help others who may be less fortunate if she is allowed this chance to start a new life.
I am sceptical about Madonna’s moral compass but I believe that she is able to provide for this girl better than any orphanage or Malawian family can ever do. Life will be way better for Mercy in Madonna’s home than in any other options on offer. I would hesitate if there was evidence that Madonna is failing as mother or that she is abusive but there is no suggestion this is the case. Those who oppose her seem to think that Madonna should not be allowed to have her way because it sets a dangerous precedent. If those campaigning against Madonna’s adoption had faced a dead end life in an orphanage and had been offered an opportunity of a lifetime would they pass it for morality? It is all too easy for us to make moral judgements from the comfort of our bases in the western capitals.
Madonna will be disappointed, maybe even angry if she cannot adopt this girl. She will walk away with nothing more than her image and ego bruised. But Mercy won’t have it easy. The real loser in this case is Mercy. It does not matter whether you are against Madonna as a matter of principle or because you think she stinks as a role model you still have to admit that when Madonna walks it will leave Mercy stuck in an orphanage with a man who claims to be her father but is not prepared or able to change her life for better.
We must stop focussing on Madonna's personality in this whole debacle and start focussing on Mercy. Some people have argued that Madonna should give money to the orphanage and leave Mercy to be cared for there. Do you really believe that life in the orphanage is better than life in a proper family home? I wouldn’t have picked Madonna for a mother for this girl but she is the best Mercy has and in that I believe it is right to allow this child a chance at better life in America. Mercy deserves this opportunity. Those campaigning against this adoption should realise that they are condemning Mercy to a life of poverty when a door of opportunity stands open in front of her. Maybe Madonna’s lawyer is right. Maybe we need to start looking at the needs and rights of Mercy more than we have to date because unfortunately the real loser in this whole saga will certainly be Mercy.
For Malawians to turn round and say that Madonna is not resident in Malawi so she cannot adopt a child when they have allowed her to adopt before is ridiculous. One can almost see that the courts and the politicians have now decided to protect their tattered reputations by refusing Madonna this time. Having allowed Madonna’s controversial adoption of the first child they are now using Mercy to make a point. So while we are sitting on our high horses judging Madonna for polishing her ego we also need to start looking at how the courts and politicians are also polishing their egos. In fact one of Madonna’s lawyers has argued that this provision may be “…unconstitutional because it negates certain rights of the child.”
The other argument that it is wrong for a child to be removed from her home country and her natural environment is very persuasive. It is always good for a child to grow up among her own people and in her own culture. However, I do not believe any child’s natural environment is in an orphanage. This child has already been uprooted and removed from her natural environment. While change is upsetting to most children, for this child change is normal. I totally agree that it would more desirable for the child to be adopted by a Malawian family but what are the chances that this will happen? Malawi is a poor African country with most people living on less than one US dollar a day. The opportunities open to children, even those with families, are very limited so if there is a chance that this girl will have a good education which will provide a good foundation for her own future then maybe we need to be less judgemental. It is possible that this child may one day be able to help others who may be less fortunate if she is allowed this chance to start a new life.
I am sceptical about Madonna’s moral compass but I believe that she is able to provide for this girl better than any orphanage or Malawian family can ever do. Life will be way better for Mercy in Madonna’s home than in any other options on offer. I would hesitate if there was evidence that Madonna is failing as mother or that she is abusive but there is no suggestion this is the case. Those who oppose her seem to think that Madonna should not be allowed to have her way because it sets a dangerous precedent. If those campaigning against Madonna’s adoption had faced a dead end life in an orphanage and had been offered an opportunity of a lifetime would they pass it for morality? It is all too easy for us to make moral judgements from the comfort of our bases in the western capitals.
Madonna will be disappointed, maybe even angry if she cannot adopt this girl. She will walk away with nothing more than her image and ego bruised. But Mercy won’t have it easy. The real loser in this case is Mercy. It does not matter whether you are against Madonna as a matter of principle or because you think she stinks as a role model you still have to admit that when Madonna walks it will leave Mercy stuck in an orphanage with a man who claims to be her father but is not prepared or able to change her life for better.
We must stop focussing on Madonna's personality in this whole debacle and start focussing on Mercy. Some people have argued that Madonna should give money to the orphanage and leave Mercy to be cared for there. Do you really believe that life in the orphanage is better than life in a proper family home? I wouldn’t have picked Madonna for a mother for this girl but she is the best Mercy has and in that I believe it is right to allow this child a chance at better life in America. Mercy deserves this opportunity. Those campaigning against this adoption should realise that they are condemning Mercy to a life of poverty when a door of opportunity stands open in front of her. Maybe Madonna’s lawyer is right. Maybe we need to start looking at the needs and rights of Mercy more than we have to date because unfortunately the real loser in this whole saga will certainly be Mercy.
Monday 4 May 2009
THE PEOPLE THAT WALKED IN DARKNESS HAVE SEEN A GREAT LIGHT…
The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. Isaiah 9:2
Today I received a post from Zvisinei Sandi, a friend and the editor of Help Zimbabwe Magazine in which Walter Mzembi; the ZANU PF Minister of Tourism is castigating Joseph Chinotimba for tarnishing the image of the country by leading demonstrations. For those not in the know Joseph Chinotimba (Cde Chinos) is the semi-literate leader of the veterans of the liberation struggle in Zimbabwe. What makes Mzembi’s comments significant is that Cde Chinos has acted with impunity in the past ten years with the encouragement of the ZANU PF top leadership. In fact he is the top dog among ZANU PF’s dogs of war who have terrorised, killed and maimed anyone who dared to oppose President Mugabe and ZANU PF. It is, therefore significant that a ZANU PF minister can stand in a public forum and tell Chinotimba (and by proxy war veterans) that his actions are damaging the country’s image abroad. One can choose to see this as the self preservation of a ZANU PF leadership that has been severely hurt by targeted sanctions. An attempt to show that there is change. After all Mzembi is a lightweight in the pecking order of ZANU PF! I choose to see this as the beginning of the seeing of the light by some in ZANU PF. For weeks now Mzembi has been vocal in criticising the actions of those leading new farm invasions and putting the wrong kind of spotlight on Zimbabwe so this is not just a one off comment. We need to look at this comment in the context of other recent comments by Mzembi. In my book he has become the champion of the Zimbabwean cause.
The fact that a lightweight has the temerity to challenge the mighty Joseph Chinotimba is a milestone because this proves that there are some in ZANU PF who want the country to turn a corner. The owl has been unmasked. As the Shona people say, ‘Manhenga chete zizi harina nyanga!’ Although Mzembi prefixed his comment by calling Chinotimba his brother his message to Chinotimba was loud and clear – Stop making silly noises! It remains debatable whether what Mzembi says will have an effect on Chinotimba but it certainly will give others the courage to challenge those bent on causing trouble. One hopes that this feeble effort will free others to speak out against the actions of the few who continue to threaten the unity agreement. I am not naïve. I know that this is a very small start which may or may not lead to anything. However, I am also cognisant of the fact that those who see the great light are likely to draw the attention of others to it. Mzembi has seen the great light and one hopes that he will lead others who are still in the land of darkness to the light. I know there are ‘good’ men and women in ZANU PF who want to see Zimbabwe working again but their voices are drowned by others who feel that their self interests are bigger than Zimbabwe. One hopes that this whisper from Walter Mzembi will become a rallying call from all who care about Zimbabwe. In the past I have had opportunities to meet and listen to Ministers Shamu and Murerwa in spheres outside politics and they came across as reasonable men who understand what needs to be done. I am hoping that they will join in trying to make the rogue elements in their party see the light. I am even told that the two ministers are local preachers of the Methodist Church in Zimbabwe or are in the process of becoming local preachers. As ones called to share the good news of the gospel it is incumbent upon them to preach love and tolerance as well as to make others think about the weak, the poor, the widows and the orphans who are suffering due to the actions of men like Joseph Chinotimba. It will be neglecting their Christian duty if they let things continue as they are. Zimbabweans from all walks of life need to embrace the light and to move out of the darkness of hatred, terror and violence. Now that Mzembi has led the way it is time for others to follow suit and I hope sooner rather than later.
Today I received a post from Zvisinei Sandi, a friend and the editor of Help Zimbabwe Magazine in which Walter Mzembi; the ZANU PF Minister of Tourism is castigating Joseph Chinotimba for tarnishing the image of the country by leading demonstrations. For those not in the know Joseph Chinotimba (Cde Chinos) is the semi-literate leader of the veterans of the liberation struggle in Zimbabwe. What makes Mzembi’s comments significant is that Cde Chinos has acted with impunity in the past ten years with the encouragement of the ZANU PF top leadership. In fact he is the top dog among ZANU PF’s dogs of war who have terrorised, killed and maimed anyone who dared to oppose President Mugabe and ZANU PF. It is, therefore significant that a ZANU PF minister can stand in a public forum and tell Chinotimba (and by proxy war veterans) that his actions are damaging the country’s image abroad. One can choose to see this as the self preservation of a ZANU PF leadership that has been severely hurt by targeted sanctions. An attempt to show that there is change. After all Mzembi is a lightweight in the pecking order of ZANU PF! I choose to see this as the beginning of the seeing of the light by some in ZANU PF. For weeks now Mzembi has been vocal in criticising the actions of those leading new farm invasions and putting the wrong kind of spotlight on Zimbabwe so this is not just a one off comment. We need to look at this comment in the context of other recent comments by Mzembi. In my book he has become the champion of the Zimbabwean cause.
The fact that a lightweight has the temerity to challenge the mighty Joseph Chinotimba is a milestone because this proves that there are some in ZANU PF who want the country to turn a corner. The owl has been unmasked. As the Shona people say, ‘Manhenga chete zizi harina nyanga!’ Although Mzembi prefixed his comment by calling Chinotimba his brother his message to Chinotimba was loud and clear – Stop making silly noises! It remains debatable whether what Mzembi says will have an effect on Chinotimba but it certainly will give others the courage to challenge those bent on causing trouble. One hopes that this feeble effort will free others to speak out against the actions of the few who continue to threaten the unity agreement. I am not naïve. I know that this is a very small start which may or may not lead to anything. However, I am also cognisant of the fact that those who see the great light are likely to draw the attention of others to it. Mzembi has seen the great light and one hopes that he will lead others who are still in the land of darkness to the light. I know there are ‘good’ men and women in ZANU PF who want to see Zimbabwe working again but their voices are drowned by others who feel that their self interests are bigger than Zimbabwe. One hopes that this whisper from Walter Mzembi will become a rallying call from all who care about Zimbabwe. In the past I have had opportunities to meet and listen to Ministers Shamu and Murerwa in spheres outside politics and they came across as reasonable men who understand what needs to be done. I am hoping that they will join in trying to make the rogue elements in their party see the light. I am even told that the two ministers are local preachers of the Methodist Church in Zimbabwe or are in the process of becoming local preachers. As ones called to share the good news of the gospel it is incumbent upon them to preach love and tolerance as well as to make others think about the weak, the poor, the widows and the orphans who are suffering due to the actions of men like Joseph Chinotimba. It will be neglecting their Christian duty if they let things continue as they are. Zimbabweans from all walks of life need to embrace the light and to move out of the darkness of hatred, terror and violence. Now that Mzembi has led the way it is time for others to follow suit and I hope sooner rather than later.
Saturday 2 May 2009
International community is failing Zimbabwe
A few weeks ago I wrote on the need for Zimbabwe’s coalition partners to act against Robert Mugabe’s intransigence. In it I said that if Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and his deputy Arthur Mutambara are to be taken seriously they need to take decisive action. I still believe that these two gentlemen need to do more in ensuring that the terms of the Global Political Agreement are adhered to but I think the international community and the international financial institutions are letting Zimbabwe down. For the international community to demand comprehensive change without supporting the efforts of the fledgling government to make life better for ordinary Zimbabweans is unrealistic. Ordinary people need to see how this agreement is benefiting them not how it is benefiting the leaders.
The argument that the international community is helping Zimbabweans by giving them food aid is at best naïve and at worst condescending. Zimbabweans are a proud people who do not want to live on handouts and so to think that all they want is food aid is wrong. While there is a large part of the population that needs food aid there is another large part that wants the country to start working again. These people want to have reliable electricity, clean water, teachers in schools, doctors and nurses in hospitals as well as a functioning monetary system. One has to understand that while Zimbabweans are political and economic refugees around the world they have never relied on handouts. If anything, the complaint against Zimbabweans in South Africa and other parts of the world has been that they are taking local jobs both menial and professional. Zimbabweans have a culture of work and do not shy away from doing jobs that are below them in order to earn a living. Here in the UK I know professionals (ex accountants, teachers, bankers, etc) working in warehouses and in care because they do not want to be on social benefits. There are people in Zimbabwe who have continued to make the best of a bad situation by working hard and finding new and creative ways of fending for their families. These are the people who are not benefiting from the current support being given to Zimbabwe. They need support that drives economic growth rather than support that drives consumption without production. They want their industries, mines and farms to start producing again.
If Zimbabweans that are putting pressure on the South African social and economic infrastructure are to return home there is need for more than food handouts. They need the guarantee that they will be able to feed their families not from food handouts but from the sweat of their brow. I am not the first one to suggest the re-thinking of how support is given to Zimbabwe. It is important for the international community to keep pressure on Mugabe but at the same time relieve pressure on the economy. We need to adopt a double edged approach where on one side we maintain targeted sanctions while on the other hand we give targeted support to Zimbabwe’s economy. There is need for money to pay for public services such as education, health and infrastructural development. We need bilateral and multilateral agreements to provide support for these services even if the support is directly targeted. One way is to provide direct aid to institutions. The state hospitals, schools and universities would benefit from direct investment in equipment and infrastructure. Where possible, support could be given for the payment of salaries to critical public servants such as doctors, teachers, nurses, etc. This will ensure that the essential services are back on track. I am sure I speak for all Zimbabweans when I say the support that we need should be money that our country will pay back. We are one of the few countries in the world that has continued to make some sort of payments to IMF and World Bank despite there being no balance of payments support.
I understand that there are concerns that the money can be diverted to pay for Mugabe’s underhand activities hence the need to ensure that the agreements are water tight. I suggest that donors refuse to provide funds through traditional channels. I believe that Zimbabweans running these key public service ministries will use the funds correctly but if it will assuage the international community’s suspicion then they should be safeguards built into the agreements to ensure compliance. I am sure Minister Biti and others in government are willing to give up some control to ensure that the funds start flowing. Once the economy starts working and people start earning enough to buy from businesses then economic growth will be inevitable.
I also think that the demand that Zimbabwe, a country virtually on its knees, should pay what it owes before getting more aid funds from the Bretton Woods institutions is absurd. If the intention is to stimulate growth and to ensure that Zimbabwe can meet its international obligations then the IMF and World Bank are going about it in a wrong way. The best way to ensure that Zimbabwe pays what it owes is to help it to emerge from the economic abyss. Refusing to give aid will only make the Zimbabwe economy worse and reduce chances of Zimbabwe ever paying back what it owes. From a personal banking perspective I have known banks to offer people loans to pay off their credit card debts and to consolidate their debts. I think this is the approach the IMF and World Bank should adopt with Zimbabwe. It may not be the most prudent but it certainly is better than the current approach for both the lender and the debtor. Zimbabwe needs support now and the longer we take to support the country the higher the risk that some people will choose the war route.In my blog on the 11.4.09 (http://www.thoughts.com/GTNGidi/blog/it-is-now-time-to-act-268752/) I wrote about credibility being a finite commodity. The current situation is not helping anyone. In fact I think it is directly responsible for the hardening stance being adopted by Mugabe. Although this stance is clearly stupid it is an expected reaction. The international friends of the democratic movement in Zimbabwe are not doing the movement any favours by not giving the unity government financial aid. Morgan Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara are fast losing credibility because months into this agreement there is very little to show. The international community should not allow Tsvangirai and Mutambara to fail. Tsvangirai is on record for saying that Zimbabweans should not be punished for choosing to work with Mugabe when no other option, except for war, was available. The desire to get Mugabe should not cloud our vision for the future. The international community should deal with Zimbabwe and Zimbabwe is not Mugabe. For all his political troubles his children are not starving, they are not drinking unclean water or facing the possibility of not attending school because teachers are threatening to strike. The world should think about those children whose parents cannot afford to take them to private hospitals and schools; those children whose parents can never dream of leaving the country. It is for these people that the decisions by the international community and international institutions need to be reviewed. If Tsvangirai loses credibility then Zimbabwe will be back where we were before this agreement with two unpopular politicians leading Zimbabwe. While the western governments believe they are helping Zimbabweans by refusing aid to the new government the reverse is actually true. I hope Minister Biti is making this clear to the people he is meeting during his visit to the economic capitals of the world. He needs to make this message clear to America, Britain, EU and other world governments that the patience of Zimbabweans with their government has been severely tested and that it may actually break. Give us the money and you will see how creative Zimbabweans are. Zimbabwe has the skills and the technical know-how to drive economic growth but the engine of the economy needs to be helped to come to life through the injection of funds.
The argument that the international community is helping Zimbabweans by giving them food aid is at best naïve and at worst condescending. Zimbabweans are a proud people who do not want to live on handouts and so to think that all they want is food aid is wrong. While there is a large part of the population that needs food aid there is another large part that wants the country to start working again. These people want to have reliable electricity, clean water, teachers in schools, doctors and nurses in hospitals as well as a functioning monetary system. One has to understand that while Zimbabweans are political and economic refugees around the world they have never relied on handouts. If anything, the complaint against Zimbabweans in South Africa and other parts of the world has been that they are taking local jobs both menial and professional. Zimbabweans have a culture of work and do not shy away from doing jobs that are below them in order to earn a living. Here in the UK I know professionals (ex accountants, teachers, bankers, etc) working in warehouses and in care because they do not want to be on social benefits. There are people in Zimbabwe who have continued to make the best of a bad situation by working hard and finding new and creative ways of fending for their families. These are the people who are not benefiting from the current support being given to Zimbabwe. They need support that drives economic growth rather than support that drives consumption without production. They want their industries, mines and farms to start producing again.
If Zimbabweans that are putting pressure on the South African social and economic infrastructure are to return home there is need for more than food handouts. They need the guarantee that they will be able to feed their families not from food handouts but from the sweat of their brow. I am not the first one to suggest the re-thinking of how support is given to Zimbabwe. It is important for the international community to keep pressure on Mugabe but at the same time relieve pressure on the economy. We need to adopt a double edged approach where on one side we maintain targeted sanctions while on the other hand we give targeted support to Zimbabwe’s economy. There is need for money to pay for public services such as education, health and infrastructural development. We need bilateral and multilateral agreements to provide support for these services even if the support is directly targeted. One way is to provide direct aid to institutions. The state hospitals, schools and universities would benefit from direct investment in equipment and infrastructure. Where possible, support could be given for the payment of salaries to critical public servants such as doctors, teachers, nurses, etc. This will ensure that the essential services are back on track. I am sure I speak for all Zimbabweans when I say the support that we need should be money that our country will pay back. We are one of the few countries in the world that has continued to make some sort of payments to IMF and World Bank despite there being no balance of payments support.
I understand that there are concerns that the money can be diverted to pay for Mugabe’s underhand activities hence the need to ensure that the agreements are water tight. I suggest that donors refuse to provide funds through traditional channels. I believe that Zimbabweans running these key public service ministries will use the funds correctly but if it will assuage the international community’s suspicion then they should be safeguards built into the agreements to ensure compliance. I am sure Minister Biti and others in government are willing to give up some control to ensure that the funds start flowing. Once the economy starts working and people start earning enough to buy from businesses then economic growth will be inevitable.
I also think that the demand that Zimbabwe, a country virtually on its knees, should pay what it owes before getting more aid funds from the Bretton Woods institutions is absurd. If the intention is to stimulate growth and to ensure that Zimbabwe can meet its international obligations then the IMF and World Bank are going about it in a wrong way. The best way to ensure that Zimbabwe pays what it owes is to help it to emerge from the economic abyss. Refusing to give aid will only make the Zimbabwe economy worse and reduce chances of Zimbabwe ever paying back what it owes. From a personal banking perspective I have known banks to offer people loans to pay off their credit card debts and to consolidate their debts. I think this is the approach the IMF and World Bank should adopt with Zimbabwe. It may not be the most prudent but it certainly is better than the current approach for both the lender and the debtor. Zimbabwe needs support now and the longer we take to support the country the higher the risk that some people will choose the war route.In my blog on the 11.4.09 (http://www.thoughts.com/GTNGidi/blog/it-is-now-time-to-act-268752/) I wrote about credibility being a finite commodity. The current situation is not helping anyone. In fact I think it is directly responsible for the hardening stance being adopted by Mugabe. Although this stance is clearly stupid it is an expected reaction. The international friends of the democratic movement in Zimbabwe are not doing the movement any favours by not giving the unity government financial aid. Morgan Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara are fast losing credibility because months into this agreement there is very little to show. The international community should not allow Tsvangirai and Mutambara to fail. Tsvangirai is on record for saying that Zimbabweans should not be punished for choosing to work with Mugabe when no other option, except for war, was available. The desire to get Mugabe should not cloud our vision for the future. The international community should deal with Zimbabwe and Zimbabwe is not Mugabe. For all his political troubles his children are not starving, they are not drinking unclean water or facing the possibility of not attending school because teachers are threatening to strike. The world should think about those children whose parents cannot afford to take them to private hospitals and schools; those children whose parents can never dream of leaving the country. It is for these people that the decisions by the international community and international institutions need to be reviewed. If Tsvangirai loses credibility then Zimbabwe will be back where we were before this agreement with two unpopular politicians leading Zimbabwe. While the western governments believe they are helping Zimbabweans by refusing aid to the new government the reverse is actually true. I hope Minister Biti is making this clear to the people he is meeting during his visit to the economic capitals of the world. He needs to make this message clear to America, Britain, EU and other world governments that the patience of Zimbabweans with their government has been severely tested and that it may actually break. Give us the money and you will see how creative Zimbabweans are. Zimbabwe has the skills and the technical know-how to drive economic growth but the engine of the economy needs to be helped to come to life through the injection of funds.
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