The flip side: Could 'Mugabe Falls' be the new wonder of the world?

In a typical ordinary day, I was also minding my own stressful situations about the effects of Zimbabwe's economy in my life when those world's infamous or famous pictures reached my smartphone through social media platforms. Although treasonous to share such pictures according to unwritten laws of the country, and no arrests have been made so far but they instantly looked very real. I had seen some funny memes before and just laughed it off in some instances.

For some reason my interest was immediately activated as these fresh pics were revealing the world's best kept "secret". I had to verify with other impeccable sources, and yes the camera was not telling lies although the propaganda machine of ZANU-PF (in this sentence used interchangeably with the country) was already spewing viral misinformation in tonnes of bytes in a fruitless bid to spin-doctor clear facts of a "mere" fall. It boggled the mind for a while as to why the need to rediscover the law of gravity or resurrect a giant like Isaac Newton from his grave for us to stand on his shoulders in order to see further than such an incident?

I knew with firm conviction from the volumes of spin-doctoring that indeed President Mugabe must have fallen and there was more to read into it. The creative genius of people especially in the cyber space had reached beyond hyperinflationary world records of the same country's economic collapse in statistical figures. A picture has over ten-thousand words so they say, and these rare pictures were worth more than the value of all Chiadzwa diamond deposits as they even had over trillion-trillion precious words for the world.

Many perspectives from the incident have been sent and like-clicked around trying to interpret and bring more meaning to the "mere fall" of the new AU Chairman as there is definitely more than meets the eye. A certain friend of mine likes to say the higher you go the harder you fall. A rise to the highest chair of the continent maybe made this the hardest fall of a sitting president. Of course there are a number of other factors that made this an instant phenomenon worldwide. I have read some perspective which likens the fall to the typically proverbial collapse of the Jericho Wall of dictatorship, and some other extremely interesting satirical perspectives.

Yours truly has also stretched his imagination not to be outshined, and thought of a positive perspective on how to capitalise on this unfortunate incident for the benefit of the Zimbabwe's economy! Mind you this is now about the national or international interest, and not just ZANU-PF as I'm not a supporter at all. We all know that the politburo has passed a number of stranger-than-fiction resolutions in the recent past, so my practical recommendation may receive a unanimous vote in its next sitting especially if Prof Jonathan Moyo buys into it. It will be a pleasant somersault to his damage control antics, or was it spin-doctoring attempts based on denial of the very fall.

Of course we already have our Victoria Falls as one of the wonders of the world, so what if they seriously lobby for the Mugabe Falls as the new wonder of the world? The international headlines have done some extensive marketing for it through such screaming or trending headline, "Mugabe Falls". To some even within the country those small square inches of the land around the incident now makes a shrine and national heritage. It's some "holy ground" to them they will pilgrimage to bow down and worship thereon. I even have a full list of such public figures in my mind already. Any need of a reminder of the diesel expedition to Chinhoyi?

In any case, doubting Thomases that the incident ever happened are still out there throughout the world. Give them an opportunity to come feel it for themselves and also get to tread the "holy ground". Some of us can already see it coming our way soon. So then why waste time and not just quickly enclose that piece of land at the airport, make a statue out of the "famous" picture and place it next to such a piece of land. Put the banner labelled "Mugabe Falls", and there will be the 8th wonder of the world which is a tourist attraction.

I believe the Minister of Tourism is reading this and well understanding such sober suggestions. Please exploit this international interest and drive such tourist traffic to our borders, let us be innovative like memetists but not just curse or insult them! We will definitely generate billions of American dollars in revenue for the country as we also have no travel "sanctions" against anyone including George W Bush or Tony Blair!

Even if they are deported at the airport at least they would have seen the "Mugabe Falls" and thrown some few dollars into the country's purse. How strategic a place it is for such an attraction, naturally chosen. Indeed nature's choice is the best! Who knows this may turn out to be the only lasting "legacy" of President Mugabe, another tourist attraction for the nation!

Thank God it actually happened in our own country, just imagine had it happened still in Addis Ababa the venue of historic AU Summit, or a worst case scenario of America for some UN Summit. It then means tourists will be going there for such a rare experience of a "miracle fall" which has been blasphemously likened to Jesus not able to perform or sustain.

To me, anyway, such a stream of revenue won't be necessarily dirty money. This could be that awkward moment when we must consider dirt of the dust in a suit as really good! That incident is here to stay for a very long time whether we like it or not, that even some entrepreneurs will be selling us plastic toys in the streets very soon to sustain the living memory. Detractors will also admit they are in a catch-22 situation, and will be visiting the country with an egg in their faces like there is no other country to tour anymore. Another timeless struggle between remembering and forgetting has just begun. Go for it Zimbabwe, yes you can!

This article is written by Fbr Mthokozisi Ndiweni in his own personal capacity. He is also the Firebrand-in-Chief of ZIM-ID Firebrand Youth. He can be contacted on ndixam@gmail.com or visit our website at www.zim-id.org .