Stop creating semi-gods (leaders should serve people)

In politics and national development one thing that has destroyed our leaders is to create semi gods' style of leadership. We are at this point because of that. We have leadership crisis as a nation because generally there are things our leaders can't afford to do. Leaders who have created loyalists and disciples have failed to control the situation either in their respective institutions or in the public gallery. This country is bleeding generally it's because Mugabe cannot fire anyone over corruption issues, he has created loyalists and disciples in his party and Government. In the opposition politics we have generally political leaders who have created a situation which will be difficult to demand public accountability. Our position as MINDS is to bring confidence and restore professional accountability in both private and public institutions.

Leaders Should Be Accountable to the Public

We are in this position as a nation generally because of lack of accountability. We have serious financial leakages probably because some officials are not answerable to the public. We have seen most of the Government ministers bunking parliamentary sessions because of fear of embarrassment but generally it is the right of the public to demand the truth over the running affairs of governance matters. We have serious rampant corruption in several state entities and no one has been arrested. We demand accountability over public expenditure to bring sanity in governance matters.

Parastatals Bleeding

All state companies are bleeding because of corruption. We have created semi gods style of leadership in this country were someone is given a position because of patronage and loyalty at the expense of national interest. 99% of these state companies have been run down due to incompetence and nepotism. Most of these Zanu-PF cadres who were given these positions were giving these positions to their girl friends and relatives who are inexperienced in civic matters. These companies are supposed to be creating employment, creating market share and also contributing to the Gross domestic product but because of the semi gods' style of leadership in Zimbabwe were people cannot call a spade a spade because they are after politics of the belly.

One Centre of Power

Both Zanu pf and mdc t have flawed constitutions which needs a lot of scrutiny. These type of constitutions are likely to creat semi gods style of leadership were someone will be given a position after praise and sing worship. For one to get a position you have to hero worship and sing for your supper which is not good. Looking at the current constitution of Zanu pf where there is one centre of power and this has created a serious problem for us a nation because the virus has been transmitted to state institutions. Zanu pf is in the process of amending the national charter to suit their party interests. This creats an incompetence scenario which is wrong. Our state institutions are in bad shape because of these semi gods style of leadership were appointments are done based on a patronage system and loyalty. Mdc t s constitution is not a good document as well because it gave Morgan Tsvangirai same powers to hire and fire officials without following proper channels of the organs. Leaders should report to people. The mandate of leaders should come from the people without any compromising. All Zanu pf chefs are untouchable because of this one centre of power system, no one has the guts to speak out on any wrong doing because of this scenario. Zanu pf must amend their constitution so that all positions should be electable. The same should happen in all political parties that are anticipating to govern this country in the near future.

Tinashe Eric Muzamhindo writes in his personal opinion as the Director of Mentorship Institute of National Development and Sustainability. MINDS is a civic society organization responsible for policy research, gender and development studies, public finance, sustainable development through Agriculture and rural development. He is also a consultant in Development and Capacity Development and Institutional Building. He can be contacted at greatorminds@gmail.com