Opinion / Columnist
Cde Matemadanda emotional but way offside, leave international issues to foreign affairs
22 Aug 2018 at 11:42hrs | Views
If the war vets are to be allowed to be the barometer of the political temperature in Zimbabwe then we are never so prosperous, so secure, nor so free. Zimbabwe begins the foreign policy strategy adopted after the dispensation just over nine months ago. The strategy is imbued with the confidence we all felt then and indeed the slogan that Zimbabwe is open for business becomes our Moto and our hope to prosperity. Our economy hinged on how wide the doors open and what is inside the open doors. Peace seemed self-evident in our part of the world. Bloodshed on the battlefield had been replaced by patience at the negotiating table. The scars of Mugabe's error division were healing. International cooperation was growing strong and expanding eastward and westward. We became a country which is diplomatic and indeed open for business thanks to ED and the dispensation.
Zimbabwean development is closely linked to global progress. We achieved the goal of halving the proportion of the nation's population living in extreme poverty.
At the same time, technological developments placed a mobile phone in the hands of half of the country's population. For the first time in our history democracy emerged as the natural social model of the future and there is talk The description of our Zimbabwe as never having been "so prosperous, so secure, nor so free" was, during Mugabe time, a fitting of the end of history. When ED came new doors opened and Zimbabwe smiled with the hope of real change for the first time.
During the burial of the national heroine Mathuthu God bless her loving soul, the president stated that we cannot stop progressing because America is threatening us. We have to work with those who are willing to work with us. This was a fair comment.
However the war vets in their own right called for a press conference where they took the issue to another degree. Comrade Matemadanda swimming in the excitement took the job of our foreign ministry to address America. The tone did not differ from the arrogant Mugabe he was castigating and sloganeering him down. While interfering with MDC power struggles there was nothing really wrong with the War veterans to say a word or two about MDC, but to lecture them on how they should run their pathetic party was wrong and indeed unreasonable. That will not be our problem today.
The firing of slovo to America was a serious international mishap and indeed uncalled for. The War veterans took a step further and plunged the country in a situation of an international war. Instead of helping us we were not put in a better position but we are now living in times of greater uncertainty, in which these words ring hollow. The arrogance exhibited by Robert Mugabe should not be copied or inherited; for the sake of our economy we should swallow our pride for the sake of our children.
The president ED is doing his best to renovate our battered international image, but the actions of the War veterans and cde Matemadanda were so painful unreasonable and indeed counterproductive. We are proud of our freedom fighters but they must not let their emotions drive the nation astray.
The Zimbabwe ED is building has a very open door policy, a very reasonable international face. The arrogance shown by the war veterans was a blow to our efforts and the efforts of ED. For although Zimbabwe remains one of the most free, secure and upcoming economy in Africa, we have entered a more uncertain time.
We should be dignified in occasionally uneven European cooperation and uneven American cooperation. It should be visible in our reaction to the behavior of our enemies. We should not put the country in a bad shape because we want to comment.
And it is visible globally, where deadlocks in our common institutions sometimes occur. Our humanitarian systems are overburdened by the world's love for opposition. But we must never stoop so low and start a war of words with those we are trying to convince that we are a new outfit from Mugabe. The utterances of cde Matemadanda were bold fearless and stupid equally dangerous and indeed inhuman un thought of and to a greater extent provocative. We should be seen to be reengaging not destroying the bridges EDE has built. We should not be seen to be building Dura walls which have been pulled down for transparency.
It is against this backdrop that the Government has to shape its foreign policy. This is why we should talk about the challenges we have to tackle together we should not be bullies but reasonable politicians. The economic crisis has been followed by political tensions, both within political parties and within the framework of the Zimbabwe as a whole. We need to regain a firm forward course, with cohesion, solidarity and a new dynamic leading us towards the goals of peace and prosperity that are to be at the heart of our country. Insulting nations we need for survival is the courage of a fly to swim in the hot soup. Zimbabwe needs to build bridges with our neighbors and comrade Matemadanda must be exorcised of the MUGABE DEMON OF A VERBAL DIHOREA. It would, of course, be preferable for more citizens to find a job that offers decent working conditions. Our common goal must be lower unemployment, decent working conditions, higher growth and a better political climate in which people's frustration is not exploited, and populism and short-sightedness no longer triumph.
Zimbabweans need to regain their self-confidence, because we need strong Zimbabwean cooperation. Cooperation for a Zimbabwe that is competitive. We now pray for a gender-equal and social Zimbabwe that also garners respect for its ambitious environment, energy and international policy.
Now as before, this cooperation must be open to us all and we must not be led by emotions and excitement. And it must also be the basis for a strong foreign policy.
The young people who are now finishing secondary school were born citizens of a free Zimbabwe and our attitude to other countries has finally become a matter of course.
Against this backdrop, I feel some unease about the way cde Matemadanda addresses the nation and use that platform to blind side the minister of Foreign Affairs. Zimbabwean programs of reengaging is increasingly being called into question in some parts of the EU, and about much of what this cooperation has given us being forgotten or taken for granted.
The Government has a clear conviction: we want a strong Zimbabwe with strong international skills.
It has been our ambition to contribute to peace, freedom and stability. But we are now forced to deal with serious crises on several fronts because some of our dear comrades do not know how to control their emotions. Every Zimbabwean should be deeply concerned about developments in our foreign affairs attitude.
The act of aggression that America has committed against us is the greatest challenge to our peace and security. Our maturity in politics is seen on how we deal with this and how we react to this aggression. We cannot fight fire by fire. We need to water down our reactionary haphazard press statements.
We have to talk to one another and cooperate where possible. The many contacts between us and other nations are hugely valuable. A critical dialogue is essential between neighbors.
War veterans are there to take Zimbabweans to a better place not to throw them in hell.
It is very important that serious issues concerning foreign relations are handled prudently and with broad and liberal approach. This is all good and important. And it underlines the fact that we must remember that foreign policy is the primary line of defense.
There are occasions when we must dare to speak up when others are silent. But ‘Alone we are strong' has never been a social democratic principle. We must be pulling together and in that case no group must be made a vanguard of the nation like Chamisa's thugs. Thus our ambition is that our voice will join with others so that it will be heard more clearly. But our voice must not be the echo of the Mugabe era.
And we will restore Zimbabwe's role in the world and in the United Nations precisely so that we can work with other countries for a greater Zimbabwe, equality in general, decent working conditions and the many other global issues that require solutions if the state of the world is to improve. Comrade Matemadanda must know that we will stand up for our values.
War veterans should be associated with a principled defense of human rights and democracy. We seek a nation in which everyone's rights are respected. We will stand up for freedom of expression and free speech. We will protect all rights: political, civil, economic, social and cultural.
More connected, more contested and more complex should be Zimbabwe's legacy. The tone must differ from the corresponding strategy of just over a decade ago. Never so prosperous, so secure, nor so free was the wording then.
For Zimbabwe to be able to operate in this new and complex world and assert our interests and our values, we need a broad consensus in our country. Our foreign policy must have public support and must be discussed throughout Zimbabwe far beyond the walls of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Zimbabwe must speak about a world that is becoming more connected, more contested and more complex, where Zimbabwe is increasingly becoming part of the world, and the world increasingly a part of Zimbabwe.
We must be tolerant and we must not put our country in disrepute because we want to be heard. We must always think before we say it.
We must all condemn Chamisa and Mbiti for asking for the suffering of our children our nation and our country. But we must not be carried away by the wind of the day, we must remain resolute for the sake of our country.
Vazet2000@yahoo.co.uk
Zimbabwean development is closely linked to global progress. We achieved the goal of halving the proportion of the nation's population living in extreme poverty.
At the same time, technological developments placed a mobile phone in the hands of half of the country's population. For the first time in our history democracy emerged as the natural social model of the future and there is talk The description of our Zimbabwe as never having been "so prosperous, so secure, nor so free" was, during Mugabe time, a fitting of the end of history. When ED came new doors opened and Zimbabwe smiled with the hope of real change for the first time.
During the burial of the national heroine Mathuthu God bless her loving soul, the president stated that we cannot stop progressing because America is threatening us. We have to work with those who are willing to work with us. This was a fair comment.
However the war vets in their own right called for a press conference where they took the issue to another degree. Comrade Matemadanda swimming in the excitement took the job of our foreign ministry to address America. The tone did not differ from the arrogant Mugabe he was castigating and sloganeering him down. While interfering with MDC power struggles there was nothing really wrong with the War veterans to say a word or two about MDC, but to lecture them on how they should run their pathetic party was wrong and indeed unreasonable. That will not be our problem today.
The firing of slovo to America was a serious international mishap and indeed uncalled for. The War veterans took a step further and plunged the country in a situation of an international war. Instead of helping us we were not put in a better position but we are now living in times of greater uncertainty, in which these words ring hollow. The arrogance exhibited by Robert Mugabe should not be copied or inherited; for the sake of our economy we should swallow our pride for the sake of our children.
The president ED is doing his best to renovate our battered international image, but the actions of the War veterans and cde Matemadanda were so painful unreasonable and indeed counterproductive. We are proud of our freedom fighters but they must not let their emotions drive the nation astray.
The Zimbabwe ED is building has a very open door policy, a very reasonable international face. The arrogance shown by the war veterans was a blow to our efforts and the efforts of ED. For although Zimbabwe remains one of the most free, secure and upcoming economy in Africa, we have entered a more uncertain time.
We should be dignified in occasionally uneven European cooperation and uneven American cooperation. It should be visible in our reaction to the behavior of our enemies. We should not put the country in a bad shape because we want to comment.
And it is visible globally, where deadlocks in our common institutions sometimes occur. Our humanitarian systems are overburdened by the world's love for opposition. But we must never stoop so low and start a war of words with those we are trying to convince that we are a new outfit from Mugabe. The utterances of cde Matemadanda were bold fearless and stupid equally dangerous and indeed inhuman un thought of and to a greater extent provocative. We should be seen to be reengaging not destroying the bridges EDE has built. We should not be seen to be building Dura walls which have been pulled down for transparency.
It is against this backdrop that the Government has to shape its foreign policy. This is why we should talk about the challenges we have to tackle together we should not be bullies but reasonable politicians. The economic crisis has been followed by political tensions, both within political parties and within the framework of the Zimbabwe as a whole. We need to regain a firm forward course, with cohesion, solidarity and a new dynamic leading us towards the goals of peace and prosperity that are to be at the heart of our country. Insulting nations we need for survival is the courage of a fly to swim in the hot soup. Zimbabwe needs to build bridges with our neighbors and comrade Matemadanda must be exorcised of the MUGABE DEMON OF A VERBAL DIHOREA. It would, of course, be preferable for more citizens to find a job that offers decent working conditions. Our common goal must be lower unemployment, decent working conditions, higher growth and a better political climate in which people's frustration is not exploited, and populism and short-sightedness no longer triumph.
Zimbabweans need to regain their self-confidence, because we need strong Zimbabwean cooperation. Cooperation for a Zimbabwe that is competitive. We now pray for a gender-equal and social Zimbabwe that also garners respect for its ambitious environment, energy and international policy.
Now as before, this cooperation must be open to us all and we must not be led by emotions and excitement. And it must also be the basis for a strong foreign policy.
The young people who are now finishing secondary school were born citizens of a free Zimbabwe and our attitude to other countries has finally become a matter of course.
Against this backdrop, I feel some unease about the way cde Matemadanda addresses the nation and use that platform to blind side the minister of Foreign Affairs. Zimbabwean programs of reengaging is increasingly being called into question in some parts of the EU, and about much of what this cooperation has given us being forgotten or taken for granted.
The Government has a clear conviction: we want a strong Zimbabwe with strong international skills.
It has been our ambition to contribute to peace, freedom and stability. But we are now forced to deal with serious crises on several fronts because some of our dear comrades do not know how to control their emotions. Every Zimbabwean should be deeply concerned about developments in our foreign affairs attitude.
The act of aggression that America has committed against us is the greatest challenge to our peace and security. Our maturity in politics is seen on how we deal with this and how we react to this aggression. We cannot fight fire by fire. We need to water down our reactionary haphazard press statements.
We have to talk to one another and cooperate where possible. The many contacts between us and other nations are hugely valuable. A critical dialogue is essential between neighbors.
War veterans are there to take Zimbabweans to a better place not to throw them in hell.
It is very important that serious issues concerning foreign relations are handled prudently and with broad and liberal approach. This is all good and important. And it underlines the fact that we must remember that foreign policy is the primary line of defense.
There are occasions when we must dare to speak up when others are silent. But ‘Alone we are strong' has never been a social democratic principle. We must be pulling together and in that case no group must be made a vanguard of the nation like Chamisa's thugs. Thus our ambition is that our voice will join with others so that it will be heard more clearly. But our voice must not be the echo of the Mugabe era.
And we will restore Zimbabwe's role in the world and in the United Nations precisely so that we can work with other countries for a greater Zimbabwe, equality in general, decent working conditions and the many other global issues that require solutions if the state of the world is to improve. Comrade Matemadanda must know that we will stand up for our values.
War veterans should be associated with a principled defense of human rights and democracy. We seek a nation in which everyone's rights are respected. We will stand up for freedom of expression and free speech. We will protect all rights: political, civil, economic, social and cultural.
More connected, more contested and more complex should be Zimbabwe's legacy. The tone must differ from the corresponding strategy of just over a decade ago. Never so prosperous, so secure, nor so free was the wording then.
For Zimbabwe to be able to operate in this new and complex world and assert our interests and our values, we need a broad consensus in our country. Our foreign policy must have public support and must be discussed throughout Zimbabwe far beyond the walls of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Zimbabwe must speak about a world that is becoming more connected, more contested and more complex, where Zimbabwe is increasingly becoming part of the world, and the world increasingly a part of Zimbabwe.
We must be tolerant and we must not put our country in disrepute because we want to be heard. We must always think before we say it.
We must all condemn Chamisa and Mbiti for asking for the suffering of our children our nation and our country. But we must not be carried away by the wind of the day, we must remain resolute for the sake of our country.
Vazet2000@yahoo.co.uk
Source - Dr Masimba Mavaza
All articles and letters published on Bulawayo24 have been independently written by members of Bulawayo24's community. The views of users published on Bulawayo24 are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Bulawayo24. Bulawayo24 editors also reserve the right to edit or delete any and all comments received.
