Latest News Editor's Choice


Opinion / Columnist

The problem with Tsvangirai

30 Aug 2012 at 07:51hrs | Views
Probably a better piece by far (Morgan Tsvangirai's statement to the press). But again Mr Prime Minister you are contradicting yourself because recently you were nasty towards the AU and SADC and of a sudden you are praising them.

I am sure your advisers did very well in preparing for you that piece, thus after a lot of criticism from fellow Zimbabweans.

You used to do very well and that is when your party was launched more than a decade ago, it brought the much needed change. I supported you very much during that time, till you lost it 7 or 8 years later and that is when you said WHY GIVE THE LAND TO BLACKS BECAUSE THEY ARE CHANCERS…. Disappointing of me that I did not write the date, time etc. for reference but I remember that well.

I grew up in a village (Nyamhondo, Mubhobho Village) where probably only two people own a car each. My villagers used to know that once able bodied (16 and 17), one would drop out of high school (at Form 3) or wait for Form 4 results (most failed, only 1 in a hundred made it) and go and look for work in Triangle to cut sugar cans or farms around the country. Only a few took the down south route as border jumpers (will post an article of my experience soon). Believe me we were taught well to be hard labourers and once given an opportunity to dig an anti-hill, we did not disappoint the master. Many though who took this route are either poor, died poor or retired very poor.

The bottom line is, I expected a lot from you especially with regards to empowering of the black communities but disappointingly you are opposed to that idea. I believe that it can be modified for the benefit of the communities and not chiefs (as in Zvishavane chiefs benefiting alone); that's where Saviour Kasukuwere lost it. The idea is well thought of but not allowing communities (beneficiaries) to have a say and chose their elective reperesantives etc, putting chiefs to control such is a grave mistake and we will go back to the starting line. Obviously with $200 000 each a 70 year chief would think of adding more wives (mostly sweet sixteens) and not care about community development hence important for all communities involved to have a unanimous vote of how they are going to do with funds and not chiefs (disappointed Saviour Kasukuwere kept quiet on the Zvishavane issue).

I expected that once you occupy that Ministerial position, you would capitalize and show Zimbabweans what you are made of but disappointingly you tell Australians of our abundance resources waiting to be mined by them, the West, England, France and New Zealand (using us as their labourers) and that makes me think that you are REMOTE CONTROLLED by them.

I do not have a problem with investors, but my problem is that you think inferior of us blacks and it disappoints me a lot.

Weak leaks published some facts that you pressured for sanctions, many if not all suffered a lot especially the period of 2007/8 but most survived. It was a blunder on your part as you probably had hoped that the government would succumb to pressure.

In addition, of recent another fellow citizen criticised you for impregnating a young lady (nasty to him on tribal grounds), am sure he had a very good point. Though it is your private life, at least show those who have faith in you (I do not however) as womanising is bad especially for a person occupying a top post like you (because you are married, I hope we won't hear the worst).

I was raised by a single mother; she worked very hard and made sure that I complete a university degree (even pressurizing me to complete my Masters and then Doctorate degree). She even pleaded with me that I buy gifts for my father, a car, visit him every now and then etc. He is a father who was never there for me. I made a great effort to see him at the age of thirteen and I wanted to live with him; it almost costed me my high school career had it not be my beloved mother who rescued me as usually. I wrote him a letter asking him as to why he had not used a condom because he cared less (there were no condoms back then). I had forgiven him though he never asked for forgiveness. He is still important to my children nevertheless. Beware that you may risk losing that trust when you abandon your children (Tupac Shakur - PAPA's SONG, he mentioned papa would get nothing etc.).    

The burning issue, if you believe in the West, England, France, Australia and New Zealand then you will lead Zimbabwe to ruins, assuming that you will be the next President. You once said that you have a lot of money and such will see you and your great grandchildren through your life times; you are only worried about the masses. I know all parties are sponsored by foreign nationals mostly and risk pleasing such once in power (friends with benefits in mind) hence the term puppet meaning trouble for the country (slave labour, suffer continues).

Some Tips for You:
• Respect women
• Limit overseas trips and address communities more frequently
• Use the little of you own funds to champion community development (show them that you can share)
• Engage with the communities in all provinces and hear as to what it is they want (Also visit my village of Mubhobho in Nyamhoondo, Mberengwa East and see to it; some still survive on cow dung etc. help them with a hospital, school and irrigation solar project as they do not have such, not even a bore hole in the village hence have to fetch water from wells or bore holes in other villages). Help at least start one project for them.
• Draft a tangible economic development plan for the country.
• Have the faith in Zimbabweans especially the blacks that once they are trained and well skilled, they can help improve the economy of the country (what made whites to be more successful is that they were showered with resources, instead the black person will tell you we need 1, 2 and 3 instead of delivering 1, 2 and 3).

NB: I do not hate whites etc., I believe we are a mixed nation and by now we should be doing it together for the good of our economy. However, I am not a great fan of some countries which wants to benefit at our expense (above mentioned, I cannot picture my children and great grandchildren as slave labourers when we have such country rich in mineral resources and good temperate climate).

Currently, I doubt that you have what it takes to lead the country to prosperity - show us what you can do.

-------------------
Justice Maphosa can be contacted at justicemaphosa@rocketmail.com


Source - Justice Maphosa
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.