Opinion / Columnist
Miracle money and groceries: Wither to Zimbabwe?
10 Jan 2013 at 17:35hrs | Views
Much has been said about the miracle money and groceries that have been splashed in recent days by gracious men of God. What a welcome Christmas box and New Year present to hard pressed citizens! However, I paradoxically find it exciting and worrisome at the same time that such a fit of miracles can be exercised during our lifetime.
For starters, Zimbabwe is one nation that desperately needs miracles - miracles of any kind - be it of political, social, economic and religious orientation. A glimpse at what is happening in our churches, the schisms that have literally shredded them, or the drought of governance and political scruples that has haunted our nation for song long a time, the economic meltdown and, least of all, the diseases that have shattered our very desire and hope for a future – all these afflictions surely need a miracle to solve and only man of God can deliver it. It may be way back in 1989, but I still have graphic memories of the revered Listetsi Dube's well researched and presented A level Divinity lessons.
One thing I vividly recall from his lessons was the fact that all true prophecy issued from Yahweh [ and we secretly called him Yahweh] and hence the prophet would always prelude the message of prophecy by the words "Koh Amar Yahweh" meaning "Thus says Yahweh/God." That was a seal of inspiration, for all true prophecy has to be inspired by God.
I also learnt with trepidation how those who, in their wisdom or none of it, turned a deaf ear to the words of the prophets lived to regret as the punishment was as instant as it was severe.
Zimbabwe may be statistically ranked at the tail of most spheres of life - economic growth, transparency, HIV/AIDS infection, corruption, football etc., - but you will agree that in the area of religion [Christianity if you want] the country is ranked somewhere at the apex of the world league.
No wonder why we deserve, and I even dare say, we even demand miracles in their dozens. In this article I will not judge the works of the two men of God who are reported to be seized with the gift of prophecy and the miracle spirit.
My only problem is the persistent conflict I have to deal with on how I could react in the event of being the "lucky" recipient of untimely miracle money or groceries. Imagine if it were you and you woke up and found a bag load of miracle money on your doorstep. How would you react? Import one of those used Japanese car, ya? Or would you buy a house in a fabulous suburb of Harare?
Surely some man would be tempted to marry a second wife! And what happens if, like it is said to have happened to this woman whose miracle money turned into leaves, all the wealth turns into a "sweet dream" that always never comes true?
What happens if I leave my job and start investing that money and all my dreams turn out to be "leaves".
What happens if many of our poorly paid but hard working Zimbabweans abandon their jobs and seek after this seemingly cheap flowing miracle money? Or, put another way, if our farmers leave their crops to flounder and the seasonal rainwater to waste and scramble into the prayer halls to earn without sweating, or teachers abandon those knowledge-hungry students and seek to put food on their tables through miracle money which, after all, comes without them having to break the toxic chalk?
Why would one clean those filthy, smelly and central Harare and Mbare Musika or Bulawayo Renkini ablutions just for a penny with all this miracle money awash! A great, irresistible temptation I should concur!
More questions linger though. What will happen to the culture of hard work that Zimbabweans are renowned for?
Is this money substantially investable capital or is it a pitiable hand to mouth sweetener whose real incentive is to pull masses into these prayer halls only for these desperately expectant citizens to have reverse psychology played on them?
Are our prayer halls being commercialised, or so to say, is the material culture having an overbearing effect on our souls? If so, what is happening to our consciences as a nation of believers?
In one of my articles, one Mduduzi tore me apart for what he thought I had suggested that communities must be content with donations like food that only last for a day. Mduduzi strongly argued that contributions into community welfares by any individual must be aimed at capacitating communities and bring with it sustainable long term development.
I entirely agree with his point and I would like to draw from it to extend my reasoning in this article.
How is this miracle money going to bring this capacity and sustainable development to its recipients?
Are we not here perpetuating the highly patronising and diminishing begging and donor syndrome that has for so long dehumanised our people and undermined their capacity to exist independently economically?
How is the psychology of exploitation and window of opportunity mentality being exploited for personal aggrandizement in this issue?
Who is the ultimate benefactor in this matrix of events? Is it the prophets, the miracle money recipients or the Almighty?
Couldn't we be prayed for so that our minds open up to business opportunities around us instead of being given money that potentially turns into leaves?
How about us being mentally healed so we can have the courage to utilise the capacities we have - I am talking of that house in Makokoba, or those three cows in Mudzi, even that junk that we pile in our houses which could be turned into capital - I mean, we need a miracle to change our mind sets so we could think positive and out of the proverbial box.
In other words we need a sustainable miracle that will disentangle in a long term fashion, the mess that our lives are.
We do not need popularism in our religious, social and economic lives, nor do we need effervescent miracles and spinsmanship. Neither do we need hollow promises that cannot stand the test of time.
We need to be in control of our destiny. We need to have the capacity to spin that money from decent means. We need to be capacitated and empowered. This way we will have a feeling of fulfilment, independence and above all dignity.
As I said in my last article, we are Zimbabweans and not replicas. We need an insurable future based on initiative, tangible and substantive means. As I intimated at the beginning of this article, I do not qualify stand in judgement over man of God.
All I am saying is that if miracle money fits in this entire matrix, then it is welcome.
---------------
Bigboy Mthombeni is a resident of Bulawayo but writes from Khartoum, Sudan, where he is currently based.
For starters, Zimbabwe is one nation that desperately needs miracles - miracles of any kind - be it of political, social, economic and religious orientation. A glimpse at what is happening in our churches, the schisms that have literally shredded them, or the drought of governance and political scruples that has haunted our nation for song long a time, the economic meltdown and, least of all, the diseases that have shattered our very desire and hope for a future – all these afflictions surely need a miracle to solve and only man of God can deliver it. It may be way back in 1989, but I still have graphic memories of the revered Listetsi Dube's well researched and presented A level Divinity lessons.
One thing I vividly recall from his lessons was the fact that all true prophecy issued from Yahweh [ and we secretly called him Yahweh] and hence the prophet would always prelude the message of prophecy by the words "Koh Amar Yahweh" meaning "Thus says Yahweh/God." That was a seal of inspiration, for all true prophecy has to be inspired by God.
I also learnt with trepidation how those who, in their wisdom or none of it, turned a deaf ear to the words of the prophets lived to regret as the punishment was as instant as it was severe.
Zimbabwe may be statistically ranked at the tail of most spheres of life - economic growth, transparency, HIV/AIDS infection, corruption, football etc., - but you will agree that in the area of religion [Christianity if you want] the country is ranked somewhere at the apex of the world league.
No wonder why we deserve, and I even dare say, we even demand miracles in their dozens. In this article I will not judge the works of the two men of God who are reported to be seized with the gift of prophecy and the miracle spirit.
My only problem is the persistent conflict I have to deal with on how I could react in the event of being the "lucky" recipient of untimely miracle money or groceries. Imagine if it were you and you woke up and found a bag load of miracle money on your doorstep. How would you react? Import one of those used Japanese car, ya? Or would you buy a house in a fabulous suburb of Harare?
Surely some man would be tempted to marry a second wife! And what happens if, like it is said to have happened to this woman whose miracle money turned into leaves, all the wealth turns into a "sweet dream" that always never comes true?
What happens if I leave my job and start investing that money and all my dreams turn out to be "leaves".
What happens if many of our poorly paid but hard working Zimbabweans abandon their jobs and seek after this seemingly cheap flowing miracle money? Or, put another way, if our farmers leave their crops to flounder and the seasonal rainwater to waste and scramble into the prayer halls to earn without sweating, or teachers abandon those knowledge-hungry students and seek to put food on their tables through miracle money which, after all, comes without them having to break the toxic chalk?
Why would one clean those filthy, smelly and central Harare and Mbare Musika or Bulawayo Renkini ablutions just for a penny with all this miracle money awash! A great, irresistible temptation I should concur!
More questions linger though. What will happen to the culture of hard work that Zimbabweans are renowned for?
Is this money substantially investable capital or is it a pitiable hand to mouth sweetener whose real incentive is to pull masses into these prayer halls only for these desperately expectant citizens to have reverse psychology played on them?
Are our prayer halls being commercialised, or so to say, is the material culture having an overbearing effect on our souls? If so, what is happening to our consciences as a nation of believers?
In one of my articles, one Mduduzi tore me apart for what he thought I had suggested that communities must be content with donations like food that only last for a day. Mduduzi strongly argued that contributions into community welfares by any individual must be aimed at capacitating communities and bring with it sustainable long term development.
I entirely agree with his point and I would like to draw from it to extend my reasoning in this article.
How is this miracle money going to bring this capacity and sustainable development to its recipients?
Are we not here perpetuating the highly patronising and diminishing begging and donor syndrome that has for so long dehumanised our people and undermined their capacity to exist independently economically?
How is the psychology of exploitation and window of opportunity mentality being exploited for personal aggrandizement in this issue?
Who is the ultimate benefactor in this matrix of events? Is it the prophets, the miracle money recipients or the Almighty?
Couldn't we be prayed for so that our minds open up to business opportunities around us instead of being given money that potentially turns into leaves?
How about us being mentally healed so we can have the courage to utilise the capacities we have - I am talking of that house in Makokoba, or those three cows in Mudzi, even that junk that we pile in our houses which could be turned into capital - I mean, we need a miracle to change our mind sets so we could think positive and out of the proverbial box.
In other words we need a sustainable miracle that will disentangle in a long term fashion, the mess that our lives are.
We do not need popularism in our religious, social and economic lives, nor do we need effervescent miracles and spinsmanship. Neither do we need hollow promises that cannot stand the test of time.
We need to be in control of our destiny. We need to have the capacity to spin that money from decent means. We need to be capacitated and empowered. This way we will have a feeling of fulfilment, independence and above all dignity.
As I said in my last article, we are Zimbabweans and not replicas. We need an insurable future based on initiative, tangible and substantive means. As I intimated at the beginning of this article, I do not qualify stand in judgement over man of God.
All I am saying is that if miracle money fits in this entire matrix, then it is welcome.
---------------
Bigboy Mthombeni is a resident of Bulawayo but writes from Khartoum, Sudan, where he is currently based.
Source - Bigboy Mthombeni
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