Observations of an alien on Zimbabwe's democracy in action

JOHANNESBURG- In his visits to earthlings, the alien next landed at a swanky suburban sports club in Zimbabwe and as he arrived there, he cannot help but notice the latest SUVs and luxury cars parked outside being guarded by security guards who appeared quite hungry and forlorn. He sits next to a group of executives who have just finished their round of golf and are having drinks chatting about the state of affairs of the nation. The alien cannot help but notice the news on television which seemed to him repetitive and to continually  mention this one individual who is given a very long title  as not only as the president, but also the commander in chief of the armed forces including being the first secretary of a political party. The news seems to be all about this old man and what he has to say compared to the news that he had seen in South Africa. He chuckles but keeps these observations to himself and listens with interest on the dialogues of the executives.

They talk about how it is difficult to get hold of any cash and how for them, despite their seemingly comfortable status, things are not getting better at all. They complain amongst themselves on the errant nature of the supply of electricity and water, on expensive goods and services in the shops and on the corruption they have seen around them. They carry on deliberating on the issue of indigenisation and sanctions and how the former process is only benefitting the "chefs" and their families. How despite the country having discovered diamond and gold reserves, it remains poor and begs the west to feed its lot.

The alien later on gets an opportunity to offer his observations to the executives who listen patiently. This is his rendition:

"It is most distressing to me to see and hear the state of your affairs and it appears to me that you all are locked in circumstances that are quite difficult to extricate yourselves from. From an outside observer such as me, you all however, seem quite comfortable and happy with your condition in life and yet all is not as it appears. Despite the difficulties that you all speak about, it appears that you have acquired a material well-being that is better than most. It is bizarre that you sit in comfort and complain and yet most of your countrymen are suffering including those that perform the mundane tasks, such as guarding your luxury transportations parked outside. I am informed your residences are quite plush and you suffer not from deprivation of the basics of day to day living.

I am quite curious with regard to the source of your difficulties but it is obvious that you have left the administration of the resources of your nation to those who are unable to execute their duties in your interests. A nation as rich as yours in mineral resources should surely have its own currency and thus be in avoidance of any cash shortages that you speak of. Any nation as endowed with natural resources as yours should be able to produce goods and services in excess of the demands and needs of its inhabitants. It used to be like that in the past I hear and yet now some of you even starve to death.

If I may share my thoughts, surely an estimated 13m beings including those of you that have left your country in search of a better life, cannot be beholden to the whims of this one old man that has so many titles as if he were a god. I must assume of course that these whims are a collective effort of other unscrupulous men around this old man but they surely cannot count more than the rest of you. Inexplicable it is that this can happen and yet you sit here and seemingly do nothing to disempower these individuals with all the might that you have. I hear in lands afar they took none of that and some men have since met their fate and have been expunged from power.

I am contrite to see your state and yet only you can extricate yourselves from it. It boggles the mind might I add, that so beautiful a country with such humble beings can rot while all of you seemingly play golf all day and drink expensive whiskies purchased from afar. In my limited view of things, it seems that your masters are evidently not anxious that things change. You ought to place that anxiety into their hearts as a matter of urgency and through any means that you may contrive as I understand that the ballot has not worked for you in the past nor do you expect it to be reflective of your desires in the future. The police and army whose rations are dependent on the taxes that you willingly pay seem not concerned about your well-being but rather about theirs. You must act.

You ought to view it as urgent that you all unite and be of one objective and yet I am told that most of you are informers and charlatans and by your very selfish actions you prop up that which is the source of your current discomforts. From where I have been a few hours ago, a country to your south, they will agitate, march and demonstrate in the streets and risk their own lives in order to register their discomforts and yet I have seen or heard none of it here. You may abhor forcefulness here and we as aliens do not condone it for it is a crass means of addressing human concerns but it can sometimes be beneficial to create the required anxiety where the normal civil channels may not result in your desires being paid attention to.

From what I hear, your nation has become a laughing stock because you are weaklings and greed has overcome your sense of responsibility. Each of you seems only concerned about yourselves and how much they can acquire during these troubled times and yet you all yearn for better times.

I leave this for you to ponder on and hopefully you can extricate yourselves from this mess-as aliens we have observed that most revolutions here on earth begin with the actions of one man. Amongst the many of you I see hear isn't there but one man willing to sacrifice and lead a people's revolution to unseat those that are the source of your troubles? Your destiny is in your hands and you should therefore not look elsewhere"

I guess many are called but a few are chosen.

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*Vince Musewe is an independent Zimbabwean economist based in South Africa. You may contact him on vtmusewe@gmail.com