Conversations with Mugabe: An alien's view on Robert Mugabe

My prescription for your predicament and intoxication is simple yet effective-let freedom ring and let Zimbabweans freely choose their leaders.

The alien was quite curious to further spend his time in Zimbabwe after having invigorated Zimbabweans to take their destiny into their own hands, he noticed that much was not happening on the ground and thought it best to visit this old man who he had heard of. He decided to pay a midnight visit to the president of Zimbabwe, commander in chief of the armed forces and first secretary of ZANU (PF), the titles he had heard continually repeated every day in the news headlines.

He therefore went to his residence not far away from the swanky suburban sports club that he had visited the previous night. As an alien, it was quite easy for him to gain access but he observed that it would be almost impossible for a human to gain access to Mugabe. His residence was well secured with armed guards patrolling and with cameras and security gadgets all over. He pondered to himself why all this was necessary for someone who purports to represent the interests of the masses, why so much security, surely he needed to be accessible to his subjects? But he decided to reserve his observations for later.

He sat next to Mugabe who was in bed but awake and asked about his health his family and generally exchanged some pleasantries with him. He seemed quite a nice chap and was quite willing to chat to the alien. The alien asked Mugabe to tell him about his problems and how he viewed the situation in his country.

Mugabe talked first about this issue of sanctions that was troubling him, he confessed that he was rather peeved that he had travel restrictions and yet he had done nothing wrong except defend the rights of his people. He also talked about how the government of national unity, was not helpful as it constrained his powers and his ability to effectively administer the affairs of the state. He felt that he was the only one qualified to lead Zimbabweans as he had sacrificed his whole life to achieve that objective. He was also anxious that without him his party and therefore the government would collapse. He expressed his wish to empower Zimbabweans so that they could become owners of capital and not perpetual workers and hence his drive to indigenise the economy.

Unfortunately he said, he felt that most Zimbabweans are not ready and want to remain accountable to owners of capital who were mainly British and American. He was visibly not happy on outsiders dictating to him on what must be done especially the SADC whom he felt could not point a finger at  him at all since their own countries had the same problems. He however confessed that he was tired of it all and just wished he could peacefully retire and hand over to someone good enough to carry out his objectives but those around him would not let him go. Who was he to object to that?

The alien offered his observations on the situation and this was his rendition:

"I am quite startled that a man of your intellect and contribution to the struggle for freedom must end up hauled in this prison that you call your home. It is rather ironic and sad isn't it, that after fighting your whole life for the freedom of black humans you yourself are not free from the perceived threats that have led you to isolate yourself from those you claim to lead. It is rather obvious to me, as it would be to most observers, that maybe you have become too far removed from conditions that most Zimbabweans are living in. Thirty years in human terms is almost a life time and which man can perform his duties diligently and with the same vigour for such a long time without failing to see his weaknesses or falling into a misconception that he is invincible.

You state that your colleagues will not let you go and I truly wonder whether this is because you are good at what you do or it is in their interests that nothing changes and they continue to build their little empires around you. I would wager it's the latter. I am intrigued by your belief that there is really no one out there to lead this nation to greater heights and that your minions will not survive without you. Are you telling me that out of the 13m Zimbabweans none out there has the same gifts, talents and energy that you might have had in the past?

That to me seems incomprehensible and could be a delusion that you refuse to let go. Many a king have come and gone and at most times it has been to the advantage of their empires that they have relinquished the reins of power for, too long a stay at the throne tends to create blind spots in most, blind spots of their invincibility and longevity which leads to bad judgment and the ruin of the work that they may have achieved during the reign. May I remind you that most men remembered are remembered for what they have done for others and not for themselves. They are also respected for having known when to abandon the throne.

You seem displeased about this issue of sanctions and why they exist at all. As an alien I cannot judge whether those who have imposed them are justified to do so or not for men have many a reason why they do things. As an outsider looking in, it appears that most of your people are more concerned about their daily livelihoods as opposed to your being restricted to travel as you wish, something you did endlessly in your early years. I would think that your waning energies should really be spent on creating more freedoms for your people so that your legacy maybe a remembrance that is positive.

Your countrymen have suffered gravely over the last decade, your economy is poor and most have lost hope of a decent future. Have you ever wondered why a large amount of your people want change? They desire more freedoms and appear to have lost any admiration or veneration they had on your leadership.

The indigenisation you speak so passionately about is a necessary step for any free nation. However, it does seem that those that will not let you go, those men and women who support your cause and continue to stand by you are keenly intent on their gratification and not that of the masses. Every empire has its share of those who suck out life from its bosom and those who are close to the throne will do what they must to postpone its demise.  In order to do that, they will misinform, connive and shield the leader from the truth to protect their employment. They are temporary accomplices, turn coats who will soon change sides when the tide turns.

Be therefore warned that all is not well and many at this moment connive, plan and plot their own selfish agendas and not yours. Most men, might I add, survive on lies because the truth may be just too uncomfortable to fathom. You see, lies give them the false comfort that nothing will change and they are necessary at times to keep the illusion of peace.

If by any chance I happened to be in a similar predicament as you are now, I would through grace and honour, relinquish that which has become the source of your diminishing influence and possible ruin-the belief that none other can do that which must be done. I shall leave you with much sorrow for you seem desolate and discouraged but many men have spent their lives manufacturing their own demise simply because they have refused to hear and let go their intoxication with power. It is a fact that most men would rather have their circumstances change than change their character and yet they forget that the circumstances they find themselves in and detest, are a result of their own past thoughts and actions.

My prescription for your predicament and intoxication is simple yet effective-let freedom ring and let Zimbabweans freely choose their leaders. That is the essence of freedom.

And with that, the alien left and decided to go back to the land south of Zimbabwe for he needed to give instruction to a young man called Julius Malema.

The reader shall have an opportunity to study the alien's conversations with Julius Malema in the future.

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