Integrity should be the password for Government

Let's not waste each other's time - President Mugabe is enjoying his holiday in the Far East. There is absolutely no need to disturb him and his family with this hogwash that he should cut short his holiday. Cut his holiday for what?

Zimbabwe is not burning and in any case, the President's foot soldiers are busy at work. If Morgan was too broke to travel to the high seas, that's not our problem. Surely, if poor Bishop Lazarus could fly out for his annual holiday, why not the President He deserves the holiday, so Morgan and other like-minded penny-pinchers or should I say cheapskates should just shut up!

Talking of the President's foot soldiers, Bishop Lazarus wants to give thumps up to the following Ministers, Dr Lazarus Dokora, Patrick Zhuwao, Patrick Chinamasa, Dr Joseph Made and of course the Governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Dr John Mangudya.

Throughout the festive season, these foot soldiers were buried in Government work doing exactly what the President assigned them to do. Good going macomrades!

What was particularly refreshing as these foot soldiers carried out their duties was their integrity and sincerity.

A few days ago, I was just going through the Old Testament part of the Bible and was struck by the fact that most of its 39 Books contain the word integrity.

It is important for the Zanu-PF Government to live by this word of God and follow its dictates in 2016 and beyond.

I particularly liked the Book of Proverbs, which in short is about the practical wisdom in everyday affairs.

Let me quote just two verses on integrity kusimbisa this sermon.

Proverbs 28:18 says; "Whoever walks in integrity will be delivered, but he who is crooked in his ways will suddenly fall," while Proverbs 11:3 says; "The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them."

Clearly, the Government does not have the money to pay civil servants now, but integrity and sincerity in dealing with this issue will pull it through the stormy waters that the opposition is hoping for.

Zanu-PF will be "delivered" from now going forward if it walks in integrity. Integrity will guide Zanu-PF going forward and 2018 will be a walkover. Someone say "Amen!"

One of my favourite writers, Douglas Adams once said, "To give real service, you must add something which cannot be bought or measured with money and that is sincerity and integrity."

Integrity should be the password for Government and just a few years into 2016, it looks like President Mugabe's foot soldiers are scoring high marks in this regard.

At a time when the prophets of doom were hoping for confrontation between the Government and the civil servants, Dr Dokora, Chinamasa and the RBZ boss cooled down tempers by showing that through integrity and sincerity, there is nothing to fear and nothing to hide.

Minister Zhuwao announced that modalities are being worked out to re-introduce the National Youth Service programme. The opposition in the country is scared to death of the National Youth Service and of course, the opposition has every reason to fear these enlightened youths. Still Minister Zhuwao shoved down the truth. #bringthemback Minister!

On the other hand, Dr Made gave the country assurance that no one will starve as Government has activated mechanisms to import more maize to avert a food crisis.

Bishop Lazarus was happy to hear Dr Made not only assuring the nation that no one will starve, but first accepting that the country was left with low stocks of grain. It is this honesty that the people want. Just tell the people the truth and they will adjust their lives accordingly. Don't pamper the truth because at some point it will stubbornly come out.

But what really struck Bishop Lazarus was the way Dr Dokora, Chinamasa and Dr Mangudya handled the issue about civil servants salaries and bonuses.

Of course, first the Bishop wants to make it categorically clear that the Government shouldn't have let things get to the stage where they couldn't find money for the salaries of the civil servants. Government workers going through festive season without their salaries? Chinekewoo! That shouldn't be repeated macomrades. Someone didn't do their job properly – whatever the explanation.

Now after realising that tempers were rising, Dr Dokora, Chinamasa and Dr Mangudya did exactly what Douglas Adams said. They added "something which cannot be bought or measured with money." They came out in the open and dealt with the issue honestly.

Minister Chinamasa came out outlining when the delayed salaries would be paid while Dr Dokora gave assurance that indeed the salaries would come in time. Of course, civil servants have dealt with politicians long enough and so even after the assurances, they still had their doubts. And so the talk about civil servants strike refused to die.

Then came Dr Mangudya with the master stroke. He met representatives of civil servants and brought with him something which cannot be bought or measured with money – he put integrity on the table and in no time, the civil servants understood the Government's position on the matter.

Members of the body that represents civil servants, the Apex Council came out of the meeting with Dr Mangudya saying he had assured them that the 2015 bonuses would be paid as promised and pay dates would be constant this new year.

Teachers Union of Zimbabwe chief executive, Mr Manuel Nyawo, said following their meeting with Dr Mangudya, they had concluded there was no need for a premature industrial action.

"He (Dr Mangudya) took us through what Government has in its coffers and the reasons for the delays in the payment of salaries …

"He assured us that bonuses will be paid and that those owed will get their salaries as announced."

An honest Government is what the people of Zimbabwe want. With integrity, honestly and sincerity – the civil servants will understand the Government's position. There must be open dialogue between Government and the civil servants.

That American politician Edward Kennedy would say; "Integrity is the lifeblood of democracy. Deceit is a poison in its veins."

The Zanu-PF Government can win over the civil servants through integrity. The Government can cool down tempers through integrity. The Government can deflate the opposition through integrity.

The Government can shame the opposition mouthpieces through integrity.

Integrity should be the password for Government because with integrity the Government will do the right thing and there won't be any pressure to bandage the truth.

With regards to integrity in 2016, its "So-far-So-good" for the Government. Let's keep it that way.

Zig Ziglar says; "It is true that integrity alone won't make you a leader, but without it you will never be one."

Taking a leaf from Ziglar, Bishop Lazarus says integrity won't win elections for Zanu-PF, but without it Zanu-PF will find elections tough in 2018.

Bishop is out!