President Mugabe deserves holiday honour

My curiosity was recently upped a few antes by the furore created by the private media over a proposal to honour His Excellency, President Robert Mugabe in recognition of his works in the country and outside. I have neither the desire to be a cat, considering what curiosity did to this feline species, nor for an additional eight lives, seeing how content I am with this one. However, I am genuinely compelled to believe that the purported furore was nothing but a concoction of the private media with the unwitting participation of the usual suspects in the opposition circles.

Political rhetoric aside, what could be amiss with honouring the gentle statesman, particularly in the twilight of his life? I seriously doubt the genuineness of the likes of Obert Gutu from the MDC-T who are viciously opposed to anything remotely associated with Zanu PF, from economic policies to social reform agendas, you name it all. These are the quarters querying why the son of Bona, the father of Robert Jr and uncle of Leo should be honoured, despite all that he has done and continues to do for mankind.  

 I am not in the least surprised as Mark the apostle's narrative about the reluctance of some sections of the Nazarene community to acknowledge Jesus as the Son of Man rings to the very core of the current purported furore. "Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? Are not His sisters here with us?" And they took offense at Him. Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and among his own relatives and in his own household." And He could do no miracle there except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them.…

Granted, some streets have been named after him but the man is more than just that. He is in the same league as other revered and living sons of the soil such as Dr Kenneth Kaunda, the founding father of Zambia, Samuel Daniel "Shafiishuna" Nujoma, the first president of Namibia, Joaquim Alberto Chissano, and Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki, the former presidents of Mozambique and South Africa respectively.
What distinguished these men from their peers was their commitment, against all odds, to the political, economic and social emancipation of their fellow people.

Following independence from Britain, Kaunda increased access to education phenomenally. He revitalised the energy sector with the building of the Kariba Hydro Electric Power Station, milestone developments that were enunciated in the Transitional National Development Plan and the First National Development. A unifier under whose stewardship his country never slipped into civil anarchy, the magnanimity and insight of Dr Kaunda united the seventy two plus tribal and ethnic groups into the strong single entity that Zambia is today.

Nujoma is a Namibian revolutionary, anti-apartheid activist and politician who served as the first President of Namibia from 1990 to 2005. He played an important role as leader of the national liberation movement in campaigning for Namibia's independence from South African rule through establishment of the People's Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN) culminating in independence in 1990. He brooked no interference in the affairs of other sovereign countries, and in 1998, he came  to the defence of the Democratic Republic of Congo President Laurent Kabila when his rule came under threat from rebels backed by Rwanda and Uganda during the Second Congo War. Namibia, together with, Angola and Zimbabwe, became involved in the war on behalf of commitment to the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

Chissano participated in the independence of Mozambique as one of the leaders of Frelimo. As president of that country, he negotiated a peace treaty with the rebel force Renamo in 1992, thereby putting an end to sixteen years of civil war. The former chairperson of the African Union (AU) and head of SADC oversaw the significant growth of the economy and eradication of considerable poverty in his country.

Mbeki oversaw a fast-growing black middle class with the implementation of Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) and made South Africa the focal point of African growth. He was the architect of NEPAD whose aim was to develop an integrated socio-economic development framework for Africa. He was instrumental in the successful building of economic bridges to BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China). His quiet diplomacy in Zimbabwe culminated in the establishment of an inclusive Government 20...  He mediated in difficult and complex issues on the African continent including Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Ivory Coast, and some important peace agreements. He oversaw the transition from the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) to the African Union (AU).

President Mugabe is an embodiment of the traits of the above-mentioned statesmen. His legacy as a champion of the masses has been cemented as evidenced by the massive investment in human capital development that saw the construction of learning institutions, hospitals, as well as the economic empowerment of the hitherto marginalised black majority. As it stands, the country's literacy rate compares favourably in the globe. Despite spirited attempts to destabilise the country economically and drive a wedge between the country's major tribes, President Mugabe's desire for social integration has never been in doubt. This explains why efforts to trivialise the Unity day through vexatious litigation shall come to nought. But then I digress.

He has chaired SADC and the AU and acquitted himself quite well, even during turbulent times. He is the repository of knowledge about world affairs, among a long list of plaudits.  My point is that, among enlightened Zimbabweans, whose judgement has not been clouded by partisan interests, the question is not why but how to honour our President. My considered opinion is that, faced with the current challenges, declaring his birth date as a national holiday would be imprudent because the country needs to channel every minute towards productivity.

Rather, considering the scholarly exploits of His Excellency, and that of his peers, living and dearly departed, dedicating a library would be a more fitting tribute, lest we set a precedence for future leaders to declare holidays on a whim. Mind you, the days in a year are not infite. I rest my case.