Zimbabwe has no government anymore: urgent rescue plan required

Events within the Zimbabwe government and ruling party Zanu-PF since the July 2013 elections continue to be of great concern to the citizens of the potentially prosperous, peaceful and stable country.

The struggle for the control of power within government and  Zanu-PF party as the departure of President Robert Gabriel Mugabe seems imminent, continues to destabilise the nation. From the unceremonious ouster of the former vice president Joyce Mujuru to the current nasty tug-of-war for who takes over when Mugabe gives way, it is difficult to imagine how the business of governing can be possible.

Currently, it is evident that the Presidency at the top is divided, with the two vice presidents at war with each other and the president seemingly in tacit approval of his divisive wife tossing the vice presidents like game play instruments while he watches like a spectator. The Cabinet is bitterly divided and openly at war within itself. It is inconceivable to see how that cabinet can ever come to decide on issues to do with the welfare of the country and citizens with any semblance of, or reflection of the common interest of those citizens.

The Zanu-Pf party is similarly torn apart from the Politburo down to the lowest structures. So ugly are the divisions that there is a real threat or risk of tearing the country apart through a vicious war. The war veterans ‘executive,  as  one of the pivotal elements in the zanu-pf power games, has waged in, reminding us all as well as informing the young generation born after Independence of the sacrifices they made, and that it is still their duty to safe guard the party and legacy of the struggle. Perhaps more recklessly, the group have challenged those who did not have the opportunity to participate in that war, to start their own process of war if they wanted a change from the status quo. One can only hope that the message does not land on some receptive ear of our currently suffering youth who see their suffering as a direct consequence of the zanu-pf leadership failure and utter incompetence worsened by rampant corruption that has eroded the national moral fabric. Were the youth of today to accept that invitation, it is not likely that the liberation war veterans would still be up to the challenge of a war even considering their physical capacity. The other organ of the zanu-pf party of the women' league is on a combat offensive tearing the party and government leadership including the military right down the middle.

Cabinet ministers are publicly tearing into each other in what is clearly emerging as a game of the "survival of the strongest and most cunning". In such a situation, it is no surprise that those who may feel are losing the battle for power will, and do invoke violence without the slightest regard for the consequences to the nation and development in general. Sensitive Intelligence and secret information about individuals (including the president's family) has found its way out into the public domain.

All this chaos is stark evidence that the president, RG Mugabe has lost control of the reins of power. The centre is no more. The president's name is used by all the warring cliques in justifying their offensive. How can the same president be so splintered within himself particularly in diametrically contradictory ways? When the First Lady bursts with fury and tears apart a vice president and ministers, the impression is created that the President has given her or signalled to her his tacit approval ,for it is otherwise difficult to think that she could mess up the President so much. Then, when you hear the President's spokesperson equally furious on the opposite camp from that of the first lady almost tearing her group with her, then one wonders how the president feels at home with that.

In summary, the fact that: 1. The vice presidents are publicly fighting each other; 2. Cabinet misters are publicly tearing each other; 3. Intelligence agents are releasing sensitive and embarrassing information about the president;  4. The president's spokesperson publicly fights furiously from one of the warring groups even against the first lady; 5. The first lady can summon ministers and party structures (not only her women's league) and behave as if she was the ultimate centre of power; 6. The president himself can publicly complain about soldiers being involved in politics when he is the commander-in-chief; 7. War veterans can threaten war while invoking the name of the president as their patron; all mean that the President has lost vital control of the governance of the country. The country is therefore just drifting along without anyone on the driving seat.

The consequences of the current situation is that as the wars within government and the ruling party continue to escalate on a daily basis, the country is sliding into chaos and anarchy where the need for survival creates a jungle situation of the survival of the fittest. We are watching the fast moving process of the destruction of our country.

The current situation calls for a new type of heroes who can weave out a way from the looming chaos and pilot the political process of the country to bring about stability, justice, peace and prosperity.

I would like to invite and encourage every Zimbabwean wherever they are and whoever they are to think of the country's fate very seriously in the knowledge that it is every one of us' duty and obligation to make that difference from today's suffering that we all desire. In this regard, I would like to comment on the so often current demonization of change or regime change for that matter. It is being portrayed as if regime change is a crime or some despicable something. It is my humble and honest belief that as a nation we cannot survive with more of the past 35 years that has brought our once prospering country to a management desert that it is today. Although it would certainly be a great help if the wars within government and zanu-pf party came to an end, it still remains difficult to see how any or all  of the warring factions put together could possibly pull the country out of the ever escalating mess it is in. The involvement of the government and party leadership in corruption makes it practically impossible for them to have the moral authority to arrest the vice. I therefore am convinced that change has to come, as it definitely will, but am inviting our very talented citizens to manage that change rather than being managed by the change that does come anyhow. I would also like to correct what I consider to be the wrong impression being given, that change necessarily means demonising the process of the country's liberation struggle. On the contrary, I believe that the liberation struggle was waged precisely so that we could have the dignity to shape our destiny and that involves change when we as a nation think there should be one. The liberation struggle should not arrest and detain the nation in the past, but should be an evolving process that continuously positions our country within the global development trends. In this regard, there is no reason at all why the war veterans of the liberation struggle should feel threatened even by zanu-pf losing power of government. No new form of governance will ever be able to erase history, particularly of that magnitude and importance. War veterans should be able to take pride in witnessing the positive fruits of their sacrifices as the nation enjoys the freedoms for which many lives were lost. That applies not only to the ex-combatants of that struggle, but equally to all that lived through it and participated in it in more ways than one. The liberation struggle is an indelible part of our history and those that sacrificed their lives on the war front are our eternal pride. Their struggle was well and successfully executed. The time demanded that kind of heroism and they stood up to be counted. The struggle today is of crowning our political Independence with economic development. This calls for a different type of talent. Education in the country was made a major priority at Independence precisely so that heroes of development could be rolled out.  There is therefore no need at all for anyone to feel guilty or apologetic about advocating for change.

There is no doubt that there is an abundance of talent and commitment among the many Zimbabweans now spread out through the globe. The exodus of Zimbabweans to the Diaspora also presents valuable opportunities of exposure to successful governance and interaction with different ideas on how problems can be resolved in a constructive manner.  We should as a nation invite that talent and create an enabling environment for such talent to show case itself.

The situation today is grave and so serious that it calls upon every Zimbabwean to consider their contribution towards managing the change that is now imminent with the looming collapse and demise of Zanu-Pf and the government led by Robert G Mugabe. The situation calls for urgency before the wars within Zanu-PF and current government spread like fire throughout the country. As the government and party are at war among themselves, there is no one to take care of daily national governance issues which situation could create other social, political and economic problems with a potential to explode into a catastrophic anarchy.. STAND UP THEREFORE AND BE COUNTED TO MAKE THE DIFFERENCE. You may never know your potential until you try, so everyone must try.