Opinion / Letters
Urgent Letter to Robert and Bona Mugabe
10 Jun 2016 at 18:17hrs | Views
Dear Robert and Bona I have obviously been watching you since my childhood, primarily because though am now a father with teen kids, you are the only President that I know. Zambians that are my age now know 6 if not more Presidents.
There are three reasons why I am writing this letter to you and your lovely daughter (she looks like a reasonable person). Just three reasons, not more than that.
The first reason is because I believe as your time to the finish line approaches, we have to ask you some fundamental questions that have to be answered by you and not remain unanswered after you have left the big chair.
The second is for your children and family, they need to know some of these concerns and independently and thoroughly think about their own lives after your presidency.
The third reason is because I believe as so many Zimbabweans do, including those that have voted for you for years, we are disappointed in you, you have stolen our lives, our wealth and our children"s future.
Imagine a guy who was 25 in 1980, educated and ambitious, did everything according to the book re planning for his or her life. Today at 61, they have NOTHING. No pension, no assets, no legacy to leave behind for their kids, absolutely NOTHING!!.
Because of the above three reasons, I would like to ask you five questions which I would like Bona to take you through and discuss these with you one on one meeting.
Firstly, it's about your FAMILY.
What do you think or want to happen to your children and family in five, ten or more years to come? How do you want them to relate to their countrymen, knowing fully well that you have taken Zimbabwe from being a bread basket of Africa to the most demeaning levels of poverty and made them unwelcome immigrants all over the world. What do you tell your kids. When you have finished lecturing them about history and the war of liberation what do you say are your achievements as the President of a country for 36 years?. Do you discuss with them about their future? Look at them in the eye and tell them how you want them to relate with their countrymen after your era.
Secondly, it's about the ECONOMY.
When you took over this country. The Zimbabwe dollar was stronger than most currencies, and at the levels of the Pound. Today, you do not have your own currency. You are using your arch enemy "s currency. Have your Ministers ever told you about the Dutch disease? Is there a specific reason why Zimbabwe cannot be used as a clearing currency and debts be converted to Rands?Such a small economy like Zimbabwe with less than $12billion GDP, how do you position it as the most expensive economy and then as if that is not enough, you kill tourism. Daily flights flock to Victoria Falls, but they sleep over in Zambia. Why, because your country is too expensive. Up and above Tourism, in mining, which Minister misled you and convinced you to tell the whole world that $15bn is missing and ,aggh, tough luck! $15 billion Mr President and that's it! Right under your watch and you pretend all is well! Willove Scandal was a fraction of this but you acted, could it be that you are now too old? Surely you need time to rest and wake up and play with your grand kids and leave others to act.
Thirdly, YOUR PARTY
Mr President. It's falling apart. Do you think it will survive after you? Why did your wife fight your colleagues? What will she do after you? She says you will rule from the grave, seriously, will you? I think it's not too late for her to apologize to your mates and take a motherly role , so that tomorrow, she will still find it easy to live happily amid her ZANU PF colleagues. It's not a family part, or is it, please tell her to also think about her future, her kids and grand children. They still have decades to live and they need to be in good terms with those within ZANU PF and outside. Talk to your wife. Be a man, Bona can surely help you on this one, she is a mother now. She is worried about the future of her kid.
The fourth one is about the CURRENT CASH CRISIS and the way forward.
What do we do Mr President now? Did Mangudya and Chinamasa break it down properly to you. Let's go basic arithmetics Mr President maybe they know better. $200m extra as Bond notes for an economy with 5 million economically active adults is $40 per adult. The average salary is more than four times that. Surely the Bond note will not solve anything, firstly it won't trade at par with the US$ because already before its circulation, it's already likely to trade 10% below the US$. Another 2008 beckons your Highness . Act now Mr President, one of the easiest solution is to work with South Africa, yes ,their Rand is also tumbling and they have their own issues but who doesn't. They are a $350bn GDP economy versus your $10bn. Mr President, has Chinamasa told you that your annual budget is smaller than that of Durban? My point is, the time for arrogance is over, talk to your neighbors and mend your legacy. Time is running out. You don't need a GNU to know that a militant attitude no longer works, it's so pre Lancaster House!
The last question that I would like Bona to discuss with you is the issue of the 5th Brigade or let's just call it what you called it.
GUKURAHUNDI! Mr President, at what point will it bother you that you killed more than 20k people just because they came from the same tribe that your father left your mother for and chose to settle in Matebeleland. Certainly the Ndebeles didn't invite him. It seems the issue hurt you so much that when you became President you had to revenge for the hurt one Matebeleland woman caused your mother and thus the whole tribe had to be called dissidents or snakes, whatever you called it.
Seriously, is any of your lieutenants also telling you, that it will just wash away and people will forget. If there is, fire that person or persons now. Joshua Nkomo was about to take power from you the way the Matebele woman took a man from your mother and thus he had to be hunted down and crushed including all his tribesmen. Sadly the ANC didn't escape as you also took their Arms in the process. Could that be the reason why we are not using the South African Rand as the clearing currency?
Anyway, my recommendation is, again for the sake of your children, apologize to the people of Matebeleland and Midlands. This issue gives sleepless nights. Your wife and children will also go through the same nightmares once you are gone.
I keep saying for the sake of your children and not Zimbabweans because it's now clear to all and sundry, including War Veterans that have always protected you that you do not care about Zimbabweans or anyone.
We still hope and trust that you care about Bona and the rest of the family. We thus appeal to you to do it for them. Step down now and ask your trusted colleagues to at least mend the economy and do better for Zimbabwe. Thereafter,facilitate free and fair elections. It has to come to an end Mr President, it is coming to an end , the end is nearer than your lieutenants tell you.
Very soon you will fail to pay the Army and the entire civil service base and we do not want to see you leaving the country in a way that will be embarrassing for the country and continent. For today, l will stop here and wish you a fruitful and open discussion with Bona and your family.
Your ever patriotic son
John Mutiziri
PS: Can patriotic CIOs please send this to the President and her daughter
There are three reasons why I am writing this letter to you and your lovely daughter (she looks like a reasonable person). Just three reasons, not more than that.
The first reason is because I believe as your time to the finish line approaches, we have to ask you some fundamental questions that have to be answered by you and not remain unanswered after you have left the big chair.
The second is for your children and family, they need to know some of these concerns and independently and thoroughly think about their own lives after your presidency.
The third reason is because I believe as so many Zimbabweans do, including those that have voted for you for years, we are disappointed in you, you have stolen our lives, our wealth and our children"s future.
Imagine a guy who was 25 in 1980, educated and ambitious, did everything according to the book re planning for his or her life. Today at 61, they have NOTHING. No pension, no assets, no legacy to leave behind for their kids, absolutely NOTHING!!.
Because of the above three reasons, I would like to ask you five questions which I would like Bona to take you through and discuss these with you one on one meeting.
Firstly, it's about your FAMILY.
What do you think or want to happen to your children and family in five, ten or more years to come? How do you want them to relate to their countrymen, knowing fully well that you have taken Zimbabwe from being a bread basket of Africa to the most demeaning levels of poverty and made them unwelcome immigrants all over the world. What do you tell your kids. When you have finished lecturing them about history and the war of liberation what do you say are your achievements as the President of a country for 36 years?. Do you discuss with them about their future? Look at them in the eye and tell them how you want them to relate with their countrymen after your era.
Secondly, it's about the ECONOMY.
When you took over this country. The Zimbabwe dollar was stronger than most currencies, and at the levels of the Pound. Today, you do not have your own currency. You are using your arch enemy "s currency. Have your Ministers ever told you about the Dutch disease? Is there a specific reason why Zimbabwe cannot be used as a clearing currency and debts be converted to Rands?Such a small economy like Zimbabwe with less than $12billion GDP, how do you position it as the most expensive economy and then as if that is not enough, you kill tourism. Daily flights flock to Victoria Falls, but they sleep over in Zambia. Why, because your country is too expensive. Up and above Tourism, in mining, which Minister misled you and convinced you to tell the whole world that $15bn is missing and ,aggh, tough luck! $15 billion Mr President and that's it! Right under your watch and you pretend all is well! Willove Scandal was a fraction of this but you acted, could it be that you are now too old? Surely you need time to rest and wake up and play with your grand kids and leave others to act.
Thirdly, YOUR PARTY
Mr President. It's falling apart. Do you think it will survive after you? Why did your wife fight your colleagues? What will she do after you? She says you will rule from the grave, seriously, will you? I think it's not too late for her to apologize to your mates and take a motherly role , so that tomorrow, she will still find it easy to live happily amid her ZANU PF colleagues. It's not a family part, or is it, please tell her to also think about her future, her kids and grand children. They still have decades to live and they need to be in good terms with those within ZANU PF and outside. Talk to your wife. Be a man, Bona can surely help you on this one, she is a mother now. She is worried about the future of her kid.
The fourth one is about the CURRENT CASH CRISIS and the way forward.
What do we do Mr President now? Did Mangudya and Chinamasa break it down properly to you. Let's go basic arithmetics Mr President maybe they know better. $200m extra as Bond notes for an economy with 5 million economically active adults is $40 per adult. The average salary is more than four times that. Surely the Bond note will not solve anything, firstly it won't trade at par with the US$ because already before its circulation, it's already likely to trade 10% below the US$. Another 2008 beckons your Highness . Act now Mr President, one of the easiest solution is to work with South Africa, yes ,their Rand is also tumbling and they have their own issues but who doesn't. They are a $350bn GDP economy versus your $10bn. Mr President, has Chinamasa told you that your annual budget is smaller than that of Durban? My point is, the time for arrogance is over, talk to your neighbors and mend your legacy. Time is running out. You don't need a GNU to know that a militant attitude no longer works, it's so pre Lancaster House!
The last question that I would like Bona to discuss with you is the issue of the 5th Brigade or let's just call it what you called it.
GUKURAHUNDI! Mr President, at what point will it bother you that you killed more than 20k people just because they came from the same tribe that your father left your mother for and chose to settle in Matebeleland. Certainly the Ndebeles didn't invite him. It seems the issue hurt you so much that when you became President you had to revenge for the hurt one Matebeleland woman caused your mother and thus the whole tribe had to be called dissidents or snakes, whatever you called it.
Seriously, is any of your lieutenants also telling you, that it will just wash away and people will forget. If there is, fire that person or persons now. Joshua Nkomo was about to take power from you the way the Matebele woman took a man from your mother and thus he had to be hunted down and crushed including all his tribesmen. Sadly the ANC didn't escape as you also took their Arms in the process. Could that be the reason why we are not using the South African Rand as the clearing currency?
Anyway, my recommendation is, again for the sake of your children, apologize to the people of Matebeleland and Midlands. This issue gives sleepless nights. Your wife and children will also go through the same nightmares once you are gone.
I keep saying for the sake of your children and not Zimbabweans because it's now clear to all and sundry, including War Veterans that have always protected you that you do not care about Zimbabweans or anyone.
We still hope and trust that you care about Bona and the rest of the family. We thus appeal to you to do it for them. Step down now and ask your trusted colleagues to at least mend the economy and do better for Zimbabwe. Thereafter,facilitate free and fair elections. It has to come to an end Mr President, it is coming to an end , the end is nearer than your lieutenants tell you.
Very soon you will fail to pay the Army and the entire civil service base and we do not want to see you leaving the country in a way that will be embarrassing for the country and continent. For today, l will stop here and wish you a fruitful and open discussion with Bona and your family.
Your ever patriotic son
John Mutiziri
PS: Can patriotic CIOs please send this to the President and her daughter
Source - John Mutiziri
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