Youth and the Generational Mandate Misfortune: Zimbabwe's Political Dilemma

One of the biggest strength in every struggle is its ability to evolve and adapt to the changing dynamics and context of that struggle using different tools that would keep citizens informed and motivated. I was listening to the recently launched music album by Okay Machisa and Chirikure Chirikure called Musoro,  and one of the song that caught my attention was is called "Hondo". It speaks about the role of different people and not just the ruling party in bringing independence. The diaspora academia who carried global advocacy and studying in preparation to govern, the recognizance strategy by  war collaborators (vana Chimbwido and Mujiba) to the ordinary peasants.  What caught my attention more along the song, was the uncelebrated role played  by different song writers, some of them who crafted some themes such as "toyi-toyi" or "sendekera mwana".

The song Toyi-toyi, not only did it bring energy to the comrades or activists, but it even went further to tell them and the people listening that the legs that they had were not theirs, but they belong to the "people/party" hence their obligation  to deliver without questioning anything that the people/party demanded of those legs. So their struggle's mandate was to liberate the nation and deliver it to the black majority no matter the circumstances. they ran, they walked long distances with or with no shoes; the theme was "I chose to die for Zimbabwe, so don't mourn for me when I die"

Whilst listening to the Song "Hondo" was a reflective moment that hit my head.   That song brings out two sides of the liberation of Zimbabweans. The pre independence hash and cruel, but worthy liberation struggle, and the post independence euphoria and primitive accumulation by the newly elected leadership smarting from the bushes of Mozambique, Zambia or Tanzania into air conditioned offices along the then Jameson Street now Samora Machel Avenue and the efforts by a few  to stop that rot.  So there were two generations in one, responsible for liberating Zimbabwe and upon independence automatically became the one responsible for building post independence institutions and ensuring that Zimbabwe becomes a democracy.  Or was it one generation which failed to separate its  two different mandates?

One of the post independence jargon used especially by the younger generation especially at universities has been on what they called generational mandate.  Generational mandate here being described as a calling to each generation to deliver what it was created for within the socio-economic or political discourse of Zimbabwe.  Given the failure by the liberation war heroes to see through their liberation obligation of not only liberating Zimbabwe, but also ensuring that they oversee its transformation of Zimbabwe into a democracy and economic power house,  a new generation rose setting up an alternative  post liberation agenda centred on democratization and human rights, equality and equity.  

Whilst Zimbabweans might think that there is drama within the ruling party, a silent vicious cannibalistic warfare is playing out within the pro-democracy movement.  The political  events of last week in Harare's affluent spaces  namely, the launching of Alliance for the People's Agenda (APA) by Dr Nkosana Moyo at Meikles Hotel coinciding with the Ibbo Mandaza's  National Transitional Authority agenda hidden under the cloud of  Zimbabwe in Transition: Reform and Reconstruction  at Rainbow Towers, and a day later  the launch/consultative ‘all stakeholders' meeting by Briggs Bomba and Brian Kagoro of the ‘Citizens's Manifesto' experiment, not forgetting the entry into politics by  young Advocate Fadzai Mahere and Linda Masarira as independent candidates. This was too much for three days in politics!

These events brought up excitement amongst the youths and elderly disgruntled activists who then attempted to redefine the generational mandate discourse, as people went into town saying this was the moment for political change and time for ‘young' people and new ideas to take over from the old, failed and exhausted generation. As put out by Briggs Bomba when he said that,  "politics have its own form of tear and wear and the sooner Zimbabweans realize this then the better",  it is with this thinking that Zimbabweans must begin to have conversations on which generation and with whose mandate will take Zimbabwe forward so as to carry the legitimacy of all our initiatives.

There are  three definitions of what a generation is. Its either it means:

1. the entire body of individuals born and living at about the same time: eg the postwar generation.

2. the term of years, roughly 30 among human beings, accepted as the average period between the birth of parents and the birth of their offspring or

3. a group of individuals, most of whom are the same approximate age, having similar ideas, problems, attitudes,etc

Looking at the Zimbabwean context the youths or youthful generation of today have decided  to stick with the second definition and deliberately refused to consider the possibilities and opportunities that lie within the other two. The Generational mandate mantra has found itself losing its real value especially when looking at the Zimbabwean or even global political context.

I am more inclined to merge the first and the third definition, and not focus on the aspect of age alone, but to consider lived realities of those people who are approximately of the same age range. This means their social or political narratives and experience have a convergence point based on what they have gained or lost along the way and time.  What we face as a post war generation in terms of our problems, ideas to solve those problems or our  attitude either towards those proposed ideas and let alone towards each other defines our united and common road map or lack thereof.  

This therefore gives me the room to interrogate this new notion that some mischievous people in the so called pro democratic movement have taken and decided to target an individual as a failure and hence must either be removed or replaced as being very unfortunate, unsustainable, misinformed judgment and dangerous to the people's project.

I would not want to labour myself with outlining the history and unshaken commitment of Morgan Tsvangirai in his fight for democracy by challenging not only Mugabe, but breaking the ZANU(PF) hegemony both in parliament and in giving Zimbabweans one of the most progressive constitutions in the world.  This is in the public sphere, whether you agree with it or not. I would neither labour on the notion that so far he has failed to dislodge Mugabe, has won successive elections, but failed to capture State power. This doesn't mean that Tsvangirai has failed his generation as an individual, and neither will his physical purging from the political arena solve the Zimbabwean crisis . This thinking can only be perpetuated by people who when they look at Tsvangirai they see a position and not a national servant on a very difficult national duty.  Very few of those who are quick to judge would have lasted this long under Mugabe and State machinery rule. This is the man whose humbleness brought in national chorus of "dollar for two" as his influence in the Government of National Unity brought back economic stability and smiles in different households.

Yes, its true that the Zimbabwean population has become more youthful with an estimated 65% being between the ages of 18 and 35 years.  However it must not be forgotten that the same generation largely remains dependent on their parents for their livelihood and generally politically disenfranchised.  Defining the generations within Zimbabwe context, it should be noted that  at most  we have three generations that have defined the current political setting in a big way.

First was the pre independence generation where we find the likes Benjamin Burombo, Joshua Nkomo and Ndabaningi Sithole whose struggle was generated by the then working class, this generation mutated and continued with the likes of Robert Mugabe,  Joshua Nkomo, Edgar Tekere,  Herbert Chitepo and Jason Z. Moyo who took the struggle into  a fully fledged liberation war. However these two faces of one generation remained locked within one common generational mandate of liberating the nation.  Because they shared same challenges of inequality, segregation based on race they had to find ways of resolving the then national question. Young people found themselves leaving the comfort of their homes and schools to craft their future and destiny amidst death, wounds, isolation and pain

The second generation was a league  initially led  by people like Edgar Tekere, Justice Dumbutshena and Maggie Dongo who having seen the limitations within the new republic, decided to challenge the system by forming their own political parties. Their narrative though genuine, was more driven by pre independence grievances, unfinished personal differences and post independence positions, power and privilege, with slight elements on democratisation that challenged one party State and the failure by the new State to exercise the constitutionalism of separation of powers.   The democracy agenda tied together with economic reform agenda, was then taken up and amplified by a more youthful generation within the trade union, women and students movement. This generation went on to form a party that along the way gave opportunities to civil society to thrive, democratic participation and hope for the citizens. This generation liberated itself from the personal difference focus of the liberation war time, to setting up a new agenda centred of solidarity, good governance, rule of law and respect of human rights linked with livelihood expectations and economic governance.

This generation fought hard to stop the previous one to steal into their future, but made it a point that the next generation would continue with the agenda that they had set if not perfecting it.

The third generation did not set its own agenda,  but became parasitic to ideas and vision set by the second generation without doing anything new or differently from what was set by the second generation. It became a group of young people active mainly in the civil society talking and taking snippets from the broader partisan democratization agenda. They failed for the past seventeen years to define what that generation really stands for, besides  doing very well in articulating  what they didn't  stand for. They initially swallowed hook line and sinker the partisan anti Mugabe rhetoric hidden in different democracy and governance platforms. This was because Movement for Democratic Change was pushing the same message. Overtly they remained non partisan, yet propagating everything partisan covertly.

Because the Mugabe must go mantra by the younger generation failed to materialize outside a political party,   and  as Mugabe continue to use his machinery to stay in power, an unfortunate shift towards Tsvangirai emerged both from within his party and certain elements within the pro democracy movement. These people together with some funding partners instead of taking stock and introspect on where they had failed and not Tsvangirai, pushed the blame on him. This internal focus instead is now being abused and is now described as youths' generational mandate to justify pushing just an individual out.

This third generation has been further diluted by mainly young people who have absolutely no clue on how this country has come to be what it is. Many of them were kids upon the takeover of the national crisis by the 2nd generation. Those who decided to join mainstream politics might have a different understanding and have remained loyal to that mandate whose expected out comes  have not yet been achieved thus far.  

For as long as the socio-economic crisis bedeviling the country continues, these young people will either fail to  bring any change for the nation or for themselves or will fast see themselves being captured by the pre independence generation that thrives on patronage. They will rush for hand outs in exchange for  perpetrating violence and in the process reversing all democratic gains of nearly two decades. This is a generation that does not have any meaningful mandate,  given the high levels of fragmentation within their structures, lack of common vision nor  understanding of the crisis faced by the nation  and have failed to converge and set a national agenda. All that they have done is to create multiple spaces where they  all  individually want to  lead, manipulate the social media whose outreach is the who is who in urban areas neglecting the 67% who are in the rural areas.  This cyber based movement has become a target foot soldiers of the older and wiser in the 3rd generation.  

What Tsvangirai as a leader of the strongest party did differently is to create a party that is all inclusive and cuts across generations. He also became part of those who set a generational mandate that has found the buy in of many Zimbabweans, both rural and urban, rich or poor.  To dismiss him on the grounds that "this is now the time for the youth", then the question that Zimbabweans must ask is,  how do these young peoople propose to lead a nation yet they have failed to provide leadership even amongst themselves. If it is about Tsvangirai  leaving his post for another youthful person within the party at the 11th hour to elections, then it's clear that this thinking is motivated by an anti Morgan and not a national cause, given that the same young person will meet the same fate under Mugabe or ZANU(PF)'s ruthlessness sadly with no experience.  It is a thinking only peddled by people who do not understand how political institutions are run or function, and yet pretending to be so concerned about the future of the country, yet busy destroying the people's project on the last lap. Political future of any politician is decided by the constitutional provision of its congress.

This is the same Morgan Tsvangirai who has proved beyond doubt in 2008 that he can win an unfree and unfair election. This is the same man whose national vote was higher than those of his MPs combined. The dangerous assumption is that this digital generation of young people will vote in an election because a young person has decided to stand and challenge Tsvangirai Joice Mujuru,  Nkosana Moyo (all in their 60s) and Mugabe is not informed at all given that in the past, young people have not voted beyond 10% of the electorate even  in an open referendum where there were no major restrictions.

What young people should instead do is  being  able to set their own agenda  by being part of the existing national agenda.  Participate in it, identify opportunities and gaps then define their own new generational mandate. We have seen such young people within MDC-T and even in other parties who have decided to be loyal to people centred and driven processes and not knee jack or bubblegum position driven events rising along the political ladder. These young people remain the hope of taking Zimbabwe forward for as long they are patient. It is that much needed evidence of continuity and succession within a party that will motivate other young people to vote and be associated with that party and its future leadership.

It is my belief that being angry or being emotional at the current political set up in the country will only throw one into the cold if no diligent analysis is done. Like what one academia wrote that "being an independent does not mean being independent from the people", I will add that neither is it being independent of critical ideas. The people and ideas are located in those spaces where the national and not just regional nor constituency vision is outlined. Young people want change and that change cannot come when one remains in one's isolated corner. If young people want to set up their generational mandate, then they should get out of the comfort of social media, not that it's not important and sacrifice to meet the other youths and even the elderly for wisdom, in Twalumba village of Binga, or those in Checheche, Chipinge and begin to build their vision and alternative scope. True leadership is not "ku sesekedza" or follow your leader half hearted, use his infrastructure and influence only to demand the whole piece of the cake simply because one's neighbours are beginning to eat from handouts brought by unknown fathers!

Finally, Tsvangirai  has not taken the change in the social capital for granted that all these young people will wait upon him to solve theirs and national crisis. He came out with a policy message and plan of action that resonate with the fast changing social base. This action plan focuses on a new trajectory and paradigm for new youth friendly government that will change their livelihoods and meet their socio-economic expectations. Amongst that powerful plan is the message on:

1.    Governance Culture: Changing the governance culture where youths have been made objects of the State instead of being part of nation building

2.    Politics: creating a favourable environment and inclusion of young people in political processes and ensuring that their vote makes a difference in a free and fair election.

3.    Economy: setting up an economy that will deal with the joblessness and hopelessness within the youth generation. MDC-T government will focus on economic revival, employment creation through improved services, build capacity for investments, infrastructure, and political economy of the nation

4.    Social intervention: focusing on education, health and housing and giving a primary option for those who are vulnerable in society especially those with disabilities.

5.    Foreign policy: regaining international goodwill that will allow Zimbabwean youths to be critical players and contributors to the global economy and growth.

This rich focus which will be taken to youths will make them believe in  voting for the leaders of this generation for they speak both to their present and future expectations.  What ZANU(PF) has done is to abuse young people and if it happens to win without addressing their concerns,  these young people have a potential to be mercenaries as they will have nothing that unites them to their fraudulent  leadership and nothing to lose.   The sections of the society that have majority of young people and young women such as vendors, artisan miners, commuter vehicle conductors (maHwindi) given a choice, would want a better job and better income. Because they are where they are due to Mugabe's ill policies, their only hope lies in that leadership which is sensitive to their needs and Tsvangirai is holding a golden egg in his hands going into 2018.  Given the way these young people are socially or economically fragmented, they cannot amongst themselves have the opportunity to organize under Mugabe's rule as seen with the collapse of social movements.

Youths should therefore not be over excited by the fast changing colours of a python(politics). It remains a python. Being part of a shared communal strategy can make them be counted. They have to believe in the people's project without limiting themselves form building transitional and transformational blocks of both leadership and national vision for themselves. Keep the eye on the ball.

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NB: Chana ChaVatete is a Zimbabwean writing in her personal capacity and her views do not represent that of any organization.