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A new dawn for our political landscape

17 Nov 2017 at 13:49hrs | Views
I am sure by now Zimbabweans are fed up with hearing conflicting accounts of the progress being made in the negotiations that seek to pave way for a Mugabe free political environment. What you must remember is that these talks are fluid and ongoing hence you'll hear alternating information. Also please remember first and foremost this is NOT a Coup D'etat, but the ZDF is attempting to bring about change using our existing constitutional parameters. Also, bear in mind that as a signatory to SADC and AU we are bound by their prescribed procedural processes. This means they are entitled to intercede if certain conditions come to play. That is another reason why the ZDF is taking this unprecedented path in what many analysts are calling a 'soft coup'. To negate the need for SADC involvement.

Make no mistake, this is a new dawn for our political landscape and one that could clear the political toxicity that has stifled and suffocated Zimbabwe's capacity economically, politically and socially for nearly four decades.

Let's be patient and allow the necessary processes to occur with our support. Remember the words of Aristotle, 'Patience is bitter but it's fruits are sweet'. The path we are now on is a one way street to a post Mugabe era. He knows it as much as we do.

Post Mugabe we must prepare ourselves psychologically and must ready ourselves to let history's lessons guide us.

1. We must respect but never Worship a leader again. We must never wear a persons face on our different party regalia or adorn every office and schools with portraits of him/her. We must not name roads buildings and institutions after leaders. It inflates their egos and clouds their judgement making them think they are our Gods or Monarchs!

2. We must have total accountability. Corruption has crippled our nation and stripped our industries and left us in an economic desert. We must stop bribery, collusion and nepotism.

3. We must realise that genetically we are one and tribe is a man made construct. We must never subscribe to tribalism and we must be articulate enough to see that it has been used to divide us for too long! Love is the answer. Respect for each other is key. Let's learn each other's languages and customs and build an inclusive and progressive Zimababwe.

4. We must learn to participate in our election processes. Remember many lives were sacrificed to bring us one man one vote. We must engage with our political activities so that we contribute to the outcomes.

5. Our next leaders must realise that as our economy crumbled and our politics became dangerous, there was a mass exodus of people to seek economic and political asylum in other countries. This group of people must be recognised and there must be provisions made for the Diasporan constituency to enable it to participate in reviving our economy and also to engage with our country's politics.

In conclusion I hope that we get the news we so desperately await soon. Let's take comfort in that the status quo has been dissolved and Zimbabwe will never be that same again.

Your truly

Ezra Tshisa Sibanda
ETI Co-Founder

_ETI is the Ezra Tshisa Initiative an organisation whose sole purpose is to help the under privileged and vulnerable

Source - Ezra Tshisa Sibanda
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