Opinion / Columnist
Zimbabweans celebrated a wrong move
02 Mar 2021 at 01:43hrs | Views
WHEN President Emmerson Mnangagwa assumed power in 2017, he promised to change the political landscape in Zimbabwe through implementing good policies, listening to the people and respecting human rights.
Unfortunately, his government is still using excessive force on unarmed citizens. People expected a new republic different from the old one, but today serious abuses and weaponisation of the law continue with impunity.
The Zanu-PF-led government systematically subverted the will of the people to protect its interests in the late former President Robert Mugabe-era and the "new dispensation" is perpetuating the Mugabe legacy.
Misplaced priorities, lack of policy implementation continue unabated despite worldwide condemnation.
Following a social media outcry about erecting Mbuya Nehanda's statue in Harare, the government briefly abandoned the project but later resuscitated it. It took the statue to South Africa for touch-ups at a cost of R2 000 000 exclusive of transport costs.
The appetite for idol worshipping continues unabated. Meanwhile, hospitals in the country do not have enough medicines and requisite equipment. Our nurses and doctors are poorly remunerated. The healthcare system is in dire straits and needs massive investment.
What have we done as a nation to deserve this? The catastrophe we face in Zimbabwe is that those in power are bereft of ideas, while those without power have a wealth of ideas. We still celebrate mediocrity like the commissioning of boreholes and skip bins while other countries are modernising public infrastructure.
Yes, we all celebrated when Mnangagwa usurped power from Mugabe, but it was wrong to allow him to take over the reins in that fashion? I think it was very wrong for people to al-low the military to decide who should lead the country.
Is Mbuya Nehanda's statue going to unlock the economic fortunes that this country yearns for? Its unfortunate that Zimbabweans blindly replaced a dictator with another. A leopard hardly changes its spots.
Unfortunately, his government is still using excessive force on unarmed citizens. People expected a new republic different from the old one, but today serious abuses and weaponisation of the law continue with impunity.
The Zanu-PF-led government systematically subverted the will of the people to protect its interests in the late former President Robert Mugabe-era and the "new dispensation" is perpetuating the Mugabe legacy.
Misplaced priorities, lack of policy implementation continue unabated despite worldwide condemnation.
Following a social media outcry about erecting Mbuya Nehanda's statue in Harare, the government briefly abandoned the project but later resuscitated it. It took the statue to South Africa for touch-ups at a cost of R2 000 000 exclusive of transport costs.
The appetite for idol worshipping continues unabated. Meanwhile, hospitals in the country do not have enough medicines and requisite equipment. Our nurses and doctors are poorly remunerated. The healthcare system is in dire straits and needs massive investment.
What have we done as a nation to deserve this? The catastrophe we face in Zimbabwe is that those in power are bereft of ideas, while those without power have a wealth of ideas. We still celebrate mediocrity like the commissioning of boreholes and skip bins while other countries are modernising public infrastructure.
Yes, we all celebrated when Mnangagwa usurped power from Mugabe, but it was wrong to allow him to take over the reins in that fashion? I think it was very wrong for people to al-low the military to decide who should lead the country.
Is Mbuya Nehanda's statue going to unlock the economic fortunes that this country yearns for? Its unfortunate that Zimbabweans blindly replaced a dictator with another. A leopard hardly changes its spots.
Source - newsday
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