Confessions of a Zimbabwean legal alien: Part 2

JOHANNESBURG - The fundamental future failures that this country is likely to face are; the lack of economic inclusion of the black masses in meaningful endeavour in commerce and industry and the entrenchment of a ruling class which views itself as indispensable.  
As a Zimbabwean today I sit here in South Africa as if something great passed me by as I became of age and graduated from my childish thoughts and cannot believe what has become of my country. My imagination of my country has been but dashed by the scheming machinations of men who I have now lost much honour for. I hope the same will not be said about this country, in future.
I arrived here in South Africa as an auditor and thoroughly enjoyed my experience but it was easy to note that then, they were very few of us in the profession. In my first assignments I was treated as a junior until it became quite obvious that I was more experienced than some of my white seniors. Of course there was racism too here, especially in the accounting profession where a black accountant was a rare commodity. I am not sure it has changed much?
On the social scene, it was awesome but I shall not anticipate the reader with my conquests as these are sure to lend me in trouble and possibly temper with financially stable marriages. Suffice it to say that, as a black foreign professional I did have some advantages over the locals, a source of many a fight. The same sentiments that I had in Zimbabwe towards foreigners were now being directed at me. The hunter became the hunted. As a black experienced accountant, it was also then quite easy to be noticed and therefore hastily promoted to a higher station in the corporate world. However, this advantageous dispensation has since been eclipsed by the more pressing issue of employing and promoting black South Africans, a subject on which I have shared my views with readers in the past.
I found myself in Cape Town working at a large insurance company and my loud mouth ended me in many a fora on affirmative action and black empowerment. These were interesting times and I even found myself in the board of the Black Management Forum in the Western Cape and had much input into employment equity. Of course the black, coloured issue always cropped up as it has now, but I shall resist the temptation to enumerate my views here and leave that for my next exposé.
I must add that as a black foreigner, I have never experienced any negativity towards me from black South Africans. On the contrary, most have always been friendly, accommodating and helpful and as I have said in the past, xenophobia is mainly expressed overtly at the lower rungs of society for reasons of the economics and I have been fortunate enough not to reside in that rung of society. Sadly I must attest to the fact that I have experienced racism from white males but have viciously fought it for I will not suffer bigots.
My observations however, on the political front, are that during the Mandela and Mbeki eras, political discourse and activism were rather subdued but as black South Africans have gained confidence and progressed in the management of the affairs of the state, some arrogance has surfaced surrounded by an air of entitlement. The vulgar truth being that some of them are rather uncouth and lack conversational etiquette, something in which I was schooled in. I shall not at this juncture enlarge this tragedy but leave the reader to his own imagination.
The deterioration of economic conditions in Africa in general led to a flood of Africans into South Africa and I have seen how Johannesburg has become an African capital city. This has brought many good and bad things. The fact however is that there are still too many  poor black South Africans and their ranks swell each month and that must be a terrible thing for them to see black  "aliens"  seemingly doing better.  This has certainly created amongst them, an unhealthy disposition towards black immigrants in general.
I really wonder what future there is here in South Africa. Will it be like Zimbabwe or are we going to see better? Will we see a deepening democracy, equal opportunity and access to basic services or will we see a despondent mass taking over farms and companies because they would have run out of patience? I certainly hope not for I would never wish such  scenario on any country.
I hope the coffers of this empire will grow and meaningful occupation will be a normality for most. I hope that South Africans will unite across the racial divide and continue to build this beautiful country to its full potential for the benefit of all. I hope to see a multi-party democracy and a successful progressive middle class.
However, this potential that I paint a picture of, does not happen by decree or wishful thinking, for if it did I doubt that my feet would have blessed this land. I cannot, on the other hand, claim that I have the complete knowledge of how it may be created or how it may arise. Being a student of complex science, I understand that success of most countries is a happenstance and cannot be attributed to the mere selfish actions of men but to the providence of unplanned coincidences. South Africans must however at least attempt it but it must be managed with sensitivity and competence which I am still to witness.
Meaningful transformation will not become a reality where there is racism and continuing arguments on colour but not competence. It will not happen when we see a materialistic short-term value system consuming most. It is impossible to come to pass when we have amongst our ranks, those that honour greed and an attitude that says "now it's our turn".
South Africa has had wonderful economic policies and strategies announced to deal with its impending economic problems. But remember we had those too in Zimbabwe. In my opinion, the fundamental future failures that this country is likely to face are; the lack of economic inclusion of the black masses in meaningful endeavour in commerce and industry and the entrenchment of a ruling class which views itself as indispensable.
My experience here leads me therefore to conclude that although the potential is obvious, for it to become a reality will take the considerable endeavours of men and women who are black to dispatch this country's energies and efforts towards more honourable objectives of schooling the masses and providing meaningful occupations and then some.
I shall at some stage, life permitting, write a book but let this then be the appetiser to the reader.
*Vince Musewe is an independent Zimbabwean economist based in South Africa. You can contact him on vtmusewe@gmail.com