When small men cast big shadows

The time has come for us to shed all fear and reservation and reshape our politics once and for all.

"When small men begin to cast big shadows, it means that the sun is about to set." This quote by Lin Yutang, the Chinese writer and inventor, could not capture our situation in Zimbabwe better. It must now be evident to all that the years of plunder, patronage and dictatorship are surely about to end as we move towards elections. Even small men have begun to cast big shadows as they campaign to be re elected and continue to defend the indefensible.

Despite the disappointing turnout we saw during the recent referendum, I think we must not under estimate the anxiety of ordinary Zimbabweans to see the demise of ZANU (PF) and the end of its selfish philosophies that have seen a majority of Zimbabweans becoming poorer and living sub standard lives.

I learnt with utter disgust, that the ministry of finance had to issue a 365 day bond at 7% annual interest in order to finance the referendum. The USD20 million bonds were apparently taken up by Old Mutual and the National Social Security Agency (NSSA). In the mean time, the Minister of Finance, Tendai  Biti, has estimated that the country has earned about USD800 million to date from diamond exports, of which treasury has received a paltry USD45 million. The remainder is of course, a mystery or is it?

So in effect, the country had to borrow from the poor in order to finance its political transformation. Pensioners in Zimbabwe receive a paltry USD 60 a month, and it is these people from whom the country has borrowed the USD20 million.  Those who are benefitting from the thieving of our minerals did not even have the conscience to help the country move forward.
We have also recently witnessed unbelievable action by the police, some of it which has been directed at the Prime Minister's Office. It is becoming quite obvious to most of us that things are going to get a little worse before they get better, but I remain positive that change is coming.

Our political landscape has been characterized by theft, dishonesty, corruption and little regard for the well being of our citizens and this cannot go on. I remain amazed at the audacity of ZANU (PF) and their sheer disregard for the rights of ordinary Zimbabweans in their pursuit of political relevance. It is shocking how the police continue to be used as an instrument of suppression and yet the little pay they get, is from  taxes paid by hard working honest citizens who pay their taxes to be protected by our police and not to be harassed .

As I ponder on the future, I am convinced that there is no other solution than the emergence of a totally new brand of politics in Zimbabwe and Africa as a whole. It is incumbent upon our generation to do everything we can to create that future. At times I do not think that most of us are aware that, unless we do something, the deterioration is bound to continue and with it comes continued mass poverty and the continued suffering of all Zimbabweans.
It continues to be a terrible experience to live in Zimbabwe today and at times, I doubt whether those outside our borders can comprehend the desperate situation that millions of our citizens find themselves in today. Our situation will certainly not get better until we have a new government in power. Zimbabwe remains a failed police state and this is convenient for those who continue to plunder our resources. Our rights continue to be abused and disregarded by our politicians while intimidation by the police is a common daily occurrence.

Our only hope it to decisively turn out and vote.  I think of the thousands that risked their lives in order to participate in our armed struggle and I call upon the same emotions that led them there to lead us now to the voting booths. This for me is not the responsibility the MDC or opposition parties, but the responsibility of every sane Zimbabwean who wishes to see a better future for coming generations.
For those in the Diaspora this is not the time to philosophize and dither but to come home, register and vote.

In addition I implore the SADC to realize that fair play does not exist in ZANU (PF)'s  vocabulary and it is better that we delay the elections until Zimbabweans are free to express themselves without fear. Critical is the regularization of the voter's roll, the freeing of the media space the restraint on the use of our police force as a ZANU (PF) agent including the non participation of state agents in the voting process. If there is any time that Africans must come to the party it is now. Zimbabwe desperately needs your presence and assistance but we Zimbabweans must do our part.

We stand at the cusp of reshaping our political landscape for the good of the common citizen and all of us must now shed all fear and reservation. It will not be easy.
I pray and hope that God will, during these times, hear our fervent prayers for change.

Vince Musewe is an economic analyst based in Harare. You may contact him on vtmusewe@gmail.com