Laying today's foundation for the generations to come

The foundation cannot be built using rubbles and used bricks, as this will weaken the whole structure. Laying today's foundation for the generations to come.

The young and the economic active generation has surrendered its political birth-right to a generation that is only dogged in fulfilling personal interests and self-enrichment (Kuzvirukira - Mari) thereby jeopardising the efforts of the comrades including Mbuya Nehanda and Sekuru Kaguvi who sacrificed their lives for this country for an equal society and a prosperous nation. The now generation (below 50 years) should not expect the generation that fought for our freedom to reengage in fighting the Economic Revolution. The Economic Revolution is not fought using a gun, but it's a war to reorient people to a correct political ideology and casting a sustainable vision for the nation.  Our yesteryear heroes who fought for our freedom include the likes of Cde Robert Mugabe, Cde Joshua Nkomo, Cde Josiah Tongogara, Cde Dumiso Dabengwa among others. Our yesterday heroes who fought for democracy include the likes of Cde Morgan Tsvangirai and Cde Gibson Sibanda. Our present day heroes, who are fighting an Economic Revolution, include Cde Marcellina Chikasha, Cde Bishop Happison Chikova, Cde Joelson Mugari and all those that are joining the struggle.  The Economic Revolution will usher the country into its PROSPERITY, UNITY,  PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT.

The allegation that elections are rigged has increased voter apathy among the young generation as they see no reason to participate in elections whose results are predetermined.  These allegations were levelled by political players who does not emphasise on voter education, who mobilises its supporters to go and register to vote one week before elections and call for electoral reforms two weeks before elections. These are some of the loopholes and weaknesses of the approaches in the opposition parties that can be manipulated and used to rig elections. The vote rigging allegations should have instilled the zeal among youths to participate in the voting process but this has quenched their spirit of participating in politics.  How long shall we sit and cry over the rigged elections? If the opposition is really serious, this is the time to push for electoral reforms. How can we expect a change in government when more than 50% of the youths are not registered voters? Why can't we call and push for the government to introduce mobile voter registrations now so that new voters are registered. Why are we not calling for a voter's roll cleaning up now before the time is too late? True leaders are those people who inspire people and make a mitigation plan for anticipated risks. The voters should be crying over rigging allegations whilst the leaders are busy implementing the extenuation plan.

The answer to Zimbabwe's problems is not in the succession or the renewal battles but it is in the new generation, we have the answers to our problems. The succession battle will not bring a new philosophy to pull the country out of its socio-economic problems but it is a game of changing positions for the same losing team that has failed to score a single goal in our economy since 1980. Our problems are too convoluted and the only panacea is for the people to build a new and complete different foundation that is based upon a new value system and a vision towards national development. This foundation cannot be built using rubbles and used bricks, as this will weaken the whole structure. The foundation cannot be laid upon whines but a philosophy that will unite generations to come. Our solutions should not be in renewing individuals but in renewing the political orientation, ideology, value system and in casting a vision for the nation. I have come to a conclusion that there is need to orientate the new generation to a correct political doctrine and ideology that will lay a strong foundation for national development. It is very difficult to reorient wealth mongers and puppets to an ideology that will rescue the country from its socio-economic problems as one cannot expect a grape tree to produce orange fruits. The fruits may look analogous but the test being different.

The business community should support this struggle for the Economic Revolution. I am therefore appealing to the business community to fund the struggle posturing in mind that the struggle will create a conducive environment for business to thrive in a new Zimbabwe giving security to the business community.  In the business community, we are all living under fear and we really don't know which business will collapse next.  The employees are living under panic due to the closure of companies and therefore they are not able to plan for the future of their children.

It is excruciating that the people in the Southern regions including Matabeleland and Masvingo provinces are being given seed under the Presidential Inputs Scheme (PIS) whilst it is common knowledge that in order to increase food security, the government should make long term investments in irrigation projects and make the region green. Giving seed to these provinces is like donating food aid to people as it is known that these provinces nurse the shocks of climate change perennially. We are still waiting with keen interest to see the extent to which the local communities are going to benefit under the Tokwe Mukosi dam and irrigation scheme bearing in mind that over 900 families have already been chased away and dumped in the Tsetse fly infested Nuanetsi Ranch which is 90 Kilometres from the dam making it difficult for the victims to access the economic benefits of the dam after its completion.

 The students should participate in the struggle, an Economic Revolution meant to create an enabling environment to further their education. They must be conversant of the 70% of students who are failing to acquire tertiary education due to unrealistic and exorbitant fees bearing in mind that over 70% of the population are living under $1 per day. Those that are doing their post graduates studies should be conscientised that failure to pay fees, will result in the Universities taking them to courts.  Pregnant mothers should understand that failure to pay medical bills, will result in detention until a certain among is paid to the hospital and if they failed to pay, they will be dragged to courts. The youths should be sensitised that they are acquiring their education and skills to use in building the economy rather than being involved in paltry dealings that include illegal vending. They should remember the harsh treatment by the municipality police that confiscate their goods under these economic hardships as they try to scratch for a living. They must bear in mind  the fines that are being charged by the MDC-T led council approved by the Ministry of Local Governance, after being caught paMushika-shika (hic-hiking), their vehicles are impounded for 14 days accruing charges that accumulate to almost  $400 as penalty fees. I had never seen even God himself bringing such judgement upon his own people, but only the devil who came to steal, kill and destroy.  

Those that are employed should remember the burden of poor salary scales which are 90% lower as compared to the regional salary scales. They should also remember the parking charges instituted by the city council that are $1 per hour  translating to $9 per day,  $216 per month and $2 592 per year, an amount that is enough to buy a residential stand in the high density suburbs. This money is directed towards the council salaries which blow almost 65% of the Harare city's budget resulting in the city failing to deliver basic services including clean water, safe roads, clean city and lighting the city.  The employed population  must not forget that they are now forced to park their cars as far as Five Avenues  shopping centre since all streets are being commercialised, a model that was adopted by the Harare City council without serious social considerations. Those that are travelling to social functions like funerals must remember how the ZANUPF led government had raised the toll gates fees from $1 to $2 and how they have gazetted a statutory instrument that imprison poor citizens who fail  to pay for the $2 Toll fees.  

I am therefore calling the Now generation to join the struggle under the African Democratic Party –ADP  that is being led by Marcellina Chikasha. ADP is an Economic Revolution Party – ERP which exists to foster UNITY, PEACE, PROSPERITY, PROGRESS AND DEVELOPMENT. It believes that the above five (5) indicated pillars towards rebuilding a strong nation can only be achieved by replacing the existing system with a new system that can be oriented to a proper and correct political ideology. The party under its Economic Revolution blueprint has a vision to empower Zimbabweans at every level of society through a fast paced developmental strategy that will launch Zimbabwe into developed status in 15 years. It believes that the young and new generation should be involved in determining the prosperity of their lives as they constitute a large percentage of the population and the economic active generation. We must remember that it is the new generation that was allowed to enter into Canaan by God, this generation had a mandate to  build the economic systems in Canaan.

The author can be contacted on happisonchikova@gmail.com. Bishop Happison Chikova is a Man of God who was called in 2001, herding cattle at his rural home in Ngundu. He was ordained as a pastor in 2008 and has preached in the Great Rift Valleys in East Africa. . He is a holder of a BSc Honours Degree in Geography and Environmental Studies with the Midlands State University. Bishop Chikova is a researcher who has presented papers and published books on Climate change. He was once a research fellow with the University of Dar es Salaam.