Opinion / Columnist
Zimbabwe's leadership crisis and the national plight
27 Aug 2016 at 13:47hrs | Views
Good leadership is a rare commodity according to the popular writer Chinua Achebe. This assertion can not be overemphasized when we consider the leadership crisis bedevilling Zimbabwe.
Robert Mugabe, once held a hero, and his elitist cabinet, have from the beginning of their tenure in 1980, doing nothing but destroying the legacy that the white regime had established for Zimbabwe. This regime inherited Africa's most vibrant economy in 1980.
Only 36 years after, Zimbabwe is now the poorest country in the world. Poverty is at its highest levels, unemployment if souring over 95%, industries have shut down, Agriculture is not performing, civil servants are paid little and way after their due month, corruption is high with our Police force rared the second most corrupt force after Nigeria. The bigger question is: What happened and how can the nation resolve the crisis.
The truth is that Zimbabwe was never with good leaders from the beginning. Given the task of reviving the economy, our leaders have no clue. They enrich themselves and leave the rest suffering.
This is the reason why masses are demonstrating in Harare and other towns. The response from the Leadership tells you that they are ready to use terror machinery to suppress the voices of the masses instead of addressing the real pressing issues. On the other hand opposition political parties have multiplied like never before, indicating once more that it will be longer before any new government takes over.
The real solution to this political crisis lies in the ability by the numerous opposition parties to form a National Alliance, under one President and one Deputy, to confront ZANU PF in an election. This really calls for them to put aside their personal ambitions and put national interests on priority. Sadly, they are not ready for that resolution.
As long as that has not happened, there will be no new leadership in Zimbabwe and certainly nothing new from the current disconnected leadership.
Paddy Chakabva <chackspaddy@gmail.com>
(Paddington Chakabva is a holder of a Bachelor of Education Degree and writes in his own capacity)
Robert Mugabe, once held a hero, and his elitist cabinet, have from the beginning of their tenure in 1980, doing nothing but destroying the legacy that the white regime had established for Zimbabwe. This regime inherited Africa's most vibrant economy in 1980.
Only 36 years after, Zimbabwe is now the poorest country in the world. Poverty is at its highest levels, unemployment if souring over 95%, industries have shut down, Agriculture is not performing, civil servants are paid little and way after their due month, corruption is high with our Police force rared the second most corrupt force after Nigeria. The bigger question is: What happened and how can the nation resolve the crisis.
The truth is that Zimbabwe was never with good leaders from the beginning. Given the task of reviving the economy, our leaders have no clue. They enrich themselves and leave the rest suffering.
This is the reason why masses are demonstrating in Harare and other towns. The response from the Leadership tells you that they are ready to use terror machinery to suppress the voices of the masses instead of addressing the real pressing issues. On the other hand opposition political parties have multiplied like never before, indicating once more that it will be longer before any new government takes over.
The real solution to this political crisis lies in the ability by the numerous opposition parties to form a National Alliance, under one President and one Deputy, to confront ZANU PF in an election. This really calls for them to put aside their personal ambitions and put national interests on priority. Sadly, they are not ready for that resolution.
As long as that has not happened, there will be no new leadership in Zimbabwe and certainly nothing new from the current disconnected leadership.
Paddy Chakabva <chackspaddy@gmail.com>
(Paddington Chakabva is a holder of a Bachelor of Education Degree and writes in his own capacity)
Source - Paddy Chakabva
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