The root cause of all our political and economic problems is that we have never really believed we too can be enjoyed the same human rights and dignities whites, for example, enjoyed. Of course we hoped and wished but that is not the same thing. So when the economic prosperity, peace, freedom, etc we had hoped for did not happen we were disappointed but not mad about it. If we were mad, then we would have been moved to do something about it.
One explanation, why as a people we were content to be subjects, as contrast to being citizens, is that this was the cheap option. As subjects we are helpless victims of the tragic situation that has happened in our country. Citizens would not accept that they were helpless and therefore would be hanging their collective heads in shame and, even more significantly, would now be feverishly seeking to put things right.
A citizen, in this context is entitled to all the basic human rights and freedoms as a birth right. On the other hand a subject would consider these rights and freedoms as privileges to be granted, withdrawn or completely denied at the whim of the ruler or ruling elite. Whilst one give whatever it takes in defence of one’s birth would spare nothing, including life itself, in defence of a birth right; a privilege is not worth the candle. For three decades Mugabe has ridden rough shod over us and we have done very little to stop him!
As subjects we have been content with whatever Mugabe has thrown at us. Professor John Makumbe and National Healing Minister Sekai Holland showed this weakness in their recent Hot Seat interviews. The two simply refused to accept that the GNU has failed to delivery on the all important issue of democratic change. Full shop shelves are no substitute, particularly when Mugabe can have all the policies that resulted in these positive gains reverse at the drop of a hat.
Minister Holland is fooling no one in pretending her national healing activities will end the culture of violence Mugabe has fostered on the nation. The reality on the ground is that Mugabe is forcing more and more Zimbabweans to be actively involved in his violent schemes. For example, last December he got the Zanu PF Congress to pass a resolution in which all Zimbabwe’s security agents accepted they a product of a “revolution” and therefore are expected to support a “revolutionary party” – Zanu PF. During the 2008 Presidential run-off it was the Police, the Army, the CIO and other State Security operatives who have spearheaded the political violence against the people. Mugabe’s popularity has sunk so much it is off the chart, so the State Security Agents will have to step up a gear to get him to “win” the next election. A naïve MDC that will not “see” Mugabe’s political machination for what they really are is only helping Mugabe in his devious schemes.
If a Professor and a Minister with all their advantage of years of schooling, travel, etc., etc. can not think straight, as a citizen should, what of my Aunt, Mai Mariana, deep in rural Zaka and millions others peasants like her. They can not spell democracy let alone understand what it means; how can they be expected to think any clearer.
People like Mugabe have never seen themselves as a citizen either. No self respecting free man would subjugate his own brothers and sisters; never! People like Mugabe are nothing more than a glorified black Slave Overseer of the slave trade days. It is a historic fact that some of these blacks were even more repressive and brutal towards their fellow blacks than the white slave masters. Back in mother Africa, the same blacks hunted their kith and kin and sold them to the whites as slaves for a peace of calico linen or shiny beads!
A citizen in a position of power and authority would think of the common good. A subject would only think of enrich him or herself as quickly as possible at public expense. Of course, once in power they would do anything including betraying the very people who put them there. The GNU resulted in a bloated government; even by Mugabe’s oversized past standard; because it was not about good governance but about getting as many Zanu PF, MDC-T and MDC-M members to “eat”, as Tanonoka Joseph Whande has aptly put it.
Unless we must start seeking for a better understanding of our true situation beyond the superficial nonsense from Zanu PF or MDC spin-doctors and fight for justice solution out of this mess; we will remain stuck where we are. We should stop seeing ourselves as subjects, helpless victims, and instead see ourselves as citizens, masters of our own destiny – a quantum leap!
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