The African intellectual paradox

Unfortunately, here in Africa, our studies are characterised by reading theories, looking at diagrams and observing images with little or no practical demonstrations. The educational system, instead of teaching our people “how to think” and solve problems, is teaching young ones “what to think.”

The curse of paper graduates who do not contribute much to development

Honourable Saka

Africa, our beloved continent, is currently becoming dominated by a generation of noise makers: a people who can talk, talk and talk almost all the time, yet with no physical action. In fact, it is very annoying when you tune into your radio or television set in the morning and all you can hear are some “experts” giving speeches to the audience, whiles reserving the real action to some inexperienced folks out there.

There are many scholars with PhDs and master’s degrees in Agricultural Science. Yet many of them will never set foot on the farm. Many of our scientists are probably very good at teaching but never good at inventions and innovations. I have always wondered where our mechanical engineers have been hiding, as we continue to import motorbikes and even bicycles from abroad every year.

The taxpayer is often told: “plans are far-advanced for the implementation of this project”; the other project is “in the pipeline”, the implementation phase comes “in 4 years”, and so on. Many of such proposals have always remained a pipedream. Yet every year such slogans are shamefully echoed to the masses.

From the scientific researchers, through the religious leaders, the academicians, our scholars and most annoyingly, the politicians- when in opposition, almost everyone could perfectly demonstrate exactly what ought to be done in any given circumstance; yet once in power, such ideas will always remain either on paper or at best be held “in the pipeline”.  Instead of taking action and making things happen in a swift and decisive manner for the benefit of our people, it is rather very sad that even those tasked with such responsibilities are rather good at making speeches, while pushing the actual action onto the future generations.

So far, it appears a few of those in the built environment are physically making impact, whiles the majority of the other professions especially those in the manufacturing fields remain to be seen.

Meanwhile the media which ought to bring such topics for discussion has always been focusing on politicians and their frustrations whiles ignoring the lack of action from the professionals groups out there.

From Total Illiteracy to Incompetent Intellectualism

Many years ago, there were only a few “scholars” in Africa. At that time, the mass majority of the people had not received “formal education” as we often call it. Many had not been to engineering schools, polytechnics nor the university. There were only a few tens of people who had the benefit of receiving “formal education”.

In spite of this, Africans were producing soaps, shoes, body cream, they were producing different kinds of cooking oil and their local African medicines were very effective and powerful. They cured almost every major disease by relying on their local medication and eating organic food which was very rich in vitamins and nutrients. In fact, they ate good quality food.

As a result, many of them lived long, averagely beyond the age of 90 years.

“It was very common to see many of our parents living beyond the age of 120 years with good eyesight. Most importantly, many of our grandparents never wore glasses”.

Ironically, today we call ourselves “intellectuals”, we live in “hygienic environments”, we eat “balanced diet” and use “modern medication”.

“Yet, many of us are dying below age of 40! Today, millions of children at age 10 are wearing glasses”!

As if that is not enough, there are several hundreds of incurable diseases that currently threaten our very survival. What an irony!

How many of our forefathers died of malaria fever? How many of our grandmothers were infertile? In fact, there are many reproductive health-related diseases in our modern Africa than it was in the pre-colonial era despite the so-called advancement in medical research. Isn’t it time we took a critical look at the quality of our food today? But of course, many will consider this to be some “conspiracy theory”. After all, once you successfully discredit legitimate concerns such as the above, it becomes easy to ignore the need to take action.

Currently even though Africa can boast of several millions of scholars, professionals, professors and several others with PhDs, one can always wonder the whereabouts of these experts as almost everything we used in Africa is imported from elsewhere, despite having all the raw materials here at home.

For instance, 40 years ago, Africa was importing a sizeable amount of matches, sugar, cooking oil, roofing sheets, steal, cars, bicycles, shoes, wristwatches, typewriters and others. This was due to the fact that during that time, Africa did not have the needed expertise to mass-produce some of these items here at home. Unfortunately, after 40 years, nothing has changed despite the fact that mother Africa has millions of intellectuals who currently hold the relevant qualifications in the production of these items.

After many years of importing mobile phones, computers, electric generators, sound systems, radio and television sets, fluorescent lamps, electric cables and many other electronic gadgets, there is no indication that this trend will change anytime soon, though there are millions of African experts who have studied the production of these things. Isn’t it a shame that our scholars take pride in their numerous academic qualifications and titles, yet such credentials often do not make any practical contributions to the development of our continent?

Elsewhere in the Middle East and Asia, ordinary students are sending satellites into space. University researcher are actively engaging with their students in the production of mobile phones, digital tablets, computers, cars, and all sorts of physical results can be seen everywhere.

Unfortunately, here in Africa, our studies are characterised by reading theories, looking at diagrams and observing images with little or no practical demonstrations. The educational system, instead of teaching our people “how to think” and solve problems, the system is rather teaching young ones “what to think”. Today, one can write over a thousand pages of research, yet this research may not have a single practical input. Of course one can perfectly describe how to move a car. But it takes continues practise to be able to practically drive the car. Is it a wonder that many of our mechanical engineers therefore cannot even fix a faulty car engine? Our universities are over populated with more than 60% of political and the social sciences. The last time I checked, the technical schools and the polytechnics were still reserved for students with poor academic backgrounds, whiles the brilliant and most intelligent ones were those allowed entry to the universities.

In fact, it is a common phenomenon that many of our real electrical engineers, the mechanics and all the real technicians out there did not learn their profession from schools. Rather many of them were school drop-outs who learnt their profession as a “trade” and by the “road-side technicians”.

Therefore when the scholar’s car suffers a mechanical breakdown, the individual will rather look for a road-side mechanic to fix the problem despite him having a degree in the field. To me, the most interesting thing about these local technicians is that, many of them do not have any academic qualifications at all. Yet they’re better at solving real-life problems than many of our so-called professionals who have acquired a number of degrees. Isn’t this a shame? Today our universities are increasingly producing intellectuals who can talk too much but lack the skills to personally contribute to problem-solving.

It is increasingly becoming annoying that many of our intellectuals, who continue to hold themselves as such, can only make noise and give plenty of lectures while pushing their real responsibilities to the man on the street. Such acts of negligence must stop if Africa is determined to make any progress in the near future. African intellectuals must live up to their responsibilities. It is time for our these experts to demonstrate their profession by physically being part of the solution to our many challenges rather than merely dominating the airwaves with empty speeches that often lead to no physical results.  It is time to be proactive. We must demonstrate our desire to contribute to problem solving by leading the charge on the battlefield. This is the way forward.

Real leadership is to be demonstrated; not lectured. We’re getting tired of those talks, seminars and the workshops which have become the hallmark of our current batch of intellectuals who ought to bear the responsibility of taking the action. If those tasked with the responsibility to make things happen are rather doing the talks, whose duty will it be to take action? As long as our intellectuals continue to look up to the layman to take up his responsibilities, Africa will never make any meaningful progress. I challenge all African experts, the intellectuals and all those with meaningful qualifications in their various portfolios to make their presence felt as the continent begs for solutions. Our destinies must be in our own hands.

Long live the African intellectual.

Long live mama Africa!

Who will clothe the emperor?

Ayanda Mabulu's painting of Jacob Zuma with genitals in full view

Caesar Zvayi

The Bible, in the book of Genesis, gives us the story of Noah, who apparently cultivated a vineyard and ended up imbibing intoxicating wine. In his inebriated state, Noah stripped and lay indecently exposed. His youngest son, Ham, laughed at his father’s naked­ness. However, Ham’s brothers Shem and Japheth were not similarly disposed as they took a garment and, with averted eyes, carefully covered their father’s nakedness. When Noah awoke and discovered what his younger son had done, he was angry with him but did not curse him. He cursed his grandson, Ham’s child. And blessed Shem and Japheth who had respected him even at his lowest point. Be that as it may, there is a society closer home that is having a field day laughing at the nakedness of its father. And whether the father deserves the derision, or whether the children have gone too far or deserve cen­sure, is a mat­ter for another day, and for South Africans. A South African artist, 31-year old Ayanda Mabulu, has painted a portrait of Jacob Zuma in tradi­tional Zulu regalia, performing a war dance with his genitals in full view. Ayanda dubbed the portrait: Umshini Wami (Weapon of Mass Destruction). The painting is part of an exhibi­tion titled Our Fathers which also contains Brett Murray’s controversial paint­ing, ‘The Spear’, that spawned protests against Johan­nesburg's Goodman Gallery in May this year. The Spear, which also depicted Zuma with his geni­tals exposed, was later removed by the Goodman Gallery and taken off the City Press website. This is not the first time Ayanda has taken a dig at Zuma’s genitals. In 2010 he set tongues wagging with a painting titled Ngcono ihlwempu kunesibhanxo sesityebi (Better poor than a rich puppet). The painting featured several political figures among them Jacob Zuma, Barack Obama, Robert Mugabe, PW Botha, Nelson Mandela, George W Bush, Pope Benedict XVI and Bishop Desmond Tutu seated around a table, much like in Leonardo Da Vinci's The Last Supper. All of the figures were compromised in some way. And Zuma was depicted with his genitals supported by a crutch that Ayanda said symbolised the perception that his sexcapades had spiralled out of control. The crutch, Ayanda said, implied that Zuma needed help to tame that part of his anatomy. I am no art buff but looking at these paintings, I get the impression that the artistes are saying the most critical part of Zuma’s anatomy is his genitals, a perception that is not helped by his polygamous lifestyle. It is, however, the timing of the latest portrait and its title that is most damaging to Zuma. Calling the paint­ing ‘Umshini Wami (Weapon of Mass Destruction)’ at a time South Africa is trying to come to terms with how real live machine guns widowed and orphaned sev­eral fam­ilies at Marikana is provocative. It stokes emotions. Thirty-four miners were gunned down in cold blood at Lonmin mine, a figure that rises to 44 when the two policemen, two security guards and six miners who were killed earlier that week are factored in. Add to this portraying Zuma in war regalia, perform­ing a war dance at a time he is accused of waging war against his people? And you have a man being nailed to the cross. Is it a case of art imitating life or life imitating art? And equating Zuma to WMD at a time the likes of Julius Malema – rightly or wrongly – are placing the blame for the Marikana Massacre at Msholozi’s doorstep and calling for his ouster. The picture becomes clearer. I can bet my last dollar; this time there won’t be protests against the painting as was done with Brett Mur­ray’s effort in May. It appears Zuma is indeed naked in the metaphorical sense. This time the race card won’t wash because the hand that wielded the brush belongs to a pitch-black man, Ayanda Mab­ulu, who stoked the fires when he said of the painting: ‘‘He (Zuma) is not naked; I did not paint him with an uncir­cumcised penis. This is a metaphor that shows he is not a boy; he is a man, an elder, a father, a leader. In this painting I’m engaging my elder in the language of my mother tongue, the language that carries the culture of my people, THE LANGUAGE HE UNDERSTANDS THE MOST. Through this painting, I respectfully, as one of his children, ask my father why he is starving us? Why he is negating his duties to his children, the citi­zens of South Africa?’’ A loaded statement that takes on an ominous mean­ing when read against the backdrop of 42 miners who were killed at Marikana for precisely asking such ques­tions. And a Julius Malema, who is saying, ‘I told you so: take charge of your resources’. And again, all that at a time the clock is furiously tick­ing towards what appears set to be Zuma’s Water­loo, the ANC’s elective Conference set for Mangaung (erstwhile Bloomfontein) in December. And you can’t help but feel sorry for Zuma. It has not been a good season for him. First he strutted into Harare like a peacock and per­formed a diplomatic faux pas when he pre-empted our judiciary by barring Arthur Mutambara from the table of principals, yet our courts are still to rule on the mat­ter between Welshman Ncube and Arthur Mutambara who are tussling over leadership of the MDC. The issue was not helped by the fact that the benefi­ciary of Zuma’s ill-advised largesse, that Sadc in its eter­nal wisdom or lack of it endorsed, happens to be his in-law. Father to the husband of his daughter. A case of not only conflict of interest but abuse of office as facilitator. This raises legitimate grounds to call for Zuma’s ouster as mediator or recusal from the mediation. I wonder why the evidently punch-drunk Mutambara has not considered raising a stink worse than that of a skunk over the mat­ter. As if that was not enough, a few days later, Zuma was to leave the stage in Maputo in a huff when 34 protest­ing mineworkers were gunned down at Lonmin Mine in Marikana in a hail of bullets that lasted no more than180 seconds. Zuma had to excuse himself to attend to the dis­aster but found Malema had beaten him to Marikana such that by the time Zuma found his way there, the damage had already been done. Questions abounded about his lead­ership at a time of national crisis. Just as questions were being posed here over his medi­ation vis-à-vis the Welshman Ncube — Arthur Mutam­bara saga. It is not a secret that JZ, with his megaphone approach to diplomacy fronted by the loquacious Lindiwe Zulu, has not acquitted himself with the finesse of his predeces­sor Thabo Mbeki of the quiet diplomacy fame. It is not too late for Zuma. He can clothe himself by learning from Zimbabwe. He needs to understand where we are coming from. The genesis of the so-called Zim­babwe crisis, that he is mediating, is rooted in addressing the same ques­tions the likes of Ayanda are posing today. Zuma needs to steer the ANC back to the Freedom Charter. He must implement resource nationalism. Other­wise the likes of Ayanda will continue asking: ‘‘Why are you starving us? Why are you negating your duties to your children, the citizens of South Africa?’’ There may not be a Japheth or Shem among them.

So this is democracy?

The Great White Hope ...Roy Bennett

Black Mask, White Skin ... Welshman Ncube

Caesar Zvayi
‘‘STUPID White Men . . . And Other Sorry Excuses For The State Of The Nation!’’  Is a book by American writer Michael Moore that interrogates the excesses of America’s powerful elite. Published in 2001, the book that was almost shelved by publishers who feared a reader backlash on account of the September 11 bombings on the World Trade Centre and The Pentagon, spent 50 consecutive weeks on the New York Times best-seller list, eight of which were at Number 1.
Generally known by its short title, Stupid White Men, the book criticises US government policies in general, and the policies of the Clinton and Bush administrations in particular.
The satirical and thought-provoking, ‘A Prayer to Afflict the Comfortable’, was originally published in this book.
In the prayer, Moore asks God to create circumstances in which powerful figures in the American establishment are given problems or situations that affect “ordinary” Americans.
Among his pleas, Moore requests that: every member of the House of Representatives contracts cancer; all senators become drug addicts and be permanently incarcerated; that their children become gay; all white political leaders “who believe black people have it good these days to become black-skinned overnight; and for bishops in the Roman Catholic Church to develop unplanned pregnancies!
Moore’s central argument is that if all political figures experienced the same level of injustice and misfortune as average citizens, they would be more sympathetic and better leaders.
His facetious conclusion is that the effect of God answering the prayer, in terms of the benefits that would accrue to the majority would outweigh the damage to the smaller number of afflicted members of "the Comfortable”.
I recalled this prayer as I read the scandalous utterances by the self-exiled MDC-T treasurer, Roy Bennett who — in an interview with pirate radio station Studio 7 — likened President Mugabe to a diseased dog.
Earlier on, the Great White Hope had likened our service chiefs to rats saying he had drafted a ‘‘rat list’’ of service chiefs to fire WHEN (not if) MDC-T wins elections.
Said Bennett: ‘‘ . . . We did not begin the struggle (for regime change) to stroke the hand that kills. No more GNU — a miserable and malnourished mongrel fathered by an illegitimate and diseased village dog. Zanu-PF, get out of our way. Let’s finish it now.’’
Proded by interviewer, Violet Gonda, on who the ‘‘diseased village dog’’ was, Bennett said: ‘‘Obviously Mugabe is the dog.’’
I would want Roy Bennett, the ex-Rhodesian security services man, to not only wake up black but to wake up as a guerrilla in 1966. I would want him to be incarcerated in Ian Smith’s prison for 11 years separated from his newly married wife, be tortured and denied the right to go and bury his only son. I would want him to cross into Mozambique to lead the war effort, survive numerous assassination attempts at the hands of white Rhodies, witness their atrocities; and see if at independence in 1980, he would have the humanity to not only forgive his tormentors but extend the hand of reconciliation.
I would want Bennett to then stand up and utter the following words; which were the central theme in Prime Minister-elect Robert Mugabe’s address to the nation on March 4 1980 as he proclaimed the policy of reconciliation:
‘‘I urge you, whether you are black or white, to join me in a new pledge to forget our grim past, forgive others and together, as Zimbabweans, trample upon racialism, tribalism and regionalism, and work hard to reconstruct and rehabilitate our society as we reinvigorate our economic machinery.’’
I would want the black Bennett, who would have survived Smith’s bombs and biological warfare, who would have witnessed the atrocities at Nyadzonia, Chimoio, Tembwe, Freedom Camp, Chibondo to calmly look as ex-Rhodies come back masquerading as fighters for, and defenders of human rights and democracy.
I would want him to listen to ex-Rhodies in the MDC rank and file call him rats, I would want him to see a Tsvangirai who fled a liberation training camp demanding a salute from all who stayed behind. I would want Bennett to sit at the same table with Eric Matinenga, the white Roy Bennett, and Giles Mutsekwa and not think about the wailing bones of Chibondo. I would want him to hear the white Bennett call him a rat, and see if he does not go berserk the way he did when Justice and Legal Affairs Minister Patrick Chinamasa reminded him that he was born of bandit loins.
I doubt that, given his recent irresponsible mouthing, Bennett would be able to do what President Mugabe or the service chiefs have done, namely see their erstwhile enemy as a friend and pretend yesterday never happened.
Thirty-two years after that historic policy of reconciliation, it’s evident that Bennett is unrepentant. He still has to shake the hand of reconciliation he was proffered. Its clear he has maintained the ‘laager’ mentality and holier than thou attitude, steeped in the old colonial belief of white supremacy that saw black people as lesser beings. This explains why to him, President Mugabe is a diseased dog! He is black. He is not human.
This is why to him, General Chiwenga and those he commands are rats that have to be exterminated. They are black! They are not human.
And then you have the only Zimbabwean Welshman, the son of Ncube, calling his partners in government pigs. Addressing journalists during his party’s community outreach programme in Mahusekwa communal lands, the MDC president had this to say of Zanu-PF: “If you wash a pig, it will always return to the mud and they are a party which is naturally violent. They have piggish behaviour and it is in their DNA.”
This is the same Ncube, whose party always plays great victim, always alleges hate speech at the hands of Zanu-PF, a lawyer and party president to boot, who sees fellow Zimbabweans as pigs!
He obviously learnt from the best, the Great White Hope from Chimanimani. This makes the Welshman a black mask to a white skin, to bastardise, Fanon. I hope he knows it is the ‘‘pigs’’ in Zanu-PF who made it possible for him to sit in Parliament. It is those pigs who fought for, and brought the democracy that allows him to malign and insult them without comebacks. It is that same ‘‘diseased dog’’ that allowed Bennett to sit on the green benches of Parliament and not the cold, hard floor of Chikurubi.
To contextualise it for Bennett, a Nazi would never take a seat in the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, nor would an Al Qaeda member ever be elected to the US Congress. The fact that Rhodies sit in our legislature and continued sitting even as we unearthed evidence of their atrocities at Chibondo testifies to the humanity of our leadership. Bennett, who is every bit Moore’s Stupid white man and Welshman, who is turning out to be every bit Malcolm X’s house Negro, must rein in their tongues.
They are mere dwarfs in giant robes compared to the men they needlessly insult. Maybe that is the democracy the MDCs purport to be fighting for, the freedom to bite the hand that frees; the hand that feeds!

The trouble with Zanu-PF

Rather than disband DCCs, Zanu-PF must strengthen intra-party democracy to allow the grassroots voice to be heard. Once the grassroots speak, their choices must be respected.

Caesar Zvayi
MANY acquainted with the Queen’s language may have come across the term “burying one’s head in the sand.” This practice is attributed to Ostriches though zoologists dismiss it with typical scientific contempt for the simple reason that it is not true.
It appears the phrase originated from the peculiar nesting habit of the giant birds.
The male ostrich digs a deep hole in the sand to nest his partner’s eggs to protect them from predators.
The hen and the rooster take turns tending to the eggs, turning them over with their beaks and because of the indention in the ground, from a distance it appears as though they have buried their heads in the sand.
Despite scientific clarification, many believe the poor birds actually stick their heads in the sand when faced with difficult situations, yet their key strategy is diversionary. Be that as it may, the axiom gives me my entry point this week.
Zanu-PF, the vanguard party, appears to have its head firmly in the sand judging by its response to the problems that characterised District Co-ordinating Committee elections countrywide, particularly in Masvingo and Manicaland.
The grassroots were up in arms amid reports of widespread candidate imposition by some senior party members.
The party leadership’s response was recommending that the Central Committee disband the DCCs.
Announcing the disbanding of the DCCs last week, President Mugabe said: “As we discussed the matter, we decided that the Central Committee should look at the issue of DCCs and we came to the conclusion that they are serving a divisive process.
“They are an organ which must go. The Politburo came to the conclusion that DCCs must be repealed.
“A recommendation would be made to the Central Committee so that it could remove the organ called the DCC from the party.”
The DCC is the party organ perched between the branch and the province, and is tasked with co-ordinating party activities countrywide.
The DCC is very powerful as it not only determines who represents the party at provincial level but also who represents the party in council and parliamentary elections.
Hence anyone who controls the DCC, in effect stands in good stead to influence Zanu-PF at national level.
This explains why the DCC became the battle ground for the so-called succession battles that some love to wage in the dark even though the First Secretary and President is on record urging open debate on succession.
In my view the problem within Zanu-PF does not vest in having a structure called the DCC but in the “Chef syndrome” that sees some party heavyweights put themselves above the people who elevate them.
This holier than though thinking explains why some party bigwigs impose their own candidates at the expense of the wishes of the grassroots.
Had Zanu-PF conducted the DCC polls democratically and transparently to the satisfaction of cadres at all levels, there wouldn’t have been any noise about the poll outcome.
Supporters wouldn’t have picketed party offices in different provinces, and the special Politburo that convened last month wouldn’t have sat.
So in disbanding the DCC, Zanu-PF is infact dealing with the symptom leaving the malady. It’s akin to chopping the trunk of a baobab whose roots have spread and run deep into the subsoil.
What Zanu-PF requires is curbing the excesses of the “Chef-syndrome”. The cancer that sees some leaders say no self-respecting party cadre should challenge another cadre with a higher rank in party polls must be nipped in the bud.
Intra-party democracy must not have any sacred cows. One’s standing in the party should not be an issue but one’s ideas and appeal to the electorate.
 It is such vibrancy that brings renewal, and kills the scourge of self-defeating protest votes that marred the March 29 2008 poll and also manifested during Lovemore Moyo’s re-election as House of Assembly speaker.
Rather than disband DCCs, Zanu-PF must strengthen intra-party democracy to allow the grassroots voice to be heard. Once the grassroots speak, their choices must be respected.
The approach taken by Zanu-PF over the DCC fiasco is bold and timely but more should be done. The perpetrators of the mayhem should be identified and made to answer for their actions.
Instead of sending teams countrywide to explain the disbanding of DCCs, the party leadership should be sending fact-finding teams to identify the bad apples so that they can answer for their actions.
Anything short of that will be a throwback to the lethargy that set in after the near miss of 2008.
Despite reports that some Zanu-PF leaders openly de-campaigned the President in their constituencies, a development that saw some Zanu-PF MPs get higher votes than President Mugabe in their constituencies as the President’s vote was split with Simba Makoni; it was business as usual for Zanu-PF after the run-off.
  The ‘‘bhora musango” architects continued pumping their puny fists in the air, chanting slogans going as deep as their throats but missing in their hearts.
Yet heads should have rolled. Party structures should have been re-constituted to separate the compromised from real cadres.
The past four years should have been used to heal any rifts emanating from a major shake-up such that going into election 2012 only tried and tested cadres will be on call.
But what does the party do?
It pretends 2008 never happened; and when some forces try to short-change the people at DCC level, they disband the organ leaving the architects to their devices.
Bold decisions were needed, after all its said if you have to eat a dog go for the pitbull not the puppy.

And the band plays on!

Co-chairpersons Paul Mangwana (Zanu-PF) and Douglas Mwonzora (MDC-T)

Caesar Zvayi
 

I WAS growing up as Warren Park D was just tak-ing shape. There were two distinct sections, kumaBrigades and kumaStands. KumaBrigades referred to the area bordered by 166th and 150th
Streets whose four-roomed houses had been constructed by building brigades from the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, leaving the owner to ‘‘extend’’ the other three rooms. While kumaStands referred to the sections of the suburb where owners bought serviced stands to build houses of their choice this section
extends to the popular outdoor meeting place, KwaMereki.
   I had several friends in the Stands section where I stayed with my brother. The talk those days was woe betide the prospective homeowner who fed his builders a good diet like bread and eggs, sadza and meat for they would take their time to finish the house when compared to those who were fed sadza and vegetables with nothing more than salt added.
   I was reminded of this street wisdom as I heard reports that parties to the inclusive Government had issued yet another ultimatum to the Parliamentary Select Com-mittee to finalise the drafting of the envisaged new con-stitution.
   This becomes an ultimatum of ultimata because ultimata were issued before, the days came to pass and the party continued at Copac with the three musketeers Munyaradzi Mangwana, Douglas Mwonzora and Edward Mkhosi showing a camaraderie that belies the stated divergence. Copac, a committee of parliamentarians that was mandated to spearhead the constitution-making process, has so far gobbled $45 million from an initial budget of $24million with nothing to show for it apart from scandalous drafts far removed from people’s views as captured in the national report, and ofcourse wider waistlines.
   Its quite telling that whenever the Copac team reports a deadlock, they ‘‘retreat’’ to a resort either in the Nyanga or Vumba mountains, where they come out with distended tummies and even wider differences leaving many wondering at the purpose of such retreats that appear to be retreats from the national report.
  Yet there shouldn’t be any deadlocks at all as all that Copac members are mandated to do is ensure that the drafters they hired translate the peoples’ views, as captured in the national report, into legal language.
   Over the past three years, some Copac members have seen their lives dramatically transformed from the allowances they get for drifting from the people’s views. And as long as donors keep pouring in money, those at Copac will continue behaving like the proverbial builder who will take ages to lay the bricks on account
of good meals provided by his employer.
   What then is the way forward since the envisaged new constitution is now being used as an excuse to prolong the life of the inclusive Government that to all and purposes was supposed to last no more than 24 months? An inclusive Government whose dysfunctionality is acknowledged across the board?
   It appears the assumption here is that all parties in the inclusive Government are representing the interests of Zimbabweans in the constitution-making process. Zanu-PF, which is supposed to be the vanguard of the revolution, seems to have forgotten the MDC-T’s parentage. Mwonzora and those from his party are in Copac to safe-guard the interests of their western handlers and their kith and kin who were dispossessed of the means of production.
  This explains why their positions are clear attacks on the founding pillars of the Zimbabwean State. The MDC-T has been trying to provide for the weakening of the security sector. It has been trying to provide for the reversal of the land reform programme contrary to what is in the National Report as appears in items 1,2 and 3 and page 9 of 10 on Land. Mwonzora and his team have been campaigning for dual citizenship to cater for ex-Rhodies scattered throughout the world, and trying to smuggle gay rights contrary to popular sentiment and cultural mores.
  In short Copac has become the new frontier in the regime change drive. This is where the MDC-T hopes to address the so-called outstanding issues pursuant to abetting the regime change agenda.    The constitution-making process is thus a throw-back to the Lancaster House constitutional conference with MDC-T playing
the Rhodesian Front advocate. We can not have a truly national constitution under such circumstances. What we will end up with, if ever it comes, is a compromise not consensus document.
  The simple test, for any rational man, is the national report. If all parties to the inclusive Government genuinely represent the interests of Zimbabweans, the peoples’ views as captured in the national report should reign supreme.  Under such circumstances there will be no impasse. The only way out, in my view, is going for elections and then the drafting of a constitution thereafter.

 Meanwhile the party continues at Copac.

The builders are enjoying the banquet. And the band plays on!

Zimbabwe not under curatorship

Caesar Zvayi

Delegatus non potest delegare ... Jacob Zuma

What is the matter with our brothers who invest in the banking sector? Given how many indigenous-owned banks have gone under over the past decade leaving many a depositor seething, it seems the thinking is, ‘‘let’s form a bank and lend each other as much money as possible. Bugger the consequences!’’
This is the under-developed middle-class or comprador bourgeoisie that Frantz Fanon decries in his classic work, The Wretched of the Earth. They are not concerned really about creating wealth for the nation but transient conspicuous consumption, which explains why they over-borrow to support lifestyles they can ill-afford. The end result being the collapse of their nascent businesses, many of which end up under curatorship.
These compradors give us a bad name particularly in this era of indigenisation and economic empowerment. They give white supremacists the ammunition they need by making it seem like we can not run anything bigger than general-dealerships.
Be that as it may, that is not my point this week.
I am surprised by people who want to liken our government over the past three deacdes to the leadership of such banks. People who misconstrue the strategic retreat that is the GPA and regional diplomacy manifest in mediation by Cde Jacob Zuma, the President of South Africa, as akin to curatorship.
It is given that the MDC-T and its cousins in the MDC want to portray Zimbabwe as a failed state, a country that has failed at some of the basic functions and responsibilities of a sovereign government.
Common characteristics of a failed state include a central government that is so weak or ineffective that it has little practical control over much of its territory, has no legitimate authority to make collective decisions, a pariah that can not interact with others as a full member of the international community.
This is why, for instance MDC-T secretary general who is also GPA negotiator, Tendai Biti, wanted Zimbabwe declared a Highly Indebted Poor Country so that it could be placed under the curatorship of the Bretton Woods Institutions.
Having failed in the HIPC bid which would have made it easy for the MDC-T’s western overlords to invoke Chapter 7 of the UN Charter, the so-called ‘Responsibility to Protect’ as a prelude to invading Zimbabwe, the MDC-T and its allies have turned to the GPA.
Zuma’s backroom staff; principally his international relations advisor; Lindiwe Zulu, are conveniently elevated to the level of facilitators even though Sadc made it clear that there is only one facilitator, Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma, just like Thabo Mbeki before him.
Lindiwe Zulu and company are persona non grata in the councils of Sadc, and can not purport to speak on behalf of Zuma since a facilitator does not need a spokesperson, and neither can he speak on behalf of parties to a conflict.
All that a facilitator does is help the parties talk to each other. Where they are able to do so, the facilitator has no role to play but where they reach disagreements; the facilitator comes in to break the impasse.
That is the be-all and end-all of facilitation which means a facilitator does not speak for the parties or any of the parties but helps them find each other and speak to each other. But here are sections of our media, carving headlines out of the musings of Lindiwe Zulu who is purported, either through sheer ignorance or utter mischief, to speak for Sadc.
At its Ordinary Summit in Luanda, Angola last August, Sadc made it clear that Jacob Zuma was the sole facilitator and he should have a hands on approach to his delegated task as his reliance on proxies was spawning confusion and procedural irregularities.

As President Mugabe pointed out, in constitutional and administrative law, the principle delegatus non potest delegare, “one to whom power is delegated cannot himself further delegate that power”, holds and bids the facilitator to engage the principals directly. This principle holds in several jurisdictions like the United States, the United Kingdom and our own Roman Dutch law.
So why do we continue entertaining the likes of Lindiwe Zulu whose sole pre-occupation has been to spoil the broth? Why do we continue perpetuating the myth that she is a stakeholder in our politics, and that crucial national decisions like elections and appointments in the security services sector lie within the province of the likes of Lindiwe Zulu?
In their last visit here, Zuma’s backroom staff just barged into Harare uninvited, as if they are now administering our affairs from Tshwane.
It should be pointed out that Sadc appointed Zuma, the man, not Zuma the South African president to be mediator. Msholozi mediates in his personal capacity. If he selects backroom staff, they should be just that, backroom people.
It’s high time we stopped the charade by the likes of Lindiwe Zulu. They do not have locus standi before Sadc and by extension shouldn’t be tolerated when they overstep their boundaries like they did in holding meetings with fringe parties like Job Sikhala’s MDC99 and Wurayayi Zembe’s Zimbabwe Democratic Party. Fringe outfits not only outside the GPA but without representation even at ward level.
What will it take for Zanu-PF to give Lindiwe Zulu the boot the next time she exercises her jaws? For how long shall she urinate in our faces and tell us its raining?
We are not a failed state, neither are we without a government. Infact we are the only nation in Africa that is deemed to pose ‘‘an unusual and extraordinary threat to the foreign policy of the United States.’’ No dysfunctional state can achieve that feat. Its not as if the MDC-T and its allies do not know this, they do which is why they have poured millions in attempts at regime change.
* * *
Still on GPA matters, but on a lighter note.
Here is to Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s GPA wedding! I couldn’t help but notice that the MDC-T leader has slated his nuptials for September 15 this year. September 15 coincides with the fourth anniversary of the signing of the inter-party political agreement that gave him the lofty office of premier when he appeared doomed to opposition trenches, that he — however — has refused to outgrow.
The symbolism becomes even clearer when one considers that bad ole Morgan loves fishing in the Zanu-PF pond given that his bride Elizabeth, just like Locadia Karimatsenga Tembo before her, grew up in a Zanu-PF household. But who can blame him given what MDC-T womenfolk have been prescribing for our nation!
Well here is to hoping there will be no outstanding issues Save!

Time to cut the chase

Professor Tony Hawkins

Caesar Zvayi

 IT IS a common, but seemingly heartless response by any newsman whenever reports of a road traffic accident filter through. The first question is always, ‘‘were there any fatalities/ pafa vangani?’’
In the absence of fatalities one is bound to hear ‘‘haa hapana nyaya/ it’s not a story,’’ accompanied by discernible disappointment on the newsman’s face for an ordinary accident is just that, bad copy.
It doesn’t sell the papers.
I have always been fascinated by this human condition that seems to put business ahead of human life.
The mundane is not news.
I am sure many who have been following international media over the past few months will have noticed that Zimbabwe has been largely missing from the newscasts.
This either means westerners have realised the game is up in Harare, which may explain talk of moves to effect regime change at Harvest House, or the re-engagement process is gathering momentum, true to the dictum, if you can’t beat them, join them.
What is more, word doing the rounds is that the BBC wants to interview William Masvinu, who was conferred with the title of Mr Ugly Harare at a pageant held at City Sports Bar a fortnight ago.
It appears the politically ugly among us are no longer that newsworthy, the Masvinus are.
The other noticeable trend, over the past few months, are the attacks the MDC-T is being subjected to by its erstwhile allies like the CFU, ZCTU, NCA, Zinasu to mention just a few.
Tsvangirai is being deserted, not only by his handlers, but hangers on too.
And earlier this week, it was the turn of University of Zimbabwe economics Professor Tony Hawkins, who has hardly been flattering to Zanu-PF over the years.
Hawkins tore into what MDC-T hopes to use as a campaign issue: Their claim that their entry into Government stabilised the economy and brought inflation from nine to two-digit levels.
MDC-T secretary-general Tendai Biti, who is finance minister in the inclusive Government was even dubbed ‘‘best finance minister in Africa’’ for it.
Professor Hawkins was quoted in the South African weekly, the Sunday Times over the weekend blasting MDC-T for policy incoherence and for crediting itself with turning around the economy, which halted astronomical inflation in early 2009.
In the article titled, “MDC slated over economic revival claims,” and reproduced by this paper, Prof Hawkins pointed out that MDC-T had nothing directly to do with the fall in inflation as dollarisation brought an overnight change to the economy.
“There is nothing that the MDC did in that regard to turnaround the economy. It was a result of dollarisation. That is where the change came from not as a result of their implementing any praiseworthy policy. The MDC is pretty much out of its depth,’’ Hawkins said.
The then acting finance minister Patrick Chinamasa and Zanu-PF introduced dollarisation in a budget presented on Thursday January 29, 2009; a whole fortnight before the formation of the inclusive Government which was sworn in on February 13 the same                     year.
The then acting finance minister Chinamasa, presented this new policy package in the last budget of an exclusively Zanu-PF Government, after endless days and nights of inter-agency brainstorming.
The policy and decision to dollarise was a Zanu-PF idea, the implementation was by Zanu-PF.
The inclusive Government inherited a Zanu-PF programme, Biti found it there and is still to introduce anything as finance minister in the inclusive Government.
And now MDC-T wants to not only steal the idea, but to patent it and run with it at election time.
How they thought they could do that and get away with it is anybody’s guess.
In fact, the inclusive Government has been governing on Zanu-PF ideas.
MDC-T’s record in Government is an unenviable one, corruption in the councils and lethargy in central Government.
MDC-T leaders have, however, made headlines mostly for the wrong reasons, mostly mundane, shockingly puerile.
Take Tabitha Khumalo who wants the legalisation of prostitution and camaraderie between wives and mistresses.
Sithembile Mlothswa who wants sex toys for prisoners and a cap on the number of sexual encounters per month.
And of course, Tsvangirai’s name-sake, good ole Morgan Femai who wants our beautiful women to be less attractive to us; leaving many wondering whether given his party’s pro-gay stance, he wants us to be attracted to one another.
The bottom line is something is afoot at Harvest House that may explain why the MDC-T breaks into goosebumps whenever the word election rolls off anyone’s lips.
Interesting things, very interesting things have been happening over the past few weeks, first you have Morgan Tsvangirai prancing to China at the invitation of the Municipality of Beijing, and claiming that he was invited by the Chinese government.
A clear quest for a home given the vibes from his handlers who no longer find him politically sexy.
  The China jaunt, that came on the backdrop of a Sinophobic campaign by his party, followed revelations by NCA chairman, Professor Lovemore Madhuku that some Western countries had approached him to headhunt for a capable leader for the MDC.
And where is Zanu-PF in all this? Tsvangirai’s flanks are exposed, does it have to take Hawkins to see that? 
And the talk of election roadmaps, and constitution-making as if a new constitution was ever a pre-condition for elections should be put to rest.
It’s time to cut the chase, call for elections and finalise the Constitution thereafter.
I do not, for the life of me, see Copac finalising in a matter of months, what they have failed to do in three years.
Tsvangirai and his party are out at sea without a compass.
It’s time to bring the wave.