Zimbabwe & the ejaculation of a wary Mind

History, both recent and past, teaches us of individuals and collectives that stood up to seemingly indomitable foes; they shattered the barriers built by incalculable odds and in doing so brought the hope of brighter days in moments of dark existence. They stood up to the myths and when offered insincere ‘olive branches’ they chose to march on rather than settle for the lure of convenient compromises.

This Unity Agreement has given the old regime a new lease on political life; one that allows them to camouflage themselves in the chaos of a new government. As an intellectual, I come to this conclusion based on historical context (Muzorewa, ZANU/ZAPU, Kenya) so do not interpret my sentiments as just the ramblings and ejaculation of a confused mind. There are people who suffered atrocious injustices over the years at the hands of certain elements within the regime who will now retain power or blend into the shadows (Gukurahundi, Murambatsvina, Electoral violence); inthis Unity government, who within it will have the moral fortitude or who within it will even be allowed to hold/prosecute the unjust and corrupt accountable? – government looting & embezzlement, farm misappropriations, human rights abuses, women & gay rights, commonwealth re-entry, Healthcare mismanagement, government sanctioned electoral violence, shady Swiss Bank accounts – a few of many points of contention that should have been addressed long before signing any treaty. This Unity agreement simply postpones the inevitability of a tumultuous evolution in Zimbabwean politics. African politics is one in which you die a hero or live long enough to become the villain (Idi Amin, Mugabe) & MDC now walks a thin line.

At times we face down entities that are larger than us in the hopes of effecting change that is greater than ourselves and steeped in the sincerity of moral obligation; however, as we sweat and toil our minds get tired and our bodies get weak; in this moment of fatigue we become susceptible to disillusionment, doubt and the lure of lowered expectations because we have been wore down by the powers and forces that be and so we settle for far less than we set out to achieve.

sincerely yours,

Kwapi