adminThose political parties that relied on sanctions to force the voter to support them on the back of the suffering of the ordinary citizens, the defining moment cannot come fast enough so that Zimbabweans can do away with the system of taking our problems to foreigners as though those outside this country have no political and economic problems of their own.
One of the most important aspects of any election is a manifesto through which a political party spells its vision for the future.
In arriving at this vision, we need to know the history of this party and what it has done to bring us to the present and what the future holds.
It is not a matter of promising to do better than another party, but the manifesto must give us a clear path as to where we are going.
People need to know that there is hope not imagined manna from heaven.
While enjoying the messages I received on Father’s Day on Sunday June 16, a day when children in South Africa were massacred by the white regime in South Africa in 1996, I came across writing by an economist, actually, from South Africa, which stated that, “People should start businesses, rather than expect to find jobs.
“At the same time governments should remove the red tape that stifles businesses with regulation and licensing requirements.”
We have been told time and time again that, we are our own saviours.
One entrepreneur stated that Africa is being left behind in economic development not by corruption, but by incompetence, which breeds corruption.
By investing in skills and education, Zimbabwe can eliminate corruption and, instead, increase opportunities for everyone.
The Minister of Finance, Tendai Biti, was quoted recently, stating that the unemployment rate was not 85 percent, which is touted by pseudo economists in the country, but that it was about 7,5 percent.
He said that anyone who is gainfully generating income from whatever economic activity is self-employed.
This is the message that the governing party has been preaching, which it needs to emphasise, that, as the Bible says, sitting on one’s hands brings poverty.
If the numerous charismatic churches can draw so many members and convince people on the Gospel of prosperity, surely, any political party worth to be voted into power can do better with tangible uplifting ideas that an individual can see with their very eyes.
Sometime ago, I had a discussion with a prominent academic turned politician about his vision for Zimbabwe or what we could call, the Zimbabwean dream.
His answer was that the people of this country do not need ideas on how to improve themselves but will support anyone who can remove the government from power.
I shook my head in desperation. This statement coming from a highly educated person was a huge disappointment.
That is why so many parties call themselves by one name instead of coming up with different names and ideologies.
Talking to ordinary people, it is not a question of removing the Government that is top of their agenda, but the realisation of their ambitions, whether they are farmers, professionals, business people or students, among others.
One needs to just visit the new housing estates to see how people are improving their lives with the little money they are generating from commercial activities.
What then do they want from the Government or any political party that they want to vote for?
An opportunity to start income-generating businesses and for Government to play its role in infrastructure development to sustain projects for job creation.
Online Reporter