adminYet the long intervening period between now and the harmonised elections in Zimbabwe, at the end of June, is likely to become the trickiest and mind-boggling time for the majority as political courtships reach a scintillating peak. Politicians compete for the hearts and minds of voters and in some cases impossible if not fictitious promises being made to try to woo votes.
Already, some leaders, driven by wild political hormones have begun promising voters the moon knowing fully well they do not even possess a paper rocket to fly a bird or rat into space, if that were possible at all.
However, one thing exists by which voters may insulate themselves against entrapment by political fraudsters: Differentiate the good from the bad by their track-records since the last elections as a guide for choosing the right candidate to serve this nation.
Reciprocal political love is being flighted at political rallies or in interviews with the media: “We will do this for you if you vote for us.” The question, however, remains what track record political leaders, who promise such fantasies can show by way of the work they have done for the people of Zimbabwe as proof of their ability to do better if again given the nod at polls?
Can those leaders who stand as accomplices in ruining our economy and with that jobs and livelihoods in pursuit of obscene political ambitions, be trusted to protect the economy and people’s welfare, should they be tried by voters to rule this country and on what credible account? Zimbabwe has enjoyed freedom for 396 months and that is a period against which the performance of political parties and their leaders should weigh so that the political men should stand up from the political boys wet behind the ears and still struggling to find their breath with regards to giving Zimbabweans bread and butter with that a secure future.
Taking those 33 years of independence by Thursday, two days ago, as a scale of measurement of the performance of political parties plying their trade in the country today, how many can be counted on one hand as having been too efficient on the lip and how many will be counted on both hands for the transformation of the lives and hopes of
Zimbabweans not withstanding roadblocks put in the way by sell-outs hell-bent on worming their way into power with the help of foreigners, some of them our erstwhile oppressors?
Know your potential government after the forthcoming polls by what its party has done to give Zimbabwe a brave new future thus far and what, by its track-record, is it capable of delivering to the people of this country a great deal more.
Track-records vouch for the ability of a political party to deliver on critical social and economic matters of life and death as well as authenticate a political organisation’s agape love for a nation.
What the foregoing suggests is that those leaders who have not demonstratively performed to the expectations of our people, be it at local or central government levels should not be elected at the polls because they cannot be expected to metamorphose overnight to deliver on the needs of our people, whatever grandiose promises they make to the public in advance of voting. But there are young men and young women of sound mind, sound academic attainments and an unflinching commitment to the development of the motherland who are to be found in many parts of the country today.
This pen humbly believes that these young Zimbabweans should be nominated by their political parties to stand as candidates in the forthcoming and future elections. If elected as members of parliament, this kind of political apprenticeship will no doubt groom them to become leaders of Zimbabwe at a higher level when they gain more experience in governmental affairs.
Stephen is former editor of the Chronicle and the Sunday Mail.
Online Reporter