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Munyaradzi Hwengwere
The passing on of musical icon Oliver Mtukudzi has challenged us at Buy Zimbabwe and led us to ask the question: how can we be more relevant?
Our motto is pride, wealth and jobs. While we have become largely known for advocating for the preference of locally produced goods and services, we realise that our impact with respect to contributing to celebrating local icons and brands has been very minimal.
We must also admit that our contribution to building a Zimbabwean who is proud of their country and related brands has not been too fruitful.
Like many people, we recognise the late Oliver Mtukudzi for his musical works.
Many of us could recite his songs word for word. At best we saw him as a great musician.
Our recognition of Tuku as a leading African global brand has only been awakened in the past few days and got us to reflect on what other national brands are out there that we have known, seen, heard and interacted with, but paid scant attention to.
It has also got us to ask; are we proud of what we possess as a country?
How do we rate against other Africa countries? Do we love our nation?
The answers that come to mind are not flattering. We have a lot of work on our hands.
During the height of Zimbabwe’s hyperinflation era, being called Zimbabwean would elicit derision from those around you.
Dr Oliver Mtukudzi is among the few who carried the national brand afloat. His music was played on most major airlines in Africa.
Even during that period when Zimbabwe was a laughing stock around the world, Tuku became a popular international icon.
Today, he is claimed by every political party, and presidents far and wide, claim to have been number one fans.
He transcended his craft to be a representation of Africa’s dreams and aspirations.
A man who was no longer defined simply by his music, but risen to become an embodiment of the best of Africa.
Lest we forget, there are many good musicians in Africa, but very few African brands like our late musical icon.
Level five leaders are defined by two characteristics, strong will and humility.
Tuku was a rare level five leader from a profession that until recently was seen to attract only those who had failed in noble paths of success.
Despite millions who literally worshipped the ground he walked on, he continued to carry his own guitar and rarely seen with body guards.
He was content with being himself. Africa recognised this and gave him his rightful status.
I cannot help to think of many young people who today surround themselves with body guards and cut themselves from the common person.
The fact that this man has been declared National Hero bodes well for our country.
We hope this decision will jolt us as country to introspect and ask what else we can do to celebrate ourselves and instil a sense of national pride.
A few weeks back, a South African called in shock as he realised Orlando Pirates had more supporters in Barbourfields Stadium than FC platinum.
Many sought to explain this unusual act by saying Highlanders and Orlando Pirates share the same colours.
Reality is that Zimbabweans albeit in Highlanders colours decided on that day to side with a foreign brand rather than their own.
Even on the economic front we still refuse to recognise that as a collective our preference for foreign brands and import content has led us to where we are today.
In 2018 we realised US$5,6 billion in export revenue. This figure is the highest we have attained since 1980.
The figure eclipses Malawi which earned US$1,2 billion and Rwanda at US$1,7 billion.
We even beat Ethiopia the fastest growing economy in the world whose total earning were around US$4 billion.
Sadly for us, our appetite for imports surged and we emerged with a deficit above US$1 billion. From the money Ethiopia makes, they have acquired 120 airplanes. We have Air Zimbabwe which struggles to manage less than three airplanes.
Our trouble is not that we do not have, but that we prefer donating our riches to other countries.
When ZBC in early 2001 decided to embark on 75 percent local content quota, we were nearly lynched by Zimbabweans who demanded their Santa Barbra back and wanted our DJs to keep playing their favourite international artists.
Thank God we soldiered on and today the opposite is true for that sector. Unfortunately the national psyche has remained the same.
Strive Masiyiwa recently made a call for removal of sanctions on Zimbabwe and he was almost lynched online.
Today there appears to be a spirited attempt by some to destroy his global stature.
When Moses Chunga went back to Belgium for a tournament in his honour, a full stadium gave him a standing ovation, but in Zimbabwe few people recognise him.
Peter Ndlovu is hidden in South Africa with hardly his mention in the local media
In 2018, one of the biggest blockbuster movies the world has seen was Black Panther.
Playing one of the big roles was Danai Gurira, a Hollywood superstar from Zimbabwe
Imagine what her global stature would do to our export drive if we manage to align her to local products.
We justify preference for foreign made products on the pretext that we do not have our own. Well, we said the same about music.
We forget, we can always come up with new products as long as our mindset is right.
We forget we have Mazoe, Cerevita, Dendairy, Sterilised Milk, Chicken Inn, Pote, Sun Jam, Chibataura, Ngwerewere, Dynamos, Highlanders and FC Platinum, the list is endless.
We are a nation that yearns for success and yet one that rarely looks at the good that happens within it.
The tribute we must pay to Mtukudzi is to change the national narrative and find our pride.
We have to realise that success begins when we prefer local instead of foreign.
We must search for all Zimbabweans who have succeeded and begin to celebrate them.
We must apologise to those we have hurt and recognise that unless we unite to drive the national agenda, no president, no minister of finance can rescue us from this feeling of powerlessness.
The late musical legend rose at time Zimbabweans had no hope.
Strive Masiyiwa defied odds to become a global entrepreneur.
Thank you, President Mnangagwa for leading in the pride of being Zimbabwean through the scarf. It is time for the nation to follow suit.
Mr Munyaradzi Hwengwere is Buy Zimbabwe general manager. He wrote this article for The Sunday Mail.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter