Shared vision based on principles

Opinion Dr Sikhanyiso Duke Ndlovu
Recently I wrote about politics of expedience and psychological basis of corruption, today I am focusing on SHARED VISION based on principles. There is a need for us to increase our intellectual and political perspectives in order to strengthen our nation and lead it to present and future prosperity in unity for the benefit of future generations.

There has been and there are still deliberate efforts by Western Nations to call themselves nations while calling their former colonies “Countries” so as to justify their intentions. To bring this point for note, have you ever heard of a European country or say France as France Country, German Country, British country or American country? But Zimbabwe, Zambia, Kenya, Nigeria etc are referred to as countries.

Our various cultural groups are referred to as tribes while the Western groups are referred to as ethnic groups. The Road Marking Crossings in Africa are said to be zebra crossings while the West calls its road crossing marks pedestrian crossings.

Nation means a coherent State with its own sovereignty and shared vision. Zimbabwe is indeed a coherent State with its own founding principles of liberation based on socialist principles of a “Suthisa uzulu wonke” “Gutsaruzhinji” for land ownership by the State on behalf of the people, control of means of production and ownership of wealth and natural resources and provision of education for all.

A vision does not just come impetuously and end like a nice dream which cannot come again or cannot be repeated. A vision is an embodiment of powerful emotions and principles recollected in tranquillity by national political leaders in our case by our President Cde Mugabe and our late Vice President Dr Joshua Nkomo for the purpose of nation building, peace and development. Without a shared national vision between Dr Nkomo and Comrade Mugabe cascading to the members of PF-Zapu and Zanu-PF and all the people of Zimbabwe there would be no unity, peace and development.

It is not enough just to talk about unity without walking the talk and availing the fruits of unity to all and not having only a few or a section of the nation benefiting. As I said corruption comes in to destroy the national vision and national unity, peace and national development.

There must be a clear consciousness of nationhood and willingness to serve the nation and to be proud of one’s nation. A national vision is an epitome of the principles which guide the nation’s existentialism.

A nation without a vision is as bad as a dead nation or not a nation but a fragmented country as what we see in some countries which suffer from strife, hunger, disease and political fragmentation and civil wars and wars sponsored by the imperialists to control and safeguard their permanent interests using their own political megaphones; such countries cannot be called nations.

For example, in Angola Unita was formed to fight the Revolutionary Party and government of MPLA, in Mozambique Renamo was formed to fight Frelimo, here at home the British former coloniser parties the Labour Party, Conservative Party, the Liberation Party formed Westminster Foundation and American State Department ganged together to fund the formation of the MDC from the labour union and to impose sanctions on Zimbabwe hoping people would rise against their Government when sanctions pinch.

The people of Zimbabwe could not behave like the so-called Arab Spring or like Libya, Egypt, Iraq and Ivory Coast etc. The inclusive government did not have a shared vision as the non-revolutionary Western sponsored parties aimed at destroying the national vision to effect regime change. Those parties were saying what they wanted was a new Zimbabwe guided by Western so-called investment without talking about the liberation history.

Zimbabweans have kept together against all odds because of the national vision and principles enunciated by His Excellency President Mugabe and the late Dr Joshua Nkomo and because of the revolutionary principles inculcated in the Zimbabwean people.

The new Zimbabwe Constitution and its various provisions is our greatest shared vision. The Constitution is a product of the people by the people for the people of Zimbabwe. Its founding revolutionary principles are impeccable. It covers all aspects of the lives, culture, freedoms, three pillars of government and their responsibilities and national protection, human rights, education and socio- economic development.
The Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation is the second greatest national vision ever conceived and adopted by the people of Zimbabwe. Zim Asset is a down to earth blueprint for Zimbabwe’s national development.

The President has been in the forefront in launching and making sure Zim Asset is implemented as shown by giving its monitoring and evaluation to the office of the President and Cabinet.

We have already seen the Chief Secretary and his deputies at work to make sure that the vision Zim Asset is implemented. In one rural area an old woman was heard saying “i-Zim Asset isifikile”, “Zim Asset yasvika”, “Sengichola idobi ngithengisa”. Zim Asset is here in rural areas I am beneficiating ground nuts, grinding and selling them.

This means that Zim Assset has gone down to the grassroots. There is a need to find funds for the implementation of the Zim Asset national vision. Treasury must not sleep until this national vision delivery process is fulfilled. These efforts should not be left to Government alone.
The Public Private Sector Partnership, and private investors and small and medium-scale enterprises should also move in top gear to implement Zim Asset. Let us all share the Zimbabwe Vision.