adminMuchadura Dube
The Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (Zim-Asset), the national economic blueprint, has this far produced an awesome result which if economist aggregate will definitely indicate an upward motion of the economy. Certainly, programmes which have been activated countrywide have helped ameliorate difficult circumstances which hitherto bedevilled the populace. Zim-Asset is an economic blueprint which anchors its viability and relevance on judicious exploitation of local resources, so it is the locals’ attitude to their natural endowments which also play an important role.
Essentially, there have to be a paradigm shift in the way Zimbabweans view developmental issues as demonstrated by President Mugabe, Africa’s icon and statesman par excellence.
President Mugabe’s clarion call has always been that as an independent and sovereign nation, the destiny of our nation should be in our collective effort. Zimbabwe’s destiny should be in our hands thus our collective capacity as a people.
Instead of being perennial holders of begging bowls, a disease which has afflicted most of the developing world, an identity which African holds, Zimbabweans should now view this with different lenses by dictating the pace for fellow Africans. Given the historic revolutionary land reform which saw thousand benefiting by owning their own land, it is in the industrialisation arena where the country needs focus for it to gain a foothold in regional trade and ultimately in the cut-throat global trade.
With such a mammoth task facing the nation, those who have been appointed by President Mugabe to lead various portfolios need to reciprocate this goodwill by working hard to ensure that the goals and objectives of Zim-Asset become reality.
The people gave ZANU-PF an overwhelming electoral mandate, given that its policies are pro-people as reflected by its electoral manifesto whose contents were synchronised with the Presidential inauguration speech to produce the economic blueprint which the nation is implementing.
It is only leadership which empathises with the people which can seize such challenges, convert them into opportunities for the people.
The new broom in Manicaland has ushered in hope and optimism as she has changed the way business is undertaken in the province. The new Resident Minister for Manicaland province, Mandi Chimene visited my home town, Nyanga, where in the few hours she was here, she inspired and urged those in leadership to leave no stone unturned in the developmental thrust.
Minister Chimene’s humility and eagerness to offer lasting advice epitomises servant leadership which President Mugabe has urged those in leadership in the party and Government to master and pursue. Servant leadership entails toiling for the masses whose aspirations the ruling party has always craved to quench.
Indeed, the revolutionary party has the people at heart, hence the numerous empowerment initiatives since the nation gained autonomy from the British. It is, therefore, crucial for all those entrusted with leadership to continue hunting for solutions that will improve the livelihood of the people.
We all recall the days of the late Father Zimbabwe, Dr Joshua Nkomo, and the late Dr Simon Muzenda, the Soul of the Nation, revered personalities who together with President Mugabe steered the nation to independence had servant leadership as the hallmark of their glittering political careers. These were stalwarts who immersed themselves in the masses, a scenario which made them to be household names nationally and indeed regionally.
Those in the revolutionary party who have entered into leadership for the first time should draw inspiration from these towering figures whose names remain etched in the minds of the masses. Even the ideals they fought for and implemented during their lifetime is an ample book where novices and those who are tried and tested can extract life-changing notes which can only positively transform their lives.
The nation needs such men of character and valour for it to experience transformations which enhance the lives of the people.
It can only be mass oriented leadership which toils for the liberation of a people through the use of the gun, such kind of leadership does not shy away from problems, whatever their colour, shape or texture.
Certainly that kind of leadership takes bold decisions as long as the decisions will bring happiness to the multitudes who are the owners of the land.
All the decisions which are taken today have an impact on the lives of posterity hence all caution has to be exercised since its effects will be felt by generations to come.
All the revolutionary party needs is a servant leadership as epitomised by veteran statesman and legend President Mugabe.
Such leadership has to permeate to the lower echelons of the party which will then consolidate the democratic credentials which are firmly embedded in the party of liberation, the people’s choice, ZANU-PF.
Current programmes which are being implemented by the party, ZANU- PF and Government such as the Zim-Asset will find meaning and value when leadership adopt the concept of servant leadership.
In the concept of servant leader, all attributes of serving the populace with dignity such as humility, empathy, honest, integrity and kindness find expression. Zimbabwe is an economic and political giant ready to explode. This is indeed the season the Lord has made for Zimbabwe.
Online Reporter