Across the national political
divide the shift towards jostling for political positions has taken over the
real purpose of policy and nation building. The national leadership is rightly
enraged by the widespread muddle and that is a trend that urgently needs
foregoing for the sake of individual party and national trajectory. That
politics is not a career but a service to the people is not just a mere
statement but exactly why the people vote in elections. The rush for positions
is a clear indication of the malfunction of focus on policy which relegates
pressing economic challenges to the margins of national discourse whilst
elevating politically-predatory tendencies to the forefront. Zimbabwe is
currently facing economic challenges of a magnitude that requires those
entrusted into positions of influence to have sleepless nights yet the main
preoccupation seems to be rank, order, flashy cars and fancy pants. It is a
telling sign of misplaced priorities that under the current macroeconomic and
microeconomic environment in Zimbabwe that one’s preoccupation is reduced to
mere scramble towards the upper echelons of power rather than addressing the
immediate concerns of the ordinary man and woman. The hallmarks of
extraordinary leadership was shown when President Mugabe had to personally
intervene and dipped into his pockets to address the subsistence challenges of
the recently concluded youth conference. All this is indicative of a
deep-rooted manifestation of the deliberate neglect of the hard-done-by electorate
by this politics of positions.
Whilst the difference between those who serve the self and those who
serve others is obvious, it requires those aspiring to positions of national
influence to have that basic determination to seal the cracks before the
fissures emerge. There is an urgent requirement to redefine the construct of
politics from being a trade to that tireless readiness to serve the people. It
is understandable that all politicians are of flesh and blood and therefore far
from perfect. It is true that those who lose their way are not necessarily bad
people and therefore it is up to those who remain focused to refocus others to
stay grounded. The state of
intentionally remaining anonymous and keeping a cool head is a representation
of the required inner spirit and strength to prioritise actual action as
opposed to empty words to mislead the people in this covetous and egotistical
quest for the now over-subscribed political positions. The rumpus over
political positions points to unholy lateral linkages of self-obsessed fixation
with politics of profession as opposed to that public duty and enduring
commitment to carry forward the hopes and expectations of those who entrusted
the politicians with their vote. The country is currently facing what seems
like an insurmountable mountain and now is the time to drop that self-serving
attitude and to embrace the totally altruistic determination to serve the
perennially short-changed citizens. It is this individual inward-looking
self-absorption which prioritises the narcissistic wants of the few over the
genuine needs of the economically-challenged majority.
This
needs to be emphasised over and over again that politics is not a vocation but
a public duty and with this duty comes responsibilities, accountability and caretaker
opportunity to serve those who voted the politicians into power. People look up
to politicians who prioritise persistency, consistency and transparency. The
political position is mark of respect from the electorate and the respect is
earned not asked for or demanded through this covetous quest for political
positions. The electorate want the simplest of things, the basics and practical
approaches to the country’s debilitating economic challenges. No sane
person cast their vote for squabbling and unconcerned aspirants. All aspiring
public officials must give weight to a renewed commitment to politics geared
towards serving the country’s long suffering citizens and shy away from this
extortionate pursuit of positions. There must be a political commitment and a
genuine willingness to serve the people.
Politics is not just a gateway to affluence
and bounty but requires those who enter into this service for the people to
have both reflective and affective emotional intelligence. That simple respectful
and genuine acknowledgement to serve is a sure way to endear aspiring officials
with the grassroots. Those who are clamouring for political positions have a
duty and responsibility to the citizens of this country and they must address
those pressing issues which have incapacitated many in Zimbabwe. It is that
simple and that is why people vote. President Mugabe has led by example, our
heroes led by example and all these new aspirants must learn from the pioneers.
These hustle and tumbles for political positions will not endear the
electorate. Political harlotry is ‘rubbish’ to say the least and political refuse
belongs nowhere else other than the political dustbin of history. Now is not
the time to scrummage for political positions but the time to hit the ground
running and tackle the basics that drive up the nation. There is an urgent need
for national dialogue on practical and sustainable ways of cutting the
disproportionate government spending, ways of reviving the country’s industrial
base, ways of retooling the country’s in-need-of-repair infrastructure and how
to make life better for all the citizens of this country. The scurry for political
positions is not in any way associated with that sensitivity to the plight of
the downtrodden citizens of this country and those who are rushing for the
positions have deliberately put misery-repellent plugs to the suffering of the
people of Zimbabwe. As President Mugabe rightly put it "You are as, more also, just
rubbish as the person who has given you the money; both of you, the giver and
the given are alike."
Bernard
Bwoni can be contacted at bernardbwoni.blogspot.com
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