The trouble with trying to be clever is that you run the risk of idiocy. This maybe complete nonsense, or it could be a good blog. Let me know.

A very long time ago, before I was born anyway, Bob Marley came to Zimbabwe and sang ‘Get up stand up’ in front of thousands of Zimbabweans. Locks bouncing, his backing band doing their very best to keep up with his energy, Mr. Marley gave our country a soundtrack. The atmosphere was electric. Anything was possible. We had gone from telling all the mothers ‘No Woman No Cry’ to ‘Stirring it Up’ in the ‘Uprising’. But the ‘Buffalo Soldiers’ had returned and this was a new beginning. This, after-all, was the new Zimbabwe. For a few hours that night, there was no black, no white, no man, no woman, no child, just Zimbabweans. For a little while that night, and even after that, we were all one, united in singing ‘Songs of Freedom’.

Independence came, and went, but we were ‘Jammin’ together. Our President was hailed as a one of the great African Statesmen, a ‘Legend’. Zimbabwe couldn’t be prouder. Some of us had settled into a wonderful way of life. The ‘Sun is Shining’ we thought, as we happily braaied and drank Castles. Then the cracks began to show. All of a sudden the people started murmuring that we needed to ‘Stir it Up’ once again. The ‘Exodus’ of the best and brightest began in earnest, the word ‘Survival’ on their lips.

They left; the skilled, and the unskilled. Going to ‘Babylon by Bus’. And we who remained ‘Caught a Fire’ and became ‘Soul Rebels’. They resisted the lies, the bribery and finally the violence, quietly. ‘Time Will Tell’ we said. Those who dared rise up, ended up in the ‘Jailhouse’, while more and more people began to hum the notes to ‘Trenchtown Rock’. Abroad, the Diaspora yearned to know the ‘Real Situation’ and often they were told it was ‘War’.

‘So Much Trouble in our World’, quasi-fiscal became another word for instant impoverishment. Zimbabwe was weary, and hopeless, until the Global Political Agreement was signed. Until then we thought we had been ‘Waiting in Vain’, but, our ‘Redemption Song’ seemed to have been written at last.

Bob Marley died in 1981, a few months after we celebrated the first anniversary of Zimbabwe’s Independence. His music still lives, as do the people of Zimbabwe.

I cannot help but notice, in great wonder and sometimes exasperation, how some politicians, who are now well past their sell by dates, now spit out the phrase ‘regime change agenda’ with all the  innuendos and insinuations that it is either treacherous or outright treasonous for a Zimbabwean to even think of regime change.

Recently, when confronted with a quite innocuous question from a journalist, the Head of State and Government, and Commander in Chief of the Defence Forces, His Excellency, cde Robert Gabriel Mugabe angrily cut him off, “now you are asking a regime change agenda,” he snapped.

The basic idea underpinning the concept of democracy is that ordinary Zimbabwean citizens have a fundamental right and should be entitled to freely decide who should govern them. In other words, the right to change a regime if they so wish. The process of translating that choice to reality is accomplished by way of voting, which is often done periodically, to enable ordinary people to make a clear statement about their leaders.

Another tenet of democracy, consistent with the first above, is that potential leaders must be able to, through various – peaceful means, present themselves, and their ideas through manifestos to the people – marketing themselves as the best leaders to govern and make policy decisions for the country. In this noble battle of ideas, whoever has the better idea should, ordinarily, following a vote to confirm them, be the new leaders of a new regime taking the country in a new, and hopefully better direction. The primary purpose of an election is to change or renew leadership. Even in situations where the incumbent is retained, the process of an election would have offered the public an opportunity to reaffirm his leadership.

This vital process, which I will, with Fungai Machirori’s recent, brilliant blog in mind, refer to as the nation’s shedding off of its old skin of failed policies and broken promises to reveal a new skin of hope and expectation, has been suppressed in Zimbabwe for the past 3 decades. Leaders are in denial – attempting to do the impossible – to defy nature. They vainly attempt to banish all evidence of the passage of time, tucking away strands of white hair and sagging skin, tragically locking the nation in a time warp. Imagine the snake clinging to its old skin, refusing to shed it off and make way for newness, for rebirth and revival?

For these leaders, elections are but a mere formality, their objective must never be to deliver regime change, but to endorse the status quo. Since elections are not really meant to deliver regime change, then it follows that it is not necessary to ensure free space for the contestation of ideas and free space for leaders of different political formations to market their vision for the country. The very concept of democracy would become, as a colleague is fond of saying, anathema to defenders of the indefensible status quo.

To ensure that the ideals of genuine democracy are defeated various instruments are deployed by incumbent regime. When the risk of losing power is deemed low, then the regime would simply fiddle with figures, rig here and there and ensure and outcome that restores prevailing balance of power. For good measure associates of the regime are deployed to oversee the counting of votes. For this reason, in African politics the counting of votes is much more important than the actual voting itself.

The bottom line for all these shenanigans being that power must be retained at any cost. While alternative democratic voices are denied space in national media to articulate their views, the incumbent regime is granted full coverage to propagate its ideas, which, often enough, it does not do but devotes its attention squarely to denigrate, demonise and abuse those advancing alternative views.

Where the risk of losing power is deemed greater, then there is no hesitation to deploy the threat of violence and violence in an attempt to alter the workings of democracy in the incumbent regime’s favour. On June 27, 2008, the day of the ill-fated one-man presidential runoff election, I offered a lift to a ‘war veteran’ who gave me an insight into this thinking. Quite unbidden, he commented on the election process,

“Holding elections is utter madness, how can people think that, by merely putting an ‘x’ on a piece of paper they can remove a president from power? How can a pen and paper have such an effect? We (presumably talking on behalf of so-called ‘war veterans’) will not allow people, just with the index finger (the one dipped in indelible ink as an indication that one has voted), to effect regime change. If that happens we will take our guns and go back to the bush.”

I believe the ‘war veteran’ gave and accurate diagnosis of the disease plaguing Zimbabwe – that the incumbent regime does not respect the concept of democracy and its corollary of regime change. After realising that indeed the wish of the people, as reflected in the March 29, 2008 elections, was for the country to renew its leadership and try fresh ideas, patrons and benefactors of the old regime quickly moved stop any peaceful transfer of power. Instruments of coercion were quickly activated to crush any dissent and ensure that the status quo is maintained at all costs.

The present arrangement, which primarily retained the status quo, albeit with a modicum of space at the high table for the true victors in the elections, derives its authority, not from tenets of democracy, but from undemocratic negotiations that the main political parties entered into in order to deal with a crisis triggered by a refusal to peaceful transfer power in accordance with democratic principles.

Although this arrangement dealt a severe blow to the development of our embryonic democracy, it by no means crushed the ideals of this enduring ideology. Even within ZANU-PF the institution, there is now a realisation that chickens of authoritarianism are now coming home to roost. Media reports indicate that elections in both ZANU-PF’s youth and women’s leagues were characterised by chaos and violence. Quite ironically, reports indicate that Mugabe pleaded with the youth league to respect election results and appealed to losers to magnanimously accept defeat in polls!

The creature called power-sharing government is only transitional; it can never replace the concept of true democracy and the right of every Zimbabwean to fully participate in the election of leaders of their choice. This fundamental right to regime change is recognised in article 13 of the African Charter of Human and Peoples’ Rights and in the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights whose article 21 provides that Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives, and more importantly, further that, the will of the people (as expressed in periodic, genuine elections) shall be the basis of the authority of government.

Relentless propaganda against regime change seeks to create the false impression that it is wrong to seek regime change, or to seek leadership renewal. It is not. It is a natural process that cannot be stalled indefinitely. It is a reality that, though it is temporarily denied, will surely come to pass.

Despite the hype about the liberation struggle and all, ZANU-PF came to power through the ballot box. In 1980 people were free to make a democratic choice. Likewise, Zimbabweans today should have the freedom to choose whosoever they wish as their leader. The right to regime change is a fundamental right that must be respected and be cherished by all.

Temporary setbacks and spanners being thrown in the works by elements resisting change cannot be reason enough to lose faith in the enduring power of the idea of democracy. Rather, it these challenges should spur activists on and strengthen their resolve to ensure that they exercise their right to vote, defend their vote, and ensure that the vote is counted and counts.

I am not a comfort zone person so I am not going to sit back and just enjoy or act as if I don’t see anything wrong. Actually I am taking advice from Dewa Mavinga who said Zimbabweans need to stand up and say something. So here I am standing up. I would like the Minister of Transport to view me as an adviser and heavens knows we need a lot of us in this country. Who in this beautiful country advised what’s his name to buy a fleet of cars when the City of Harare lies in ruins? However my advice goes to the Transport Minister, not to the guy who has nice cars. I mean he doesn’t have his sole hope of going back home with a windi in a combi. I have left my 5 Rands, 50 cents or 3 trillion in over three combis in the last few weeks and I have had enough. Things were going well when the windis did not mind us, the people, having just the 17 notes of the 60 notes that make up 3 trillion. But yo after this high rate craze not only do the windis want the full 3 trillion; they don’t even have any form of change. Now my Minister take a listen; unless you have a plan to solve this dollar for two business, I have a solution. Why don’t you and your Ministry introduce a ticket system? Have people buy a week worth of transport tickets then the combi people can collect their money every end of day or month. That way I am just getting in and out of the combi hastle free. I don’t have to follow a perfect stranger so that we can split a dollar which never happens. I end up leaving the whole dollar with the other person because I cannot parade the streets of Harare when I am late for work. What pains me the most is that when you go to the windis asking for reimbursement they have conveniently forgotten you. I will not stand for this daylight robbery, so Minister do something. Hey whatever the pros and cons of this advice, you can deal with them until you have thought of a better idea. I have just suggested something you haven’t thought about.

In a recent blog Dewa Mavinga challenged Zimbabweans to become active citizens rather than passive subjects. Kubatana sent out an email asking our subscribers to comment, and here are the responses:

I totally agree with Dewa Mavinga. As Zimbabweans, we need to be progressive thinkers. Let us act holistically and put our nation at heart. All Zimbabweans need to promote this country as a Land of Forgiveness, rewrite its history and embrace the new dispensation. Yes, as opined by Martin Luther King, ‘Our lives begin to end the minute we become silent about things that matter’, let us be proactive and act as citizens of this resource-endowed country. We should also shoulder the blame for the problems bestowing the country. We have been silent for too long, waiting for others to build and/or destroy this country. As Zimbabweans, I think this is totally unacceptable. Lets work together and promote the Zimbabwe We Want and ‘Proudly Zimbabwean’ brand. – Lazarus

I read Dewa Mavinga’s piece with interest.  In discussions with friends I have always expressed the same sentiments. From the household, school, community, church, workplace to the political level, we are all expected to obey authority.  Hanzi ingozi, kutuka mai wavabata vane chikomba, one is just supposed to observe and keep one’s mouth shut.  The tragedy is even in civil society structures, the very institutions supposed to champion democracy, the same situation prevails.  We have seen NGOs being run like family businesses and challenging certain practices is taboo.  One can get a label for that. I concur that regardless of how many political parties we may elect into government, our situation would not improve if we do not change our mindset at individual level.  There is so much individualism and self-preservation at the detriment of the public good.  Yes it might be a demonstration of resentment at the status quo, but what would drive a sane person to steal power cables for making trinkets, or for a powerful politician to steal the same cables for export? I don’t believe Zimbabweans are cowards, but this individualism that appears to be ingrained into our thinking is the root cause of our problems.  Take a situation like this: A commuter from Chitungwiza wants to get into Harare, they know the bus fare is R5.  They have R10 to cater for a return journey and some other money to buy one or two things in the city.  They get into a bus with a capacity for 75 passengers.  The bus gets full, and when the bus departs the conductor informs the passengers the fare to town is now R10.  There is universal outcry in the bus and the conductor orders the driver to stop the bus and yells to the passengers “Asingade ngaabude”.  One enlightened person starts arguing with the conductor and the rest of the passengers join saying “hatibude”.  On seeing that the conductor is not budging, you will always find someone who is willing to pay.  When one person pays the rest follow suit.  You will hear some people bragging that if you don’t have money “enda kumusha, kana kugara kumba kwako”, as if they themselves have the money.  They definitely don’t because if you are in Zimbabwe and you have money then you are unlikely to be in a commuter omnibus. My argument here is how can 75 grown up men and women be intimidated by three men armed with nothing but an intimidating voice and scruffy cloths.  Honestly those Hwindis and conductors are not made of iron.  The scenario I describe above happens every day from Tsholotsho to Mutare, but a Zimbo can say is “Zvakawona” and pays. When workers call for a strike, you will always find some who try whatever means possible to come to work.  I know a guy who walked from Chitungwiza to Harare and back for two days because he didn’t want to be associated with fellow striking workers for mere selfish reasons. As Dewa said, we will not go anywhere if we don’t change our mindset, no matter how many elections we have. – Joshua

Participation of all citizens then allows for a robust and energetic society who now will realise their full potential and challenge those who they may see as opposing their scheme of things. Those opposing will also see the other group as healthy opponents or competition and as such opposing views can be discussed in a good natured manner. This is because everyone now is civil enough to understand there is a problem and as such how can we deal with it. Our active participation in any event has created a democratic situation because sides have been taken and people are now critically looking at events around them and taking the necessary action to change it without violence but through active participation. We have now transformed ourselves from ‘Subjects’ to  ‘Active Citizens’ in any capacity. – Lionel

I agree with Dewa that we are part and parcel of the regime that has brought down democratic systems in our country. But this is largely because every generation has a value attached to its existence. The pre-independence generation had a revolutionary (nationalist) approach to life, no wonder they went to war and fought to the end. The current crop is more inclined towards individualism, where even during the toughest of times in Zimbabwe, each family would work towards its own survival, without bothering about the person next door. Note that today in Zimbabwe, a multitude can be made to run for dear life by just a handful of militant Zanu (PF) youths (obviously paid to perform). Upon attaining independence, Zanu (PF) engaged in compulsive politics. Those who did not want to participate were regarded as traitors and were severely dealt with, just like in war time, and this was applied consistently and in a systematic way. The result was the isolation of Zimbabweans into individuals who cannot cooperate to fight back. That even explains why we have the largest number of political refugees in Southern Africa. People cannot fight back, so they escape. It is this culture of isolation that needs to be broken. In my view this will not happen over night because, right now Zimbabweans are even scared of their own shadows. They cannot trust the next person in case he/she is Zanu (PF) and they are considered enemies of the state. By the way if you are against Zanu (PF) or its people, you are an enemy of the state. A new political platform, far-fetched from the WAR politics pursued by Zanu (PF), can be the only answer to reviving the democratic spirit of Zimbabweans. We need to break the perception that this country belongs to Zanu (PF) and all those who went to war. – Farai

Not everyone is passive, unfortunately the guys with the big bucks (heavy duty logistics) only seem to want to support MDC. But we will keep trying. – Comrade Kundayi

So Zimpapers, which ‘allegedly’ is not a parastatal has launched its own daily paper called H-Metro. I’m tired of this, don’t buy the Herald, cancel your subscriptions. RIGHT NOW! Not tomorrow when you’ve had a moment to think about how difficult your life will be without state sponsored drivel. The Herald et al are not the only sources of news in this country. Neither are they fair, balanced or accurate. It is not a defense to say that you need to know what’s going on in the country, you know what’s going on in the country! We as consumers and citizens are being taken advantage of. The longer we lie down quietly, the longer it will keep happening.

I’m not saying go out into the streets and march on Zimpapers, I don’t have the same amount of courage as those who do so. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to sit helplessly while the government violates my freedom. We still have the freedom to spend our money where we will. I’m saying hit Zimpapers and by extension the Government of Zimbabwe, where it hurts the most, in their wallets. Clearly, they refuse to pay attention to my vote and my voice. If the 20 000 people who are currently buying the Herald everyday, stop, perhaps the State will begin to listen.

It has often been said that the greatest battles are fought in the mind. This is certainly true in the case of Zimbabwe, particularly in our tortured struggle for democracy, good governance and human rights. If the struggle is approached with a mind already defeated and not open to possibilities, as is often the case, then there is small wonder how a very small group of predominantly old and frail men can subjugate millions of people for decades without as much as a whimper from the long-suffering masses.

Much like a bird caged and kept in captivity for most of its life, even when the cage is removed, the bird refuses to fly away, because, in its mind, the cage remains, making the physical absence of a cage irrelevant.

The Zimbabwean education system further compounds the crisis of a defeated mindset by lacking the ability to produce people who are critical and analytical, but perfect academics who regurgitate what they are fed by the teacher who is supposed to know all, but remain blinkered to the world around them. I will explain, lest one take offence at what, at first, may seem a reckless statement.

Our education system and socialisation has broken our collective spine, and prepared us to be meek subjects who shall obey authority without question and not empowered citizens with rights and ability to challenge authority. The MDC in government should seriously consider putting forward a proposal to inject civic education and critical thinking into our educations system from primary school level.

Back in the days as a student activist at the University of Zimbabwe I was often exposed to this attitude that to question authority is sheer madness, foolishness or utter stupidity. Whenever I pointed out the shortcomings of the then ZANU-PF government, often I would be dismissed with the following words: Ndivo vafana veku univhesiti vanoitira weti mumafiriji, havatendi hurumende inovapinza chikoro, musavatevedzere (These are the university boys who urinate in fridges, they are an ungrateful lot, do not listen to them) – this was in apparent reference to a students demonstration at the university of Zimbabwe where some students had, according to the State run Herald newspaper, overturned fridges at the institution and urinated in them in protest against poor catering services there.

To be fairly critical of authority’s misdeeds is to label oneself a pariah. Everyone must conform to the norm. Do not put your head above the parapet, or it will be chopped off, or so the advice goes. To many in Zimbabwe, decency is about being careful not to rock the boat, not to ruffle feathers, but to avoid any confrontation and get through life quietly, meekly.

The late iconic Zimbabwean singer Leornard Dembo, perfectly captured this mindset in one of his songs entitled Manager, where he admonishes those who confront the manager at work because they forget they have families to feed. A relative of mine also reflected this mindset during my days at the university when she advised me thus: “Don’t you forget your background. Your parents struggled in abject poverty to send you to school, and you have seven siblings – don’t you start trouble at university. The moment other students start demonstrating, take the first bus out of campus and come home and lie low until it’s over.” It is advice I gladly ignored, but which, I am sure, was not uncommon.

This mindset focuses on short term gains of being safe in the crowd but, sadly, compromises on the bigger picture. It normalises the abnormal and celebrates fear and mediocrity. The few people who keep trashing our rights can do so with impunity because the majority have accepted as normal that which is obscene. Joseph Chinotimba can boast, with all the audacity, that he “farms people” and no-one bats an eyelid. Muchadeyi Masunda, Harare Mayor on a Movement of Democratic Change ticket can use government resources, in such difficult times, to buy himself a US$152 000 luxury vehicle – and that is normal! To make matters worse, there are people within the purportedly progressive democracy movement who will be upset when the issue is raised. Why? Because leaders should not be questioned, they are always right! Or some such load of rubbish.

But what I find most astounding about this mindset that has crippled Zimbabwe’s democracy and human rights movement is the quite illogical expectation that someone must fight on their behalf to bring about change. In beer halls, in churches, in schools, at work, Zimbabweans analyse, they know exactly what is wrong with governance, they are fully aware of the root causes of our multilayered crisis. But that is as far as it goes. A learned colleague has found a term for this phenomenon: paralysis of analysis. They do not want to take action themselves, at an individual level. But moan that not enough is being done to liberate Zimbabwe! Of what use is your thorough and superior understanding of the crisis if you are not prepared to act on it?

Sometimes I come to the conclusion that we get the leaders and type of governance we deserve. Do we honestly believe that ZANU-PF, so comfortable in the seat of power, will voluntarily give up power? Or that democracy and fundamental rights will be presented to us on a silver platter? To entertain such hopes is to dream in broad daylight. We must say, “Enough is Enough,” and then, at an individual level, commit to playing each his or her part to liberate the country. I will borrow this statement from the English and say, “Zimbabwe expects each man to do his duty.” Be the change that you want to see in Zimbabwe. The mantra should be, “None but ourselves!” If not yourself, then who should act on your behalf while you remain in your comfort zone?

For democracy, good governance and a culture of respect for human rights to thrive it does not just happen. There must be a critical mass of people prepared to advance and defend these ideals at all costs. The collective mindset must accept that it is right, a sacred duty even, for one to defend principles and ideals of democracy and to openly declare that position without having to look over the shoulder. The collective mindset should focus on the greater goal of justice and freedom for all ahead of short-term personal security which, in any case, cannot be guaranteed even if one thinks that the safest way out is to collaborate with the oppressor.

Unless there is a radical transformation of the mind, individually and collectively, which leads to action from within Zimbabwe, then victory for democracy and human rights will be postponed indefinitely. Even if new leaders or new political formations come on board, without a change of mindset, which catapults us from meek subjects to bold citizens with rights and who know and stand up for their rights, the result will be the same. That is, a few people in power will continue to trample on the dreams   and rights of the majority and get away with it.

Already Muchadeyi Masunda, the rogue Harare Mayor, has shown that his MDC jacket does not stop him from taking people for granted, but, is it not with the implicit consent of Harare residents?

As you reflect on our individual role and contribution, to either aiding or resolving the crisis in Zimbabwe, ask yourself: Am I a subject or a citizen? What action will I take as my personal contribution to the development of a new Zimbabwe?