By Pearson Mbendera.
In a country with no jobs, an economy on the downhill, using a multi-currency system and none of it is ours, and a whole lot of social, political and economic issues that need to be addressed, you would think that the people will come together as one to find solution to these problems. Sounds like an ideal nation right, yes but this nation is clearly not Zimbabwe.
I have watched Americans on TV talking about their founding fathers and the principles they set and the need for them to continue to do the same, and you would think that Zimbabwe, a nation that gained its independence through a heated liberation struggle, a nation that looks up to the like of Ambuya Nehanda and Sekuru Kaguvi, the people who stood up against the white colonial rule without advanced weapon but a belief that Zimbabwe will one day be free, would still have that fighting spirit in them and the resilience to stand against anything and come out unscathed, but you will be wrong, for this is not what Zimbabweans are made of, no, not the Zimbabweans of today, because the fighting and resilient Zimbabweans are no longer a part of this former great nation.
To say that we are cowards would be to undermine the great effort shown by those whose sole purpose is to fight against the social, political and economic advancement that this country so desperately deserves. In all honesty, there are fighters amongst us, but they don’t fight for progress, they fight against it, while the rest, watch from a distant only to talk about it with their peers.
Every society has its own identity, what’s our identity. We are known as the African country with the highest literacy rate, but as long as that literacy rate isn’t helping this nation move forward, then it all mean nothing, because it doesn’t help to have the ability to read and write if we cannot use that to our own advantage.
On Saturday 4 October, Katswe Sisterhood organized the Miniskirt march, which was met with mixed emotions throughout the country. The women were simply protesting the harassment they face each and every day when they walk around wearing their mini-skirts. A valid point, but not share by many.
In a country that has many things not working well to the benefit of the masses, you would think that people would join hands and support those who would have made the bold stance to stand up against something or at least come up with solutions on the problems that others will be facing, but instead, you will find people going against each other even before ant action is taken.
At first I was against this miniskirt march, I didn’t see any point to it. We all have different views towards what women should or shouldn’t wear. But on second thoughts, I moved to the protest part of it and realized that we have some issues we need to address.
Some said that in a nation like ours, being hampered on so many levels, the harassment women face when they walk around wearing miniskirts was a minor issue; people have to protest for jobs and economic recovery first. But if we cannot fight for what we term ‘minor issues’ how then are we going to fight for the major issues that affect each and every one of us.
But looking back at history made me think maybe that’s who we are, a divided nation, fighting itself instead of fighting its problems. During the liberation struggle, the ZANLA and ZIPRA forces stopped fighting the white soldiers and started fighting each other for a while. I guess this divide is even manifested now more than ever, with factionalism hitting every political party in the country, well the ones that matter at least.
People complain about what the government is not doing or what it is doing wrong but they fail to see their own contribution. We are all o blame somehow, and it is because of that that I have asked this question, are we our own greatest enemies?
We all have our different views, but on the things that affect us all, let us join hands and fight for what we deserve. After all, what unites us is stronger than what divides us, only if we get past the minor differences that we are trying to put too much emphasis on. But before we can have any real progress in this country, we have to answer this question first, are we our own greatest enemies?
Comments
About Author
