By Dr. Wangu Mazodze
Glencore Consulting (Pty) Ltd is a Johannesburg based think tank that counts amongst its clientele major multinationals, governments amongst others. Having noted the various developments in the social, political and economic sectors of Zimbabwe, a survey was conducted within the Zimbabwean expatriate community in South Africa.
The study was conducted by various Zimbabwean academics, business people, migrant workers, gospel entrepreneurs, politicians and refugees.
A careful deliberate organized purposeful attempt at acquiring verifiable truth about quantitative and qualitative relationships of various aspects of the Zimbabwean scenario and use the relations to come up with a national solution to the crisis. Random sampling was done in diversified Zimbabwean communities across the width and breadth of South Africa.
In Johannesburg, Mr Trust Ndlovu a politician expressed pessimism on any positive change as long Mugabe remains in power. “Mugabe must muzzle his wife,” said the fearless politician. Similar sentiments were express by Dr. Munyaradzi Chidarikire a Zimbabwean academic pursuing his doctoral fellowship with Witwatersrand University. Dr. Chidarikire concurred with the former expressing concern on how Mrs Mugabe finds herself involved in matters of the state when she is a mere house wife with no defined roles to play in government matters.
The generality of the expatriate community professed ignorance on how best to save Zimbabwe from the social, political and economic quagmire it finds itself in. Mr. Rodrieck Chimombe a victim of state sponsored political violence and retribution now based in Port Elizabeth had no kind words and seems resolute and determined to confront the regime.”We need a new paradigm; the regime has to be confronted especially now when it is at its weakest point, I believe Tsvangirai can still deliver a new Zimbabwe. Elections are a nullity, only a political solution will save Zimbabwe and there is only one language that Zanu PF understands,”- declared the heavily built Chimombe.
In the Kwa Zulu Natal area, most Zimbabweans are concentrated in Durban where most are into menial jobs. Lovejoy Natalie Tembo, a hairdresser, was shy to express herself though politely declaring that Tsvangirai is Zimbabwe’s hope. Joel Marere, a respected personality within the Zimbabwean community declared that Mugabe’s days are numbered. At closer interrogation, it became clear that Marere has earned his respect from helping several destitute fellow national regardless of their circumstances out of the benevolence of his good heart.
Precious Mutete a political analyst based in Pretoria gave a chilling account of the desperate situation of Zimbabweans. She mentioned the reluctance of Zimbabweans to go back and face a decaying social, economic infrastructure fused with a fascist political regime. The softly spoken political pundit punctuated all her analysis with the mention of the phrase “the end is nigh” which on closer interrogation she remained cagey though equally depicting a change in the political landscape. During the interview, walked in a dark, militant and imposing manly figure whose vocabulary oscillated around “leader, Comrade, president, the people, structures, organ “among others. The gentleman was introduced as Rainos Tivatye – MDC T South Africa Province Secretary General. Without mincing his words, “SG my SG Tivatye” as he was called quickly declared that Zanu PF is on deathbed was will soon be vanished.
Very few Zimbabweans are scattered around the North West, Northen Cape provinces and in some instances most of them hide their identities in fear of reprisal from the police for non documentation. Xenophobic violence also plays a part as to why many Zimbabwean nationals do not feel free to avail themselves and be identified. We meet Cresencia Ziyera who in addition to working as an administrator at a health facility is currently studying law with the University of South Africa. She narrated the Zimbabwean problem and expressed utter disgust at any mention of of the name “Mugabe.” At one instance she abandoned her modest grammar to venture into the unprintable adjectives f***k Mugabe.
In the Western Cape most Zimbabweans meet on a weekly basis in Bellville a few kilometers from Capetown. The Zimbabwe Community meets under the stewardship of several academics Masimba Paradza, Vickson Mundia, Albert Zinhanga, Innocent Nsigo, Tinashe Chifamba, Douglas Chiganze to mention but just a few. It is in this area where robust scholarly, social, economic and political debates are conducted around braai guzzling the Cape wines and some good whiskey which is generally in abundance. This grouping was very clear on Tsvangirai’s leadership seemingly elonging and comprising the local leadership of the MDC T in the region. Confirming suspicion was the arrival of a lady ( Beaulah) in her late twenties. Everyone saluted as her “Organ my Organ” to which she responded “leadership”. She was fully draped in red regalia as if some of the faces depicted on her were mortal.
In the final stages of our study tour, Sibongile Nkomo a losing parliamentary candidate in 2013 showed us a place where Zimbabweans normally meet to play soccer over weekends in Bethlehem, Free State Province. Sibongile was greeted as “Hon” a title we too adapted to suit the status quo. We got introduced to a medium built man who seemed too affixed to his phone. Taking his time, we spoke to him and only in the middle of the conservation was he introduced as Chairman Stanly Mutambiranwa. We spoke and he offered us tots of some good Scotch Whiskey. As the good waters permeated more, it seemed to arouse his anger towards the country of his birth. Pressed to clarify his political preference, he was neither evasive nor economical with words – “Anyone can take me out of the MDC T but no one can take the MDC T out of me.”
The survey team comprising Patrick Mubaiwa, Tangai Marufu, Oscar Madanhi, Ernest Chinyuke, Edward Mutondo, Pound Tambo, Ethel Ndlovu, Simbarashe Mujeye, Ethel Ndlovu, Mary Chibanda among others visited several place having questionares filled in. A team of actuaries, renowned academics, researchers with the assistance of economics, social commentators and political scientists worked on the raw data to compile and draw conclusions. At last count, the survey covered 6793 people from diversified back grounds. Of the people surveyed 84, 67% preferred Tsvangirai, 6% preferred Mugabe, 4% preferred Biti, 2 % Welshman Ncube, 1, 33% preferred Dumiso Dabengwa whilst the remaining percentage could not express their preferences.
Announcing the findings after correlation of all the data was the Chief Executive Officer of Glencore Consulting (Pty) Ltd – Mr Blessing Kwesha. Confirmed is the sole optimism and faith in the MDC T and its leader Dr. Morgan Tsvangirai by the Zimbabwean expatriate community in South Africa. Mr. Patrick Danga an MDC T youth leader commended the researchers for a job well done and reiterated the long held assumption that the people of Zimbabwe’s days in exile are soon coming to an end.
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