Welcome to 2019, The Year of NOTHING, if you do NOTHING. People, especially the youths, must STOP IT! Stop blaming the government for your lack of innovation and everything negatively affecting you. Our lives are not made better by endless lamentations and complaining, yet with no orientation towards finding solutions. For how long shall we remain retired in bitterness and disgruntlement!
Our parents played their part in availing academic opportunities, not only to be job seekers but job creators. Education prepared us for endless possibilities which include but are not restricted to running our own businesses. There is so much we can do, consultancy work, buying and selling, farming, writing books, music, arts, even a discipline in sports to earn income and make profits.
Kuda Musasiwa came up with "Fresh in the box" at a time when almost everyone thought it was impossible to start a business in Zimbabwe. Charity Jinya successfully launched the Nedbank brand in Zimbabwe during the same period, yet we have become obsessed with talking about erosion of buying power coupled with limited access to capital, lack of opportunities etc. Busisa Moyo is another example of a person whose business is thriving under harsh economic environment.
So, here is my personal note to you and I for 2019...
Stop asking what Zimbabwe can do for you and open your mind to the possibilities of what you can do for Zimbabwe.
Government problems are not your problems, stop personalizing them and focus on what makes your life better. Whilst you are busy lamenting about joblessness, someone is making money in the very same environment you are complaining about.
My New Year's resolutions
After my surgery, I am going to focus on farming, oh yes, farming. All my plans are on track. Though this seems taboo to many urban youths, I am going to play my part in my little corner of providing food security in Zimbabwe and producing for export. I refuse to be a negative commentator and I am going to focus on my strengths this year. Positivity is Livity!
In September 2018, I took time to introspect on how I have lived my life the past eighteen years, and realized that I missed so many opportunities. I smothered a lot of potential. Most of the complaining urbanites are people who did not plan for the future and lack the discipline to make use of the resources that they received in good times. I was part of the people that thought I must spend first then save the surplus. I have learnt the hard way that one must save first before expenditure because spending has no end.
After the chaotic land reform program, there was land redistribution and a call was made to apply for land. We were told not to get involved as it was a ZanuPF program which had nothing to do with opposition and our struggle for democracy. We attacked the land redistribution program and prided in being MDC tisina kana bag or investment yet our leaders went behind our backs and acquired land.
Whilst we were busy fighting each other because of different political orientations our leaders were busy having coffee and making million dollar business deals behind closed doors. The very people we hate each other for, are successful entrepreneurs and they own businesses in some cases in partnerships with those they call enemies in the public sphere!
My resolution in 2019 is to create and make money. There is too much cannibalism in this so called struggle in Zimbabwe. In short, no revolution has ever been led by the "haves" only when the "have not’s" are prepared to lead the struggle then we can talk of a real struggle not the commercialized struggle in Zimbabwe, which has impoverished the masses and created a very wide gap between the wealthy and the poor.
It is not a secret that the modern Parliamentarian in Zimbabwe sees his election victory as an opportunity for self enrichment. This is all clear as seen from the latest demands of our MPs of fancy and luxurious cars, unreality packages considering the harsh economic climate we are in, while some are advocating for austerity.
On the employment issue
The problem we have in Zimbabwe is the majority think a basic salary will emancipate you from poverty which is exactly the opposite. A salary will keep you in poverty and in a fake comfort zone. The salary is a bribe to frustrate your dream. The world we live in today, a salary is a seed which you should invest to run a business. Ever asked a question why you labour in vain for $300 which is not even sufficient to cover your day to day needs for a month?
If the unemployed graduates are afforded jobs and equal opportunities only a few will make any meaningful progress in life because the rest will spend their capital with those spending their profits.
One of my brothers once shared this, "Japan has salt water and no minerals to talk about. They lost more people than we lost in all our Chimurenga’s. Every country under the sun has a Toyota vehicle that's sovereignty."
So we should learn to emulate best practices and use what we have as a nation to create wealth for Zimbabweans and stop being over reliant on donor funds. The people’s attitude plays a leading role in meaningful development of any progressive nation.
Instead of innovating and finding homegrown solutions to the quagmire we are facing as a nation, the poor, jobless and cashless waste their data bundles spreading Political Party Propaganda for the political elite who will be busy managing their businesses and making money whilst you are fixated on social media.
Where are our Engineers who can't even close a pothole?
Where are our pharmacists who can't make a simple pain killer?
Where are our Economists when we get into 2 decades of recession and our industries are closing to the extent that not just China but other African countries are seeing us as their warehouse and supermarket?
As we reflect on the journey we have travelled thus far, the truth needs to be told. We need to find ourselves as a people, forgive each other and reset the peoples agenda for the people by the people for posterity.
The rationale for our actions has to be centered on posterity and empowerment for all Zimbabweans.
It's sad that Zimbabwe has more than fifty minerals yet our people survive on less than 1 US dollar a day and there is no political will to alleviate the struggles of the impoverished in our society. There is apparently no serious efforts to remedy this crisis. We are blessed with vast arable land of which most of it is lying idle, because of greediness and the shameless accumulation of multiple farms by corrupt and uncouth politicians at the expense of the suffering masses in Zimbabwe.
Why are Zimbabweans starving when we have so much land and capacity to cultivate and feed our nation and beyond our borders?
We can't move forward like Japan or Rwanda because all our stories and discussions are centered on politics and political personalities.
The middle class was eroded and the situation seems bleak and hopeless. We need a paradigm shift of mindset. Think outside the box. Stop blaming other people for your problems and be solution oriented. Think along entrepreneurial lines!
In conclusion its not all about new year wishes, its about action. This year try to make it a habit to plan and execute. Do not stop at the religious; be realistic and take action. 2019 will not be a happy one if you don't share ideas!
I take time to register my deepest gratitude for all those who take their TIME and data to teach, encourage and share freely their ideas for the betterment of our beloved country Zimbabwe.
Listen to constructive criticism and do not hate the giver. Be grateful for the honest opinion. Without it you can't learn and surely can't improve. Remember that if you do nothing, expect nothing.
Linda Tsungirirai Masarira
Pro-Development Activist
