Zimbabwe Elections

Zimbabwe elections are around the corner. Scholars have advanced interesting theories on the Zimbabwe situation. A coalition remains the least likely outcome of this election.

Zanu owns the police, army and courts. Everything will be done to ensure they is no outright MDC T win. They will be rigging-this is obvious, MDC T has to overcome the rigged votes.

To rule Zimbabwe, after elections, it is back to Zanu. All contending parties suffer from factionalism. However, to rule fairly, whoever wins the majority needs to court ideas from other parties. MDC T could never rule without control of the army, police, courts and without diamond revenues. Zanu cannot rule effectively without dealing with corruption. Zanu needs MDC's anti-corruption strategies. MDC needs Zanu's resources. The two failed in coalition, hopefully positives come out of this acrimonious divorce.

Serving Leaders

Jesus teaches leaders should serve. In The Gospel Of John, Jesus washes his disciple's or student's feet. Christ Jesus advised the disciples, as leaders of the people they show love to the people by providing a service.

This issue has been raised in Zimbabwe's election. Welshman Ncube has asked Zimbabweans to demand a leadership that serves the people. This demand should be carried forth even after the election.

Over three decades the country is collapsing. The cause is a corrupt, self-serving,  mis-leadership. Every policy tried in the last 3 decades has been to the benefit of a small elite. After elections the masses need to demand accountability from the new leadership.

New Zimbabwe Leadership

Even Naaman was purified. The Old Testament is an intense leadership guide. Namaan, in his pride, initially refused to heed the advice of the wise.

Zimbabwe's leadership suffers a type of leprosy. The leadership team is tainted by greed and corruption. Corruption started economic failure in the 80's. Things fell apart, as corruption increased and hyperinflation set in.

Zimbabwe's economy is avoided by investors. The economy has been damaged by corrupt leadership. Only a purification of the leadership can wash the economy anew. All parties in leadership need to attack corruption. MDC heads are focused on the corruption issue, while ZANU is not ready to deal with corruption. Like the servants who encouraged Naaman, all citizens need to raise the issue of corruption. Only when the leadership washes anew, and is baptized by a desire for honesty, can true development start being realized. Namaan was cleansed, Zimbabwe can be purified.

Resisting The Pharoahs

Egypt is burning again. Just after one year, the elected government has been removed by the military. Its all about the economy, the masses in the streets know this, the Pharaohs and elites do not.

Mubarak stole billions and sent his loot abroad. Egypt became poorer and more repressive under his reign. ZANU has seen Zimbabwe become poorer and repression currently  equals the Mubarak regime. Fortunately, Mubarak was removed by the Egyptians.

After elections, The Brotherhood took over. Unfortunately, the economy has not improved. The Constitution was rewritten without public input and one million lost their jobs, within one year of Brotherhood rule.Without economic progress every repression is harder to bare. The Pharaohs of old ensured the masses had 'flesh pots' to live on also people had structured jobs.

Zimbabwe has seen continuous economic decline. Millions face unemployment and starvation this year, while the old leadership elite is concerned with self-enrichment and power. Economic decay will ultimately force the masses to resist the Sub-Saharan Pharaohs. Just like in the days of old, millions of Zimbabweans have made an Exodus abroad to escape the slavery of Zimbabwe's system. Exodus creates temporary relief, while the challenges remain. Just like today's Egypt, removing an oppressive regime without a removal of oppressive poverty will see Zimbabwe mired in social unrest and chaos.

Africa's Number 1

Nelson Mandela gave Africa a glimpse of honorable leadership. Obama's recent visit leaves the continent with more memories. Obama sold 'hope' during his first campaign.

The past five years have seen Sub-Saharan Africa enjoy decent levels of growth. Wars have temporarily abated and optimism is high. This hope is a good thing-optimism fires investment. Most investment has been coming from China and Obama's visit will not change that position.

'And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love'-Corinthians. Hope is not enough.You need a lot more than hope alone. Nelson Mandela demonstrated more than hope, in spending years in prison and  forgiving his tormentors. Obama could have offered more than hope in his presidential terms. 

Hope remains Africa's number 1. However, hope is not strategy. To succeed in life, business and relationships, you need perseverance, planning, passion, purpose and prayer to show the way. As prayers flow in for Nelson, let's also pray for other African leaders, so that as beacons of hope they can also  fight for peace and development in the continent.

'Growth' At The Gates

The economy  is drastically slowing down. This short- term slow down is being compounded by election anxiety. Aid money and soft foreign loans, the country's main sources of funding, have been temporarily suspended pending elections.

Foreign financial markets are in chaos. Other developing countries are seeing investors flee local exchanges. This has caused instabilities and even riots in Brazil. The hard lesson is-you cannot depend on so called short term foreign investment.

Zimbabwe needs real, long-term,  foreign investment to finance working capital, technology and infrastructure. Unfortunately, the sort of investors eyeing Zimbabwe's resources are  for short term gain. They want high 'growth' Zim shares and not long term developmental commitment. Zimbabwe needs real growth in employment, sustainable resource use and local re-development.

Financial calamities in Europe, instability in developing markets and the threat of a US$70 Trillion derivatives market, all  indicate when E.S.A.P 2.0  is offered as a development strategy, this should be seen as garbage at the gates. E.S.A.P part 2 will not be the new 'developmental' program's name, but at its heart will be financial liberalization.

Samaritans-The Good, bad and ugly

Image from Sister Elaine's Blog   --www.scimsisters.org

Samaritans come in bundles. The good Samaritan, Gospel of Luke, is hard to find. Most Samaritans are either bad or ugly.

Bad Samaritans exploit countries under the pretext of 'development'. Zimbabwe had another taste of the bad Samaritan during ESAP.

The ugly is, however, also local breed. Come election season, ugly Samaritans promise the moon. Voters are given gifts when they need real progress or taking to the inn.

Good Samaritans don't promise, but deliver. Good Samaritans take a nation toward real progress; they don't take their own people for a ride. Politicians of no value, typical empty vessels, make the most noise.