Western democracy and political hypocrisy

By Jonathan Kadzura (06/12/09)

Are we all clear about the meaning, I mean the practical meaning, of democracy in this world? At this stage of our revolution Zanu-PF has finally reached the toughest aspect of our struggle, the most difficult lap in our quest for true democracy.

I must hasten to say that more will come out as doubting Thomases and others will question the real means to democracy, which is empowering the indigenous Zimbabweans. We struggled in this country to fight for the introduction of real democracy.
Where were these major Western democracies when black Zimbabwean children were being mowed down by racist gunfire in Mozambique, Tanzania and Zambia?
May I ask you to close your eyes for a second and imagine what the Western world’s reaction could have been if they got down one morning to find 400, yes 400, dead bodies of their children. This happened to us at Nyadzonya and we are encouraged to forget about it by those who started an illegal war in Iraqi after 3 000 of their own were killed in very painful circumstances at the Trade Centre skyscrapers in the United States.
Human life must be respected as human life.
The values we have for ourselves can surely not be traded for 30 pieces of gold or silver. Starting an illegal war in the Middle East was an effort to effect regime change.
I wonder how many of those maimed children and women still believe that the West brought democracy into their sovereign states. The illegal invasion of Pakistan and Afghanistan are other clear examples of Western democracy.
They, the West, were recently vouching for a “free and fair election” in Afghanistan when the country is occupied by over 100 000 foreign forces all bent on achieving their foisted democracy. What democracy?
Our form of democracy must evolve from we the Zimbabweans, and must be influenced by our experiences, culture and inspirations. This is the democracy that will last for us.
The slogan in the 1960s was “one man one vote”. Why was this important if all men were equal in the eyes of the white supremacist Rhodesian Front which killed people because of that theory?
Why is it that the much-hyped “property rights” only catered for whites if the law was democratic?
Why did we end up with Harare and Highfield in the west of the industrial areas and Borrowdale and Highlands in the east of the same?
It was all calculated that you breathe polluted air and smell all the industrial waste while the whites in the northern and eastern suburbs enjoyed the morning and evening fresh breezes.
Were the democratic principles of freedom of association and freedom of movement inexistent at the time, I ask?
Let us not be cheated by wolves in sheepskins. Where is the democracy in Palestine where Hamas won the popular vote? The question we must always ask is: Whose democracy?
It is important for us all that we do put into place proper democratic principles that will guide generations to come. Let us not allow our current shortcomings to derail the full independence of our future generations. We have our land and we must keep it.
In my last article I indicated that a lot more Zimbabweans are still looking for land from both the A1 and A2 programmes, it is my fervent view that these people must be looked after, they are Zimbabweans too with a right to a piece of land. So it is only fair that more land be acquired for all Zimbabweans who want it. They have a right to it.
The Western type of democracy will tolerate us for as long as we ensure that their capital and interests are looked after, and not ours. When it comes to our democracy, such democracy must look after our interests at home.
Dollars and cents are worked for but we can only do so if we have the greatest natural resource restored to us, our land.
It is important to accept that it has been a long rugged road with bumps and dips. The truth, my fellow Zimbabweans, is that we should not expose ourselves to lifelong servitude by small correctable things that we can sort out on our own.
The future of Zimbabwe is ours and can only be ours. The good, the bad, we must learn to accept and at the same time take steps to improve on where we were found wanting and, on the other hand, strengthen those areas that we have always excelled in.
In tandem with the land reform exercise, we now have the Indigenisation Act in place. We should now activate the power that lies in this Act to empower our youths.
Fair modalities must be found to match skills and resources from these youths to partner these large corporates. We have the Act. How can we go wrong, if at all?
The sooner we move to empower our youths the faster they can also understand why it is important that they should defend their independence. Political independence is good because it gives one the opportunity to speak on important podiums.
What is needed is economic independence that can only be ushered through the land distribution exercise and the Indigenisation Act. Only Zimbabweans can create long-term opportunities for the youth in our country. See the textile industry in Lesotho. Closer home, look at the empty factories we now have.
In my view the Ministry of Industry must develop a local investor attitude.
Let us stop persecuting those who are making an honest effort to rise as good examples in our own communities.